(Springfield-jm) – Small nonprofit organizations that provide people with food or housing assistance are encouraged to apply for funding through the Charitable Trust Stabilization Program, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said. Grant applications will be accepted through March 31. The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund assists small nonprofits with annual budgets of $1 million or less and with the equivalent of one full-time employee. Grant applicants in an area where pervasive poverty, unemployment and economic distress exist will be given special attention. For this first grant cycle of 2024, up to $200,000 is available. The maximum award amount is $20,000 for each organization.

 

(Washington-jm) – The USDA has changed its forecast for the Brazilian soybean crop, but has made no change to this month's U.S. soybean forecasts. Gary Crawford reports…

 

 

(Germany-jm) – An American man has been convicted of murder and rape charges for attacking two University of Illinois graduates last June in Germany. The man was accused of pushing the victims down a steep ravine. In line with German privacy laws, authorities did not identify the suspect or the victims, but family and friends identified the victims as Eva Liu, who died, and her friend Kelsey Chang, who survived.

 

(Decatur-jm) – REO Speedwagon is coming to perform at The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater. The Midwest rock band will perform on June 26. This show is not included in the 2024 Devon season ticket package. This is an add on show. 2024 Season Ticket Holders will get an email with details about a special pre-sale opportunity.  Tickets for the show go on sale Friday, March 15 at 10 a.m. at www.devonamphitheater.com.

 

(Rantoul–jc) There is more in the works for the village of Rantoul when the topic is new businesses and positive economic development. Rantoul Mayor Chuck Smith says more announcements are coming soon…

 

 

Village of Rantoul mayor Chuck Smith.

 

(Tolono-jm) – Attorney General Kwame Raoul charged a Champaign County man, and former director for the Tolono Park District, with allegedly using the Tolono Park District credit card, bank account and rebate coupons worth approximately $25,000 for personal use. Raoul’s office charged Randall Grace, 63, of Tolono, with one count of theft of government property, a Class 1 felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison; three additional counts of theft of government property, Class 2 felonies each punishable by up to seven years in prison; four counts of official misconduct, Class 3 felonies each punishable by up to five years in prison; and one count of forgery, a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Sentences are ultimately determined by the court and can run concurrently. Grace’s next court date is April 3.

 

(Gibson city–jc)  Gibson Area Hospital and Health Services has announced their music lineup for the Annual Summer Bash. The live event is set for Saturday August 17th in downtown Gibson city.   Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employees and Community Events Bill Kirby says Brett Michaels is coming to Gibson City…

Gibson Area Hospital Director of Employee and Community Events Bill Kirby

 Opening for Michaels is the iconic rock band Jefferson Starship. General admission is free. Party pit tickets will be available for purchase this Friday at 8am. 

 

(Springfield-jm) – Democrats unveiled a report that ultimately calls for Illinois taxpayers to pay $1.4 billion more to fund public universities.  The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding, created by law in 2021, released a report that finds an additional $100 million to $135 million annually to public universities would allow the state to bridge the reported funding gap in 10-15 years. Robin Steans, president of Advance Illinois, said the funding formula laid out in the report is much like a funding formula executed in Illinois K-12 schools. Steans said K-12 is seeing success despite Illinois students experiencing record low literacy rates and math proficiency rates. Illinois’ recent 2023 Report Card shows that 65% of the state’s 1.86 million public school children can’t read at grade level despite the increased funding. That’s 1.2 million students. 

 

(Washington-jm) – How is the Agriculture Department and its various mission areas reflected in the President's Fiscal Year 2025 Federal Budget proposal released Monday? Rod Bain reports…

 

 

(Rantoul-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is seeking assistance from the public regarding suspicious fires. The Rantoul Police Department along with the Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office are investigating three recent reports of suspicious fires in the 100 block of Mahoning Lane in Rantoul. The first occurred on February 8th at approximately 9 p.m. The second incident was reported on February 26th at approximately 9:40 p.m., when fire personnel were dispatched to a report of a structure fire. Again, on February 27th at approximately 9:30 a.m., Rantoul Fire and Rantoul Police Department were dispatched to a report of a working fire. During this most recent incident, witnesses in the area reported seeing three subjects, possibly juveniles, near the building before seeing smoke and fire coming from the structure.

 

(Champaign-jm) – The U.S. Postal Service has set a date for a public-input meeting as it continues to review the northwest Champaign post office and considers transferring some of the site’s mail-processing operations to other offices. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. tonight at the University YMCA. The Postal Service is conducting a facility review of the Champaign Processing and Distribution Center on N. Mattis Ave. According to a public notice from the agency, a summary of the review will be posted at about.usps.com at least one week prior to the event. The Postal Service’s meeting notice states that its initial findings support keeping the Mattis Avenue post office open and modernizing it as a local processing center “with simplified processes and standardized layouts.” It’s possible the distribution center could be closed and services moved to the Chicago suburbs.

 

(Springfield-jm) – Senate Republicans are calling for more transparency from the Pritzker Administration over how much is being spent on the migrant crisis. State Senator Sally Turner says the legislature has been left out of the conversations…

 

 

State Senator Sally Turner.

 

(Champaign County-jm) – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is aiming to make sure children are riding safely in their car seats this spring. The organization is providing car seat safety checks every second Monday of the month. Safety checks are being provided at no cost to parents and guardians. Seat checks are by appointment only. People can call 217-353-4932 to set up an appointment.