Illinois
Two months after Illinois launched food program, farmers still waiting to get paid
A long-delayed state program to get fresh food from local farms to vulnerable communities in Illinois was finally launched in March. But two months later, participants are still struggling to get money from the state to pay farmers and cover program expenses.
“We started with intentions of having money earlier than this and (the farmers) trusted us,” said Brenda Stewart, who runs Run-A-Way Buckers, a community organization distributing produce in eastern Illinois’ Pembroke Township. “I’m thankful they didn’t hold it against us.”
The $30 million federally funded effort aims to rebuild the state’s local food system by connecting underrepresented farmers with communities in need. Even though farms make up 75% of Illinois’ land area, only 5% of the food grown in Illinois is purchased in-state.
When Gov. J.B. Pritzker first announced the nonprofits selected to distribute food in early March, many — including Run-A-Way Buckers — jumped at the opportunity to get started. The announcement was overdue so Black, first-generation and veteran farmers had already ramped up production in anticipation, food was spoiling and families were waiting.
Diane McDonald organizes a network of fellow small-scale Black farmers that has been giving over 100 pounds of produce to Run-A-Way Buckers per week for the last two months. They haven’t been paid for any of it yet, but she isn’t giving up on the program.
“It’s been a crunch. It’s been a lot of out-of-pocket money,” said McDonald. “But, we’re determined to continue until (the state) get(s) it together. It’s a worthy cause, and I appreciate the fact that small farmers are being acknowledged because we’re very important to the agricultural system.”
While farmers have been on the hook, the Illinois Equitable Access Towards Sustainable Systems (IL-EATS) program has been “the talk of the town” among recipients, Stewart said.
The Swiss chard and goat cheese have been big hits at the local senior center, where Run-A-Way Buckers has been sending two dozen bags of locally-grown food each week. The seniors have enjoyed exchanging recipes for these healthy goods that are now available to them.
“It’s bringing out togetherness and a sense of adventure in them, and I love that,” said Velsie Kim Bridges, who runs the center’s nutrition program.
Good intentions, flawed execution
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is funding similar programs that connect underrepresented farmers and underserved communities in every state except Wyoming.
Most have had their programs up and running for a while. Wisconsin, for example, announced a funding agreement with the federal government in August 2022 and delivered $1.4 million worth of food by the end of last year.
Illinois reached a funding agreement only two months later, but it didn’t finalize contracts with food distributors until this spring.
Illinois farmers anxious after ramping up production for food program that was delayed
Wisconsin and other states chose to work with established food banks. “Illinois opted for a more inclusive model,” according to a statement from the Illinois Department of Human Services, which is managing the program with the state’s Department of Agriculture.
The state put out an open call for farmers and food distributors to apply for a portion of the grant money to ensure smaller organizations with strong ties to local communities could participate.
McDonald appreciated the opportunity to feed her neighbors who have been generally unable to access or afford her fresh produce. Much of what she grows is shipped to farmers markets an hour and a half away in Chicago.
“We did give food to the pantry on a volunteer basis, but this was on a larger scale. We could reach more people in the community,” said McDonald, who also runs a program that teaches local youth how to farm.
The human services department acknowledged that Illinois’ more grassroots approach, which helped farmers like McDonald get involved, made it more difficult to launch its program.
“Taking a different approach than other states … to advance equity and ensure new providers have the same opportunities was the right choice for Illinois,” the human services department said in a statement. “Doing what is right is not always the easiest route in the short term, but we will continue to learn and adjust as we strive to ensure this new program is successful.”
Some funds flowing
In early May, the human services department announced it finally had the federal funds to reimburse food costs.
This came as a relief to Marty Travis, whose nonprofit Down at the Farms, 100 miles south of Chicago in Fairbury, was selected to coordinate food distribution. He took nearly $120,000 out of Down at the Farms — tapping into grant money and forgoing necessary infrastructure upgrades — to pay farmers.
“We’ve exhausted all of that money that we felt like we could set aside without putting ourselves in total jeopardy,” Travis said.
Meanwhile, Stewart’s Run-A-Way Buckers waited for funds to flow before paying farmers. Consequently, McDonald has struggled to pay the farmhands helping her harvest, package and transport the over 100 pounds of produce she’s giving Run-A-Way Buckers each week.
“They’ve been hanging in there with me,” McDonald said. “The out-of-pocket money is all I have to give them to keep them coming and helping.”
The human services department told nonprofits they could expect to receive two months of advance payment and monthly reimbursements, but their contract stipulates they must be able to front at least 60 days worth of program expenses.
