It's Your Business I Equine therapy business does more than just (mini) horse around
May 3—Sarah Nixon didn't grow up on a farm. But as a someone who had the opportunity to live and work on one while recovering from trauma, she found caring for livestock to be "profoundly healing."
And when she encountered miniature horses at an auction in Arthur, a lightbulb went off in her mind.
"I knew that there was something incredibly special about them and the potential they could have to connect with children who had experienced trauma or may be at risk for trauma," Nixon said.
She later entered the Carle Illinois College of Medicine's first Health-Make-A-Thon in 2019 and was awarded funding to help bring her idea to life.
Six years later, Nixon and her two American Miniature Horses, Chiron and Shifa, have servd over 1,000 children in the Champaign-Urbana area as "Miniature Horse Power."
While the business's primary focus is serving kids at risk of "adverse childhood experiences" in the Champaign County area, Nixon said Chiron and Shifa have greeted clients of all ages, including residents at Amber Glen Memory Care in Urbana.
Nixon uses the two miniature horses to teach children about subjects such as wellness, "mini-horsemanship", nutrition, leadership and mindfulness.
"Because mini horses are so small and unintimidating, they're much more approachable for children, especially children who have grown up in an urban environment and may have had limited interaction with animals," she said.
Additionally, she and the two minis often visit the University of Illinois campus to help students who are dealing with "exam-time jitters."
"It just changes their whole focus," she said. "It gets them away from the anxiety of needing to cram for exams and (allows them to) just chill and be in the moment."
For more information on Miniature Horse Power, call 917-830-5640 or email .
The Main Scoop is opening a new shop that will be located at The Yard on Broadway in Urbana.
"Right now, Drew Smith is leading the charge on when the first hall opens, but we hope to open alongside Smith Burger and anyone else that is ready to go at that time," said co-owner Jessica Hanson. "We are targeting a June opening at this time."
The ice cream shop is one of several restaurants that will be located in , a new development underway at the former Broadway Food Hall at 401 N. Broadway Ave. in Urbana.
The Main Scoop currently has locations in Mahomet, Monticello, Rantoul and West Main Street in Urbana.
"Our downtown Urbana location WILL remain open," Hanson said. "We are excited to service two different audiences and locations in the C-U area."
The business also plans to open a new shop in Paxton at 201 E. State St.
The Champaign Public Library will hold the Young Entrepreneur Program Pitch Competition from 2 to 5 p.m. today in the Robeson A/B room.
The event, which is open to the public, is the culmination of an 11-week workshop and mentoring series led by the library's business specialist, Lauren Gramly. Students also received advice from local business leaders and entrepreneurs, library staff said.
During Sunday's event, 11 high schoolers will present their business ideas in hopes of winning seed money, with $5,000 awarded to the first-place winner.
"Watching these students develop their ideas and grow over the past 11 weeks has been inspiring," Gramly said. "I'm so impressed by their dedication, and I'm excited to see their hard work pay off at the pitch competition."
Central Illinois Natural Health Clinic has announced plans to move its Danville location from 1012 W. Fairchild St. to 800 Oak St., with the new location housed within the Illume Counseling and Wellness Center.
Clinic officials expect the move to be complete by May 12 and do not anticipate any interruption in services. The clinic will continue to offer its "signature services" at the new location, including naturopathic medicine, nutritional counseling and chiropractics.
"Twenty years ago, we opened our doors with a vision of bringing holistic health options to Danville and the surrounding communities," said Dr. Andrew Peters, founder and director of the clinic. "Today, we're thrilled to not only celebrate this milestone anniversary but also to announce our move into a new facility that will allow us to better serve our patients for years to come."
Peters will also continue to see patients in the clinic's Urbana facility at 302 W. Elm St.
Illinois American Water has announced plans to build a new water storage tank on Market Street, just north of Interstate 72.
Company officials said the elevated tank will "enhance the overall water delivery system" in Champaign, improve fire protection, and replace a 78-year-old tank located on Market Street south of the interstate, near the Market Place Shopping Center.
Company officials said construction on the approximately $4.5-million project is expected to kick off in late 2025, with completion estimated to be late 2026.
