(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker has proposed continued funding for the Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program, despite a lawsuit filed against him & the Illinois Student Assistance Commission that targets the MTI program. The lawsuit claims the program violates the Constitution by not allowing application eligibility due to race. In his budget proposal last week, the Governor wants to spend $8 million of taxpayer money to fund the MTI program, which mostly benefits those living in upstate Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) The State Treasurer’s office says it has returned $22 million to nearly 19,000 people in January through I-CASH, the state’s missing money program. It’s after a few years, that companies & banks turn over uncashed rebate checks, unpaid life insurance claims, forgotten checking accounts, and the contents of old safe deposit boxes to the Treasurer’s office, which is legally required to return unclaimed property to its owners or their heirs.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Museum is looking for judges and volunteers for the student Illinois History Day competition coming up May 1st in Springfield. The judges will evaluate student projects and determine who should advance to the next competition level. Research is presented in the form of an exhibit, documentary, website, research paper, or live performance. Last year the event drew a total of 621 students from throughout Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) Six taxing districts have given the “go ahead” for a $750 million corn wet-milling plant to be located in central Illinois. The former Equistar Chemicals plant in Tuscola, which closed in 2021, is being considered as a possible site. Officials say the corn wet-milling plant would employ up to 1,000 workers when completed in about three years.