(SPRINGFIELD) September is National Suicide Prevention Month and an Illinois-based nonprofit is continuing its prevention campaign in schools across the country and in the Land of Lincoln. Erika’s Lighthouse creates upper elementary, middle school, and high school mental health, depression, and suicide awareness programs so educators, families, & teenagers can create safe spaces to learn about mental health. Last year, the organization impacted over 725,000 students, and currently it is working with some 2,400 nationwide schools, including about 1,000 in Illinois. By the way, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available around the clock by calling 9-8-8 with seven call centers located in Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) Taxpayer funds have been allocated for state and national apprenticeships for youth. The U.S. Department of Labor is spending $244 million this year on the national Apprenticeships Build America grants program, providing heavy equipment for training students, including Illinois’ portion of $8 million. In July, earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity will use $18 million in state-taxpayer funds for the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which will provide training opportunities and boost diversity in the construction industry & building trades in Illinois.
(CARBONDALE) An Illinois man has received 18 months in prison from a federal judge for his reported work in an ongoing mail theft and bank fraud scheme based in Carbondale. The downstate U.S. Attorney’s Office says the 25 year old man from South Holland used a master key at his workplace to access mail boxes throughout Carbondale, then altered payees and amounts of stolen checks, depositing the checks into bank accounts of others involved in the crime, then transferred the money into his own account.
(CHICAGO) A newlywed couple is celebrating their marriage and a huge lottery win. The couple, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought a winning scratch-off ticket in upstate Illinois, that turned out to be worth $3 million. The winners say they plan to save a good portion of the funds for retirement, their children’s college funds, and future vacations.