INA, Ill. Rend Lake College’s trade programs rate among the best in the nation, according to a recent ranking from education website Learn.org.

Learn.org recently published its list of the 50 Best Trade Schools Programs for the 2020-21 school year and RLC landed in the No. 18 spot. The website’s editorial team considered hundreds of universities across the country and selected RLC based on academic and career resources, the quality of education, faculty, and more.

While RLC is not exclusively a trade school, the college does offer a variety of technical programs where students can receive hands-on training to help prepare them for a career. RLC offers occupational certificates, which focus on skill competencies and allow students to enter the workforce in a short amount of time. Or students could learn a trade along with general education content to earn an associate degree. RLC also offers an apprenticeship program allowing students to receive on-the-job training from a local company and earn a wage while they learn.

Learn.org highlighted RLC’s variety of certificates and degrees available, including options like a Certificate in Certified Production Technician or a Certificate in Phlebotomy. The website also emphasized RLC’s use of the Focus 2 career planning system that allows students to figure out what career works best for them.

Since 2003, Learn.org has helped students and working professionals research different schools, degrees and careers.

RLC has more than 100 degrees and certificates available. To learn more about the college, or to enroll, visit rlc.edu

After more than a month under tighter restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, the Metro East region will return to phase four rules that allow indoor dining and bar service and gatherings of up to 50 people, state officials said Friday.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

The battle over the Supreme Court vacancy will play a role in defining the contentious 2020 presidential race, and campaign advocacy groups on both sides of the aisle have already poured tens of millions of dollars into a fight whose outcome is almost certain, according to an analysis of spending by Fox Business.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

In a statement posted to Facebook Friday morning, U.S. Rep. Mike Bost announced he has contracted COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Seven Southern Illinois counties are on Illinois Department of Public Health’s list of counties considered to be at a warning level for COVID-19.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

New York Times reporter Alex Burns revealed the highly anticipated opinion of the Biden-Harris ticket on packing the Supreme Court.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

Nearly 50,000 voters in Franklin County — Ohio’s most populous county — received incorrect absentee ballots in the mail, elections officials said Friday, revealing a major glitch that appeared to affect one in five ballots the county had sent so far.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.