Just as the program reached that two-month mark, Travis and Stewart received their first checks for food costs. But, the wait isn’t over. Illinois has yet to secure federal funds for labor and transportation costs, which account for 30% to 45% of participating nonprofits’ program expenses. One employee at Run-A-Way Buckers is still owed about $16,000 for the time he has spent managing distribution.
More representation
In April, the farmers and nonprofits waiting for reimbursement discovered the state quietly slashed the prices the program would pay for food.
Chicken breast that was originally valued at $15.75 per pound was suddenly $8.25 per pound.
The program had originally garnered lots of excitement for essentially paying retail prices for wholesale products.
“I was gonna say it’s irresponsible, but it’s just not fair,” said Travis, a seventh-generation farmer.
The prices are subject to be updated twice per year, and the April changes reflected price fluctuations and the addition of new food items not included on the original list, according to a statement from the human services department.
“That’s like everybody else coming out here, making all these promises about how they’re going to help this community, and then they never follow through. We’ve had a lot of that happen, so it’s not building up good trust among us,” said McDonald, recalling her experience with the government as a rural Black farmer.
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After listening to feedback from farmers and food distributors, the state agreed to revert to the originally advertised prices.
In light of this, farmers are demanding more transparency and representation in the program, which is scheduled to run through September 2025.
“We’re out here daily, dealing with the elements to make the produce the best that we can give, so I think that we should have some kind of say in the policymaking,” McDonald said.
The program has had growing pains but, across the state, there remains a steadfast commitment to strengthening local food systems and hope that this initiative will do just that.
“It will sort itself out. But we’ve lost trust, we’ve lost time and we’ve lost the ability to keep all of our farmers engaged in this. We can’t break the back of all the farmers,” Travis said. “We just need to follow through. We need to close the loop.”
A record share of Illinois university employees opt-out of pensions for a 401(k)-style plan, lawmakers should give other state employees the same flexibility.
More retired state university employees are opting for a 401(k)-style plan rather than a traditional pension than ever before. They want more choice and flexibility in their retirement benefits. Lawmakers should expand the option to all state workers.
SURS published its annual actuarial evaluation for 2025. With only 47.1% of what they need to pay retirees, they are the second-highest funded state pension in Illinois, beaten only by the Teachers Retirement System with a funded ratio of 47.8%. That shouldn’t be a source of pride, however.
Experts say 60% funded is dangerous and 40% funded or lower is past the point of no return, so 47% is far too low. Illinois’ pension crisis is the worst in the nation.
But the system stands apart because it offers a way out for employees who don’t want to be stuck in the outdated, one-size-fits-all pension model or a pension system that might become insolvent.
SURS gained 1,314 new employees last year, 725 to the traditional and portable pension plans while 589 opted into the Retirement Savings Plan. Nearly half, 45%, of all new members joining are opting out of a traditional pension.
The numbers show 18.2% of all active employees opted into the Retirement Savings Plan, the highest ever since it started in 1998.
It’s a defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k), rather than the typical defined benefit pension available in most state retirement systems. That’s up from 17.7% of active employees in 2024.
Actuaries expect this pattern to continue, projecting a growing share of active employees opting into the plan until it reaches around 30% of all active employees who are on a defined contribution plan.
Academic hires such as professors are expected to opt-in to the Retirement Savings Plan at a rate of 45%. Non-academic employees such as administrators are expected to opt-in at a rate closer to 25%.
In both cases, employees seem to enjoy getting more choice over how to invest their retirement benefits, but the difference highlights why this option is so important. Currently state university employees are the only ones with this defined contribution option.
Traditional pensions for new workers at Illinois universities have a vesting period of 10 years. That means if someone leaves their job or the state before they’ve completed 10 years, they won’t be eligible for anything but a refund of their contributions. Not the state match or any interest they could’ve accrued while working.
Early-career academics face higher job uncertainty and are more likely to change institutions than later-career or tenured faculty. Under higher expected mobility, defined contributions are more attractive because you don’t have to worry about losing out on retirement benefits because the vesting period is much lower at 5 years.
Mobility isn’t only important in academia. The ability to change careers is important for a variety of jobs today. Wage and salary workers in the public sector today have a median tenure of 6.2 years. That number is likely skewed because 3-in-4 government workers are aged 35 and older.