"The new tank will nearly double the existing tank water storage volume of 1 million gallons to better support the Champaign community that has grown and expanded greatly over the past 80 years," said Director of Operations Luke Esteppe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Police Say Las Vegas Couple Defrauded Investors of Over $57 Million in Exotic Car Sales Scheme
A Las Vegas couple has been accused of defrauding investors of more than $57 million in an elaborate exotic car scam. According to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), the couple persuaded people to invest in extremely high-end exotic cars and boats that would be sold overseas for massive profits. However, an investigation found that these overseas buyers apparently didn't exist — and now the couple is facing 75 fraud-related charges. According to police, Jong Rhee, 45, and Neelufar Rhee, 34 ran their scam through their two businesses, Twisted Twins Motorsports, LLC and Lusso Auto Spa. And some of the cars involved are far more exotic than Porsche 911s or Chevrolet Corvettes: LVMPD posted a video of some of the recovered cars involved, with highlights including a Bugatti Divo and a Chiron, a Pagani Huayra, and a one-of-10 Apollo Intensa Emozione. Just these four cars alone are worth eight figures. However, the couple allegedly promised 10-figure returns. Las Vegas-based news outlet KLAS reports that the suspects told the victims that wealthy clients in Singapore were lined up to buy these high-end vehicles for approximately $2.5 billion. The couple claimed that they could sell a $526,000 Rolls Royce Spectre for $7.5 million, and that a $3.9 million boat would bring $13.5 million in Singapore — but the overseas buyers didn't exist, according to police. The Vegas couple is accused of taking the funds that were supposed to be used for these overseas transactions and instead used them for personal gain. Last summer, the Rhees reportedly spent $60,000 chartering a private plane to Missouri for a boating trip; that same boat was allegedly also one of the assets that was supposed to be sold overseas. KLAS reports that money woes could have been the motivation behind the scam. The couple's financial situation was reportedly bleak as of last year: Jong Rhee allegedly decided to use their last $10,000 to buy into a World Series of Poker event. When the gamble didn't pay off, the police claim that's when they turned to fraud. Jong Rhee and Neelufar Rhee each face 75 counts of fraud related charges such as racketeering, forgery, theft, and money laundering. Police believe that there may be additional victims of this scheme that have not been identified. They are asking for anyone that has done business with this couple to contact them by email at criminalintel@ You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
Forbes
5 days ago
- Forbes
‘Trump Always Chickens Out' (TACO) Has ‘Let's Go Brandon' Staying Power
President Donald Trump has long used nicknames to denigrate his political foes. The nicknames haven't ever been the cleverest, but that's never been the purpose; instead, they're meant to be memorable and unflattering, shaping the narrative around the individuals' perceived weaknesses. At the same time, nicknames haven't largely stuck with Trump. At least until now, as TACO could have staying power. There are already signs that Trump isn't the least bit happy as it continues to trend on social media with memes showing him as a chicken or eating tacos. Insulting nicknames have existed since the earliest days of the republic, with Vice President John Adams reportedly calling President George Washington "Mutton Head" when they disagreed. Other now-infamous nicknames include "Old Granny" as Rutherford B. Hayes was sometimes called, while Grover Cleveland was known as "Uncle Jumbo," a nickname not dissimilar to Bill Clinton being labeled "Bubba." It has long been impossible not to think of "Tricky Dick" Nixon or "President Malaise" Jimmy Carter, although the latter's death may put that one to rest for good. Social media may help create a lasting nickname that is more on the money than those that were coined by political foes, or from the editorial column of any paper of record. However, because the media cycle turns on a dime, TACO could fade away just as quickly as it emerged on the scene. "Already, the president has run through First Felon, Cadet Bone Spurs, Don the Con, and Impotus, and those are just the printable ones," explained Susan Campbell, distinguished lecturer in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of New Haven. "I do not think, unlike in the past, any one nickname will stick throughout an entire presidential administration, social media has given us all new and faster ways to spread our name-calling, so while TACO might be the name of the day, it will most likely be replaced by something else," added Campbell. "Seems like President Trump has always been successful in handing out nicknames while no one has been able to return the favor," said Amy E. Bonebright, assistant professor of journalism in the Digital Media and Journalism Department at Liberty University. "TACO, coming from Wall Street on the heels of tariff policy more turbulent than the Bering Sea, might stick when whispered in backrooms or used in personal texts, but that's probably about it," Bonebright continued. "The president has a 100% buy-in when he bestows a nickname, but his opponents seem to lack the desire to publicly challenge him, likely worried about earning their own label." TACO could stick around, and that's because it is both a nickname and a slogan. "Trump Always Chickens Out" was coined by Financial Times columnist Robert Armstrong, who described how some investors have anticipated rebounds in the stock market from Trump's on-again, off-again tariff policies. As a slogan, it may have the staying power of "Let's Go Brandon," which gained traction after a September 2001 NASCAR race in which NBC Sports reporter Kelli Stavast incorrectly described a profane chant in the background as being in support of race winner Brandon Brown. It became the go-to slogan for critics of President Biden. TACO also has more than a single meaning, and that could help make it an even more powerful rallying cry for Trump's critics. It has also been used to mean "Treason Against Constitutional Order," highlighting