(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is accepting applications for the 2026 DCFS Scholarship Program through the end of March. Scholarship recipients will get up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers if they attend a public university or community college, plus a monthly grant of $1,577 to help offset other expenses and a medical card. Last year in 2025, DCFS awarded scholarships to 334 college-bound youth throughout the state. Application and details are available on the DCFS website.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has announced $50 million in taxpayer-funded grants for historically underserved communities. This includes $35 million to support community re-entry from the criminal legal system, economic development, & civil legal aid programs. The remaining $15 million will go for youth development and violence prevention initiatives. The 2026 state budget appropriates $180 million in taxpayer funds for the ICJIA.
(Chicago, IL) — Illinois leaders are reacting to the deadly ICE-involved shooting in Minneapolis on social media. Governor Pritzker said the “people of this nation are now living in constant fear of what the Trump Administration may do next.” He added that DHS and ICE are losing credibility as their lies and lawlessness are creating chaos and tragedies. U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth called for an immediate investigation and said ICE is clearly not making us safer. Fellow Senator Dick Durbin called the incident “tragic, heartbreaking and enraging” but urged protesters to “remain peaceful.”