Mark Your Calendars for our Upcoming Senior Health Fair in Quincy
I hope to see you at the Kroc Center on the 15th for free screenings, along with lots of helpful information and fun!
Fall/Winter Energy Assistance is Available
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available for income qualified households. This energy bill assistance program can assist with natural gas, propane, electricity bills and furnace assistance. Applications are open now through August 15, 2025, or until funds are exhausted.
LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to energy service providers on behalf of recipients. While the amount of support varies based on the needs of individual families, last year over 333,000 households received LIHEAP with an average of over $724 per household.
For assistance you can visit helpillinoisfamilies.com to get started or visit your local agency (a list of partners throughout the state can be found here.
Mike Madigan, Once Illinois’ Most Influential Powerbroker, Now Faces Federal Corruption Trial
The former Illinois house speaker quietly wielded power in Springfield for decades while developing a reputation as a reclusive political wizard, well-schooled in the playbook of the late Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. His trial begins Tuesday at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.
Facing trial alongside Madigan will be Michael McClain, Madigan’s longtime friend and confidant, who was among those convicted last year of scheming to bribe the speaker. The feds say Madigan led a criminal enterprise over nearly a decade, enhancing his political power and generating income for his allies and associates. McClain allegedly acted as an agent of the so-called “Madigan Enterprise,” making unlawful demands on the speaker’s behalf while trying to shield the speaker from criminal liability.
Madigan spent a record 36 years leading the Illinois House of Representatives, where he controlled legislation that shaped every facet of life across the state until he resigned in 2021.
Read the rest of the Chicago Sun-Times article.
Northern Lights Visible This Weekend in Illinois
The Northern Lights are expected to be visible in multiple northern states, including parts of Illinois. The best time to view the auroras will be on Friday, Oct. 4 from around midnight local time going into the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 5.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/10/02/northern-lights-states-forecast/75488656007/