I recently spoke with an employee of the park district and mentioned how much I enjoy our neighborhood parks. She asked me which one was my favorite, and I realized I didn’t really know the official names of any of them. They all have names to honor important people, but for me, the location is more important. For my boys, each one has earned a nickname based on a special feature in or near the park. We frequently choose between…
Bipartisan support in both chambers and thoughtful input from the Governor’s Office helped make this legislation possible SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs thanked members of the General Assembly today for passing Senate Bill 2968 and expressed gratitude to Governor JB Pritzker’s office for its collaboration in advancing legislation that expands investment opportunities for non-profit organizations across Illinois. The legislation creates the Non-Profit Investment Pool, a safe and efficient investment option allowing eligible nonprofits to make the most of…
Saving Even a Little Today Can Help a Child Avoid Years of Student Debt Tomorrow SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is recognizing 529 Day today, May 29, by encouraging families to save for future education through Illinois’ highly rated Bright Start 529 or Bright Directions 529 college savings plans. Frerichs also announced new enhancements to the advisor-guided Bright Directions 529 plan. “While ‘529 Day’ is tied to the calendar date of May 29, the observance highlights the importance…
U of I Basketball Standout, Chicago Sinfonietta Music Director, World Business Chicago Exec, School Principal Among Those Recognized for Their Contributions Video will be posted here: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today hosted a celebration to highlight the achievements of community leaders during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The event, which was held at the state government building at 555 W. Monroe St., honored eight people for their contributions to their communities: a CEO, a strategy and innovation…
Mila, our family dog, passed away six months ago. It came soon after I last wrote about her. I thought I would share this news sooner, but Mila’s passing has been more difficult than I imagined. I was in the first grade when my friend’s dog bit me on the leg. I had a fear of dogs for a very long time, and it would be fair to say that I was not a dog person. When I met Erica,…
A friend recently asked if I ever had a job I didn’t like, because I seem to like all of those I have written about. I’ve shared stories about walking beans and detasseling corn, bagging groceries and stocking shelves at the IGA in Rantoul, teaching English in Taiwan, and my time as Champaign County Auditor. I learned something new at each one, and found some more fulfilling than others. Sometimes we work out of necessity. I needed to work a…
Savers and Employers Encouraged to Claim Accounts in New Online Portal After June 15 VIDEO WILL BE POSTED AT THE DEPARTMENT OF CENTRAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES WEBSITE HERE SPANISH-LANGUAGE PRESS RELEASE AVAILABLE ON THE TREASURER’S WEBSITE HERE CHICAGO, IL — Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced lower fees and technology improvements for employers and savers of the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, which will take effect in June 2026. “A decade ago, too many Illinois workers didn’t have an easy…
Se insta a los ahorradores y empleadores a reclamar sus cuentas en el nuevo portal en línea a partir del 15 de junio CHICAGO, IL — El Tesorero del Estado de Illinois, Michael Frerichs, anunció hoy una reducción en los costos y mejoras tecnológicas para los empleadores y ahorradores del Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, que entrarán en vigencia en junio de 2026. “Hace una década, demasiados trabajadores en Illinois no tenían acceso a una forma sencilla de ahorrar para…
Looking for Precious Metals or a One-of-a-Kind Gift? Check Out the Online Auction April 24-May 3 Auction catalog available here. Collectible baseball cards of Hall of Famers Ryne Sandberg, Nolan Ryan and Ken Griffey Jr., a gold ingot, and an 1868 French coin bearing the image of Napoleon III are just a few of the notable items available at the online ICash auction April 24-May 3. “Our online auction offers something unique and memorable for everyone,” said Illinois State Treasurer…
Like many kids, my older brother went through a period where he didn’t like going to school. He became pretty creative about finding ways to skip class. School was so close, he didn’t even have to cross a street. On the way, he stopped at a relative’s house and never made it to school. When Mom found out, she started driving him. I hadn’t started kindergarten yet, so I went with them. One morning when we pulled up to school,…