By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Too many Illinois babies are born prematurely, according to the March of Dimes. Its new report card shows 10.1 percent of the state’s births were at up to 37 weeks’ gestation.

You’re supposed to be pregnant for about 40 weeks.

The place in Illinois with the highest rate was Peoria, at 11.9 percent. Aurora, Chicago, Rockford, and Springfield all exceeded the state average.

Dr. William Grobman, a professor and ob-gyn at Northwestern University, says while exact causes remain unclear, there are higher preterm birth rates in settings where there is less than adequate social support, such as food security and access to medical care.

Grobman says the amount of research being done, with two recent drug trials, gives him hope.

In other State news, the “Call for Philip Morris” turned out in the cigarette company’s favor in the Illinois Supreme Court.

The justices dealt a setback but not a final one to the hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs. On a four two vote, they tossed out a $10.1 billion award but left the door open for those plaintiffs to keep trying.

It seems those smokers thought “light” and “low-tar” Marlboros were less cancerous, and they alleged deceptive marketing on the part of Philip Morris. The latest ruling was basically that the venue was not appropriate, as opposed to the merits of the case or award.