President Obama’s Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2014 includes an increase for low-income home weatherization services, including $9.6 million to help needy families in the state of Illinois.  The program's objective is to help low-income Americans address their energy needs through raising the energy efficiency of their homes while reducing their monthly energy costs.

The Weatherization Program is operated through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development. The state office combines funding from the Energy Department and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to provide these services through a network of 35 community action agencies located throughout the state. 

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is spreading the word about free, nutritious meals and snacks available to children this summer at more than 1,600 summer food service program sites across the state. Sponsors may submit their online applications to ISBE starting March 4.

“The Board urges school administrators to make sure their students take advantage of these crucial programs to help fill the nutritional gap between the last and first day of school,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “Good nutrition helps keep young brains active and engaged in learning inside and outside of the classroom.”

A new report from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services shows a 5.4 percent increase in reports of abused and neglected children across downstate Illinois. According to the Child Abuse and Neglect Statistical Report, the state’s Child Abuse Hotline received 25,348 reports of suspected abuse or neglect involving downstate children from July through October of this year, compared to 24,053 children during the same period last year.

According to data compiled by Northwestern University from DCFS and the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 91 indicated cases of abuse or neglect statewide last year for every 10,000 Illinois children. 35 downstate counties showed abuse and neglect rates more than double the statewide average: