diff --git a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/announcements/AnnouncementProvider.java b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/announcements/AnnouncementProvider.java
index 7d680d98..eb973d60 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/announcements/AnnouncementProvider.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-core/src/org/diylc/announcements/AnnouncementProvider.java
@@ -37,13 +37,13 @@ public class AnnouncementProvider {
     service = factory.createProxy(IAnnouncementService.class, serviceUrl);
   }
 
-  public String getCurrentAnnouncements() throws ParseException {
+  public String getCurrentAnnouncements(boolean forceLast) throws ParseException {
     announcements = service.getAnnouncements();
     boolean hasUnread = false;
     StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("<html>");
     for (int i = 0; i < announcements.size(); i++) {
       Date date = dateFormat.parse(announcements.get(i).getDate());
-      if (lastDate == null || lastDate.before(date)) {
+      if (lastDate == null || lastDate.before(date) || (forceLast && i == announcements.size() - 1)) {
         sb.append("<font size='4'><b>").append(announcements.get(i).getTitle()).append("</b> on ")
             .append(announcements.get(i).getDate()).append("</font>").append("<p>")
             .append(announcements.get(i).getText()).append("</p>");
diff --git a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
index bbde6e5c..278138ff 100644
--- a/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
+++ b/diylc/diylc-swing/src/org/diylc/swing/plugins/statusbar/StatusBar.java
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
       @Override
       public String doInBackground() throws Exception {
         Thread.sleep(1000);
-        return announcementProvider.getCurrentAnnouncements();
+        return announcementProvider.getCurrentAnnouncements(false);
       }
 
       @Override
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
   public JLabel getAnnouncementLabel() {
     if (announcementLabel == null) {
       announcementLabel = new JLabel(IconLoader.Megaphone.getIcon());
-      announcementLabel.setToolTipText("Check for public announcements");
+      announcementLabel.setToolTipText("Click to fetch the most recent public announcement");
       announcementLabel.setCursor(Cursor.getPredefinedCursor(Cursor.HAND_CURSOR));
       announcementLabel.addMouseListener(new MouseAdapter() {
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public class StatusBar extends JPanel implements IPlugIn {
 
             @Override
             public String doInBackground() throws Exception {
-              return announcementProvider.getCurrentAnnouncements();
+              return announcementProvider.getCurrentAnnouncements(true);
             }
 
             @Override