2026

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IL ABLE Account Owner Shares Her Story at This Year’s Speak Up, Speak Out Summit

Self-advocate, Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities Council Member, and IL ABLE Account Owner Bridget Brown is a powerhouse. An actor and keynote speaker, Bridget also co-founded Butterflies for Change,  an organization dedicated to advocating for inclusive communities and expanding access to inclusion support – to name just a few of her accomplishments. At the 2026 Speak Up, Speak Out Summit in Bloomington, IL, the IL ABLE team had the opportunity to sit down with Bridget and her mom, Nancy, to talk about Bridget’s experience with her IL ABLE account and what…

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Make the Most of Every Season of Life

I choose to remain a Midwesterner for many reasons, but one of them is that I really appreciate having four seasons. That doesn’t mean that I like all four seasons equally. In Illinois, spring holds the promise of warming days. It also frequently disappoints us with cold, rainy days and the occasional snowstorm.       I’m guessing most people look forward to warm summer days. As someone who often wears a suit to work, anything over 80° can leave me a sweaty mess. I do enjoy freshly fallen snow,…

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What Keeps Us Up Can Also Move Us Forward

When you have a problem, people often tell you to “sleep on it.” But what happens when an inability to sleep is the problem? The last few decades, I have suffered from frequent bouts of insomnia. Like many people who have trouble sleeping, I worry about my children, my parents as they get older, and challenges at work. When this happens, rather than getting worried about a lack of sleep, I have learned to accept that my mind will be active, and to direct it to creative thoughts. It’s not…

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three Egyptian leather jewelry boxes with ancient-looking images carved in the leather

Ryne Sandberg and Frank Thomas Baseball Cards, Egyptian Jewelry Boxes, Gold Coins Available at Treasurer Frerichs’ Online ICash Auction

Looking for Special and Memorable Gifts? You’ll Find Them at the Online Auction September 25-October 4 Auction catalog available here. A 1926 British Sovereign gold coin bearing the image of King George V, three Egyptian leather jewelry boxes, and baseball cards of Chicago legends Ryne Sandberg and Frank Thomas are among the treasures available at the online I-Cash auction September 25-October 4. “Our online auction offers a variety of distinctive, memorable items you can buy for yourself, a friend, or a loved one,” said Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, whose…

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Treasurer Frerichs poses with the seven men and women who received Hispanic Heritage Month celebration awards

Treasurer Michael Frerichs Honors Community Leaders in Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

Cubs Radio Announcer, Steinmetz College Prep Principal, National Museum of Mexican Art Curator Among Those Recognized Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month, honoring the great achievements of Latino community leaders. Treasurer Frerichs honored nine individuals: the Spanish-language play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks; a brother and sister who own several Chicago-area restaurants; a Chicago high school principal; an airport concessions firm founder; a registered nurse and clinical coordinator; the organizing director of Chicago’s hospitality workers union; the chief curator…

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