Senator Belt’s office hosts Valentine’s Day card drive for seniors
State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) recently announced that his office is collecting both store-bought and handmade cards for residents in long-term care facilities for Valentine’s Day. Individuals are encouraged to write kind notes and drop them off or mail them to Belt’s district offices, located at the Kenneth Hall Regional Office Building, 10 Collinsville Ave.,…
Read MoreThree Metro East men sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud in gas pump scheme
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A federal judge in southern Illinois sentenced three men to prison for their involvement in a scheme to use counterfeit credit and debit cards to fill up tanks for gas station patrons in exchange for cash. Dee E. Day, 31, of Belleville, was sentenced Monday to 30 months’ imprisonment and…
Read MoreWin $300K or a new home in Troy, support Make-A-Wish kids
Wish Home Raffle benefits Make-A-Wish® Illinois and Make-A-Wish® Missouri & Kansas Make-A-Wish Illinois is partnering with The Home Builders and Remodelers Charitable and Educational Foundation and Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas for the 2025 Wish Home Raffle. Tickets are just $100 each giving entrants the chance to win $300,000 cash or a beautiful new home in…
Read MorePritzker administration announces cannabis sales exceed $2B annually
Total items sold increased 13% from 2023 to 2024, marking four consecutive record-setting years of industry growth As the State of Illinois celebrates the fifth anniversary of the legalization of adult use cannabis in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) announced today that 2024 marked the fourth consecutive year of record-setting…
Read MoreAddressing hunger with diverse food systems
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek A diverse food system can help address nutritional deficits nationwide, but not everyone has access to the food needed for a balanced diet. “The reality is, the affordability of a diverse diet, for 45 million Americans is not a daily choice,” said Ertharin Cousin, former ambassador to the U.N. Agencies…
Read MoreFarmers reflect on year one of IL-EATS
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek Farms are growing while providing fresh, local food to underserved communities through the Illinois Equitable Access Towards Sustainable Systems (IL-EATS) grant program. Participants in IL-EATS reflected on the impact of the program’s first year on Jan. 29 during a breakout session at the Everything Local Conference. Farmers, business owners and…
Read MoreIDOA launches new I-COVER program for producers, landowners
Applications accepted starting March 3, 2025, with opportunity for pre-enrollment The Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) secured a $7 million USDA grant to launch I-COVER, the Infield Conservation for Operationalizing Vital Ecosystem Resilience Program, which offers cost-share/financial incentives to producers and landowners who are new adopters of cover crops or who utilize new techniques for…
Read MoreIllinois lawmakers try again to ban certain food additives
Move comes as federal government poised to ban red dye No. 3 By LILY CAREY and Medill Illinois News Bureau, Capitol News Illinois For the second legislative session in a row, Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago, is pushing to ban several chemicals from Illinois food items. But this time, Preston and his bipartisan backers have…
Read MoreIHDA announces $16M for home improvement program
Grant funding for local governments, nonprofit organizations will help working families make health and safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency repairs to their homes The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) announced it is accepting applications from eligible local governments and nonprofit organizations to participate in the state’s Home Repair and Accessibility Program (HRAP). Through HRAP, IHDA…
Read MoreSchnucks launches ‘Round Up at the Register’ to benefit Urban League
Black History Month campaign runs from Feb. 5 through Feb. 18 For the fifth consecutive year, as part of Black History Month in February, Schnuck Markets Inc. will offer customers the opportunity to “Round Up at the Register” to support the Urban League. Continuing through Tuesday, Feb. 18, 100 percent of donations in the grocer’s…
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