Illinois EPA announces grant opportunitiesThe Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has announced the expansion of two energy efficiency grant opportunities. The Energy Efficiency Assessment Program and the Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Program provide funding for energy efficiency assessments and upgrade projects at eligible properties serving residents receiving housing assistance. Eligible applicants include public housing authorities, units of local governments, or nonprofit organizations throughout Illinois that serve residents using housing assistance programs.State working to make haunted houses safeThe Illinois Department of Labor and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal are working together across the state to inspect haunted houses before visitors are allowed inside. All haunted houses are required to be inspected before operation, though haunted houses operated by not-for-profit religious, educational, or charitable organizations can apply for an exemption. Most haunted houses in Illinois require smoke detectors and must be protected by automatic sprinkler systems. Two tragic fires in the 1970s and 1980s at haunted houses led to closer scrutiny of haunted house safety.PETA billboard marks month since cows killed in crashIt has been more than a month since cows were killed in a crash on Interstate 57 in Douglas County, and now a billboard is paying homage. In August, a semi-truck carrying cows crashed, killing 20 cows with another 16 getting loose. The group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals purchased a billboard to remember the cows that died. The billboard reads, “I’m me. Not meat.” Officials said two cows remain on the loose in the corn.