Younger workers tend to stay in jobs for shorter periods. Across the public and private sectors, the median tenure of workers 55 to 64 is 9.6 years and 2.7 years for workers 25 to 34. Both figures are far below the 10-year vesting requirement for most Illinois pensions.
There’s no reason to limit flexibility and control to only employees under the State University Retirement System. Senate Bill 3389 offers a step in the right direction by allowing downstate teachers to opt-in to a similar Retirement Savings Plan. But that is only the start.
Illinois should expand this option to all five of its state pension systems so that employees can choose to have more control over their retirement finances. Similar plans have been enacted in Rhode Island and Tennessee, which has one of the best-funded pension systems in the country. A defined contribution plan offers more freedom and security for retirees.
ILLINOIS – Illinois is making it possible for thousands more people with disabilities to set aside money for their needs without losing critical federal benefits.
A new rule, announced this week by State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, raises the eligibility age so that anyone whose disability began before age 47 can now open an ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings account.
The change nearly doubles the number of Illinois residents who can use the program, which lets people with disabilities save and invest money tax-free for qualified expenses.
Frerichs called the expansion a “game changer,” estimating that 250,000 additional Illinoisans and about 6 million people nationwide now qualify.
“We’re happy to report that ABLE accounts are now available to anyone who acquired their disability before age 46, and I think this is a game changer for a lot of people,” Frerichs said.
Until this expansion, ABLE accounts were only available to people who acquired a disability before age 26. That restriction left out veterans, accident survivors, and people diagnosed with disabling conditions later in life. The new rule took effect this year after Congress responded to calls from Illinois advocates and families to expand access.
How ABLE accounts work:
An ABLE account functions much like a 529 college savings account. Account holders, friends, and family can contribute cash, which is then invested. The money grows tax-free as long as it is used for disability-related expenses such as housing, transportation, assistive technology, or education. Illinois also offers a state income tax deduction for contributions.
Before ABLE accounts, people with disabilities who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid faced strict asset limits. Having more than $2,000 in savings could mean losing those benefits.
“This created a lot of anxiety for families who were preparing,” Frerichs said. “There’s a lot of fear for people who wanted to go out and work. What would happen if my paycheck put me over that threshold? Well, ABLE is the answer.”
The program allows up to $100,000 in savings without affecting federal benefits. Earnings and withdrawals remain tax-free if used for qualified expenses.
Real-life impact:
Frerichs shared stories from families who had to make difficult choices before ABLE accounts existed.
“I talked to parents who had to tell their children’s employer don’t give my kid a raise,” he said. “I’ve talked to parents who talked with their financial advisors, saying, don’t name your child in your will. We created a system that put parents in horrible positions, but now we have a solution that allows them to do more long-term planning and to truly set their kids up for a better life experience.”
Stephanie Cantor, director of the Illinois ABLE program, said the expansion lets her and thousands like her save for expenses that come with disability.
“Living with a disability just costs more, and it makes me think of all the ways an ABLE account could have been useful to me over the years to be able to save money and pay for these expenses,” Cantor said.
What’s next:
Illinois has about 8,500 ABLE account holders who have saved $121 million so far. The state treasurer’s office encourages anyone who thinks they may qualify to learn more and apply at illinoisable.com.
The Source: The information in this article was reported by FOX Chicago’s Terrence Lee.
The 29th Big Ten men’s basketball tournament starts Tuesday and ends Sunday at the United Center, where the champion will snip down the nets while the NCAA Tournament bracket reveal furiously gets underway.
In keeping with tradition, the NCAA selection committee will claim to have factored the Big Ten final into its seeding even though it — how to put this? — did not.
Unlike last year, when 15 teams made the Big Ten field, this tourney will include all 18 teams and begin a day sooner, because clearly a five-day event just wasn’t long enough.
A team-by-team glimpse, in order of seeding (odds via FanDuel):
1. MICHIGAN (29-2, 19-1)
Next: TBD, 11 a.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +105.
Snip? If the ginormous frontcourt of Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara and Morez Johnson Jr. brutalizes foes like it did Illinois in Champaign, it’s over-and-out for everybody else.
Or slip? Point guard Elliot Cadeau might wear down with injured L.J. Cason unable to spell him.
2. NEBRASKA (25-5, 15-5)
Next: TBD, 5:30 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +1000.
Snip? No team plays harder at the defensive end, and the Huskers move the ball beautifully on offense. Is it shooter Pryce Sandfort’s time to shine?
Or slip? Is coach Fred Hoiberg allowed to win a championship at the UC? Asking for a few million friends.
