Governor JB Pritzker today joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and community partners to announce $327 million in Help Illinois Families assistance now available through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The program offers expanded services to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, utilities, food and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.
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Posted inTimes Weekly News
Schumacher Family Farm exhibit on display at Joliet Historical Museum
Hundreds of people visited the Iron Bridge Trailhead at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie over Labor Day weekend, and two of those visitors grew up at the historic site. Alvin (“Al”) and Robert (“Bob”) Schumacher brought together four generations of their extended families to what is now the Iron Bridge Trailhead on Sept. 4 to share their stories of growing up on the Schumacher family farm – “Fairview Farm.” For some of the children, it was the first visit to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie to hear family stories about farm life in Illinois in the 1930s.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Bertino-Tarrant recommends 11-District Board
At the September county board meeting, Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant presented her proposed redistricting plan for 11 two-member districts, which reduces the size of the Will County Board by four members.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Will County leads national panel on pandemic rental assistance
Will County Board Member Denise Winfrey (Joliet) will moderate a panel on Friday that will examine best practices for counties across the United States that are administering Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) for individuals who face housing insecurity because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The panel is hosted by the National Association of Counties (NACo) of which Winfrey is the First Vice President.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Troy schools thank local businesses for donations to hygiene pantries
Two Troy Community School District 30-C schools – Troy Middle School and William B. Orenic Intermediate School – have set up hygiene pantries near the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms with the goal of providing necessities to students who can benefit from them.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
COVID vaccine debate and fear mongering in Will County
Will County is apparently not immune to the unfortunate politics of the COVID vaccine that has spread across the country like… well, a pandemic. Data has shown that most who are now ending up in hospitals suffering from COVID are the unvaccinated and most large numbers of cases are in states with low percentage of vaccinated individuals.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Grant aims to address teacher shortage in early education
The Joliet Junior College Child Development (CDEV) program has received a grant from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to strengthen and diversify the early childhood workforce. JJC is the only community college in Illinois to receive this grant, which is funded by the federal Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five initiative, in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Voter access – a priority for Will County
While Senate Democrats edged closer to an agreement this week on new voting rights legislation, 18 states have enacted 30 laws to make it harder for Americans to vote, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
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Plainfield mayor to investigate E. Coli contamination
Following a weekend where residents could not get their favorite iced coffees at local establishments or get tap water with their dinner at restaurants, things are back to normal in the Village of Plainfield as the EPA has declared it is safe to consume water. Last Friday, residents who receive their water from the Village of Plainfield received alerts from Will County that E. coli bacteria was found in the community’s water supply. Residents were all told to boil their water, causing mass shortage of bottled water in area stores. Anyone who drinks water contaminated with E. coli can have diarrhea, stomach cramping, pain or tenderness, nausea and vomiting.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Joliet City Manager responds to police department investigation
TTW Staff Report
Attorney General Kwame Raoul last week announced that his office is launching an investigation into possible patterns or practices of unconstitutional or unlawful policing by the Joliet Police Department. The civil investigation follows requests made by the Joliet mayor and members of the Joliet City Council.
