October 2026

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This Year’s Costumes Mean a Little More

I have always been a little jealous of people who have intricate, creative, and homemade Halloween costumes. Maybe it’s because as a kid, I frequently had the plastic costumes you would wear over your clothes with a plastic mask pressed against your face, hoping the elastic string wouldn’t break.     I wish I could say that I did better with my kids, but with the twins, we have taken the easy route.     They have dressed as a pair of pumpkins, as ketchup and mustard, and as M&M’s.…

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The Illinois Ideas That Helped Shape the World

Last week’s Treasurer’s Note unleashed a lot of pride in Illinois’ history of innovations, and readers were quick to let me know about their favorites.           Several of them, I was aware of. A few of them were new to me.           Thank you for enlightening me! Now I’d like to enlighten our readers by picking out a baker’s dozen of great Illinois innovations. We didn’t have space for them all. Hopefully, highlighting these inventions will help you learn something you didn’t…

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Eight people pose in front of a blue wall at Synapse House. Treasurer Frerichs is third from right.

Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Nearly $180,000 in Grants for Small Nonprofits in Illinois

Funds Will Support Food and Work Readiness Programs in Champaign, Charleston, Chicago, Downers Grove, Murphysboro, West Frankfort, and Westmont Key Points: Video available from Illinois Department of Central Management Services. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced nearly $180,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations that help people in need by providing food and job training. The grants total $178,210. “These grants are important because they help nonprofits achieve their missions of serving others and strengthening communities,” Treasurer Frerichs said at a news conference at Synapse House, a…

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Six award recipients pose with Treasurer Frerichs at the LGBTQ+ History Month celebration

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Honors Illinois Leaders in Celebration of LGBTQ+ History Month

AIDS Foundation Chicago CEO, About Face Theatre Artistic Director, 44th Ward Chicago Alderman Among Recipients Video of the event will be posted here: State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to honor LGBTQ+ History Month and highlight the accomplishments of leaders in Illinois’ LGBTQ+ community. The event was an opportunity to reflect on the significant achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, and their allies. Frerichs presented awards to leaders in business, community service, education, government, labor, sports, and arts and humanities. “We’ve come together today…

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From Feeling Out of Place to Finding Pride

I distinctly remember the fear I felt when my aunt and uncle dropped me off on Yale’s campus 35 years ago this fall. I had never visited the school and didn’t know anyone.  As I met people, I realized there weren’t many people like me there. I grew up the son of a Teamsters truck driver in a small farming town of about 800. My parents hadn’t gone to college. My grandparents hadn’t even attended high school after dropping out in junior high to work on the farm.  I wasn’t the only…

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