Area News
Tornado recovery: U-Haul offers 30 days free storage
Last Friday’s storms have created a need for disaster relief across parts of the Midwest U-Haul®has made 24 Company stores across three states available to help storm victims with 30 days of free self-storage and U-Box® container usage after a powerful weather system spawned a number of deadly tornadoes on Friday, May 16. The tornadoes…
Read MoreTrump Administration terminates Digital Equity Capacity Program
Termination will prevent many Illinoisans from accessing the internet effectively and participating in the modern economy In mid-May, the Trump Administration, through U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), terminated the Digital Equity Capacity Program. In Illinois, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) was in the process of…
Read MoreConsumer advocates tell regulators to slash rate hike requests from Ameren, Nicor
Gas utilities seek to increase rates by $7 to $10 per month next year By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois Natural gas customers in the Chicago suburbs and downstate Illinois are likely to see an increase in their monthly bills next year, but it’s up to state regulators to decide how big a hike,…
Read MoreAfter 150 years, Mary Lincoln’s ‘madness’ still haunts American psyche
In new book, Mrs. Lincoln’s own words offer insight into her sometimes tortured mind By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — On May 19, 1875, a Cook County jury handed down a verdict in a case concerning the health and welfare of Mary Lincoln, widow of the former president who had been assassinated…
Read MoreKaskaskia College receives mental health grant to improve student wellness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Kaskaskia College (KC) recently received a $120,000 Mental Health Early Action on Campus Expansion grant from the Illinois Community College Board to expand on crucial wellness services for students. According to the National Education Association, more than 60 percent of college students meet the criteria for at least…
Read MoreState of Illinois marks highest workforce levels since 2008
Efficiency updates cut the state hiring timeline by 58 percent; growth driven by hiring increases for critical support roles, such as DCFS caseworkers Today, Illinois Central Management Services (CMS) announced that the State of Illinois has achieved historic outcomes in building up its workforce, increasing the total employee count from 50,544 in 2019 to 55,340…
Read MorePritzker administration awards $50M in permanent supportive housing development grants
Seven new supportive housing developments will provide safe, permanent homes for people living with disabilities or at risk of homelessness The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) recently announced the conditional award of more than $50 million in state and federal funding to spur the development of permanent supportive housing throughout Illinois. These critical investments will…
Read MoreGov. Pritzker cuts ribbon on new enclosed arena at Giant City Stables
$430,000 public-private investment funds facility that provides therapeutic riding services for youth, veterans, and people with disabilities On May 15, Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Senator Dale Fowler and local leaders to celebrate the opening of a new enclosed horse…
Read MoreGov. Pritzker breaks ground on major development in Southern Illinois
The first STAR Bond project will create jobs, attract investment, and draw visitors, revitalizing the region On May 15, Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) joined the City of Marion and leaders from around Southern Illinois to break ground on an approximately…
Read MoreCountry star Jake Owen to headline Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Aug. 8
Country music hitmaker Jake Owen will headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Friday, Aug. 8. With 10 No. 1 singles and more than 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams, Owen is a standout performer in the country music scene. His laid-back style and chart-topping songs like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Beachin’,” and “The One That…
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