3. MICHIGAN STATE (25-6, 15-5)
Next: TBD, approximately 8 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +650.
Snip? Jeremy Fears is one of the best playmakers around, and we are bound by law to say it’s hard to beat Tom Izzo in March.
Or slip? As tough as this team is, it lacks the kind of star power we’ve often seen in green.
4. ILLINOIS (24-7, 15-5)
Next: TBD, approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, BTN.
Title odds: +470.
Snip? If freshmen Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic hold up to postseason competition, the shooters around them will give the Illini a shot to win it for the third time in the 2020s.
Or slip? The Illini likely would have to get past Michigan in the semis, and the first meeting was ugly.
5. WISCONSIN (22-9, 14-6)
Next: Washington-USC winner, approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +3500.
Snip? The team that popped Purdue for 97 points to ruin the Boilermakers’ Senior Day can beat anybody.
Or slip? The team that ham-fisted its way through recent lopsided losses at Ohio State and Oregon isn’t going anywhere.
6. UCLA (21-10, 13-7)
Next: Minnesota-Rutgers winner, approximately 8 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +3500.
Snip? When point guard Donovan Dent is on his game, this offense — particularly shooter Tyler Bilodeau — is dangerous.
Or slip? The Bruins are a different team, and not in a good way, away from home.
7. PURDUE (23-8, 13-7)
Next: TBD, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +550.
Snip? Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer have been there so many times before.
Or slip? Who would’ve believed the Boilers would tumble all the way to seventh? Something’s off with Matt Painter’s crew.
8. OHIO STATE (20-11, 12-8)
Next: TBD, 11 a.m. Thursday, BTN.
Title odds: +7500.
Snip? Bruce Thornton, the school’s career scoring leader, isn’t the only Buckeye who can fill it up.
Or slip? Statistically, this team is right down the middle in the conference. That has “also-ran” written all over it.
9. IOWA (20-11, 10-10)
Next: Oregon-Maryland winner, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +5000.
Snip? Guard Bennett Stirtz is terrific, and first-year coach Ben McCollum’s postseason record (most of it at Northwest Missouri State) is unreal.
Or slip? Stirtz doesn’t have a whole lot in the way of sidekicks.
10. INDIANA (18-13, 9-11)
Next: Northwestern-Penn State winner, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: +10000.
Snip? Guard Lamar Wilkerson led the Big Ten in scoring in league play and had multiple 40-plus-point games.
Or slip? Look, it’s a football school and the whole world knows it.
11. MINNESOTA (15-16, 8-12)
Next: Rutgers, approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The Gophers have beaten three higher seeds, one of them Michigan State.
Or slip? Minnesota still hasn’t won this tournament. Why start now?
12. WASHINGTON (15-16, 7-13)
Next: USC, approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +20000.
Snip? The Huskies went 3-3 down the stretch and had late leads in two of the losses.
Or slip? One NCAA win in the last 14 years kind of says it all.
13. USC (18-13, 7-13)
Next: Washington, approximately 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? A 4-1 stretch that began at Wisconsin looked really good.
Or slip? There have been seven straight losses since then, and star Chad Baker-Mazara was just booted from the program.
14. RUTGERS (13-18, 6-14)
Next: Minnesota, approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday, BTN.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? A lot of steals and not many turnovers from this squad.
Or slip? Every league win came against Penn State, Maryland, Oregon or Northwestern.
Northwestern forward Nick Martinelli (2) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning basket during overtime of an NCAA college basketball game against Maryland in Evanston, Ill., Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) ORG XMIT: ILNH117
15. NORTHWESTERN (13-18, 5-15)
Next: Penn State, approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The name’s Nick Martinelli. Perhaps you’ve heard of him.
Or slip? And then there are the rest of the Wildcats.
16. OREGON (12-19, 5-15)
Next: Maryland, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: +30000.
Snip? The Ducks won four of seven down the stretch. They aren’t total pushovers.
Or slip? Injured Jackson Shelstad isn’t entering the building. At least not in shorts.
17. MARYLAND (11-20, 4-16)
Next: Oregon, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? Freshman guard Andre Mills has been going off and scored 39 at Northwestern.
Or slip? Uh, the Terrapins still lost in Evanston.
18. PENN STATE (12-19, 3-17)
Next: Northwestern, approximately 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Peacock.
Title odds: N/A.
Snip? Aside from being utterly terrible at defense, rebounding and three-point shooting, the Nittany Lions are merely subpar.
Or slip? Gee, you think?
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