how it has rapidly evolved from a meme into a cultural signal. "The rise of TACO is not just political snark, it is a cultural shorthand for public accountability," said Angli Gianchandani, global brand strategist and adjunct instructor of marketing and public relations at New York University. "In today's media landscape, attention is the new currency, and acronyms like this become emotional shortcuts. Just like 'Let's Go Brandon' before it, TACO reflects how narrative control has shifted from political campaigns to the comment section," added Gianchandani. "It is not a campaign slogan – it is a cultural signal, and in the algorithm age, that signal spreads faster than any press release. The real story here is not just the nickname, it is the erosion of message control and the rise of crowd-sourced branding." What is also notable is that Trump was visibly frustrated when asked about it by CNBC correspondent Megan Cassella. As CNN reported, officials have acknowledged that Trump thought he was called a chicken, while it also raised questions about how he uses tariffs as a bargaining tool. Trump reacted by saying it was a "nasty question," which could seem ironic given the nicknames the president has employed or his bluntness on hating Taylor Swift and posting a meme of him shooting a golf ball at Bruce Springsteen. "It is a real-time case study in how crowd-sourced branding now outpaces traditional messaging, and how meme culture functions as a form of modern accountability," said Gianchandani. "If I were on the Trump comms team," said Campbell, "I'd have quit months ago because this president doesn't lend himself to having a sense of humor about these nicknames."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - Follow the money: Trump's corruption hits shocking heights
'Follow the money.' That was FBI agent 'Deep Throat,' played by Hal Holbrook, advising a young Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, played by Robert Redford, in the movie 'All the President's Men.' It premiered in theaters 49 years ago. The advice proved to be golden. And it is golden advice now — for anyone watching the corruption taking place in President Trump's second term. Right now, it is hard to miss what looks like a deluge of pocket-lining as private money swirls around this president. And let's not mention the free airplane he is ready to accept from a foreign power. The money grab is so breathtaking that it has left Trump's critics muttering expletives while the normally reliably loud critics of government corruption, especially congressional Republicans, appear in stunned silence. Even as Trump's administration seeks to regulate crypto more loosely, his jaunt into crypto — his $TRUMP and $MELANIA meme coins, plus his stake in World Liberty Financial — has reportedly increased his family's wealth by billions in the last six months and now accounts for almost 40 percent of his net worth. New York Times reporter Peter Baker posted on X last week, 'Trump and his family have monetized the White House more than any other occupant, normalizing activities that once would have provoked heavy blowback and official investigations.' Presidential scandals of the past seem quaint by comparison — Hillary Clinton's cattle futures, Eisenhower's chief of staff resigning over a coat, Nixon stepping down over a 'third-rate burglary.' The magnitude of Trump's self-serving actions to enrich himself exceeds anything in our history. Nixon sought distance from wrongdoing, telling Americans that he was 'not a crook.' He wanted to be clear that he did not personally gain money from any abuse of power that took place in his administration. Trump makes no effort to proclaim his innocence as he pursues wealth while in public office. And while Nixon held power during a time of relative economic calm for the middle class, Trump is acting against a backdrop of economic anxiety for most Americans. Mortgage rates have soared past 7 percent. Last month, Moody's downgraded our federal government's credit rating, signaling to global investors that America is now a risky bet on the basis of its mounting debt and political instability. Uncertainty over Trump's push for tariffs has the stock market on a roller-coaster ride and the bond market — the basis of retirement planning for many Americans — is trembling due to record-setting federal debt. And Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act (yes, that's what it's actually called), now going through the Senate, is set to push the nation much deeper into debt. That's not all. Trump is demanding that Walmart 'eat' the tariff-fueled added cost of products it sells, rather than passing them along to customers, even as analysts point out that retailers operate on slim margins. Last week, the U.S. Court of International Trade deemed Trump's tariffs to be illegal, further adding to the yo-yo of uncertainty and confusion that is spooking the markets, especially the bond markets. It wasn't long ago that conservative Republicans would recoil at the idea of the federal government dictating what profits businesses are allowed to earn. It was heresy. It was an affront to Milton Friedman and Frederick Hayek, conservative patron saints of economics. For decades, corporations used 'fiduciary duty' as an argument against government regulation and calls to increase employee pay and benefits. Now, they're so fearful of Trump's social media attacks that they are biting their tongues as they are being rolled by his bullying. In his first term, Trump promised that his tax cut plans would 'pay for themselves.' But the national debt increased by $1.9 trillion. And that tax cut windfall for corporations was not used to create more jobs or raise pay for workers. In most cases, the money went to buy back corporate stocks and make executives and investors richer. Now the question is whether voters will care. There are gubernatorial elections later this year in Virginia and New Jersey, and congressional midterms next year. Do voters care that Trump, his family and business partners are cashing in on Bitcoin schemes and lavish quid-pro-quo dinners with wealthy patrons? Do voters care that Trump's largest campaign donor, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, now leaving the administration, had access to personal financial information on millions of Americans, which journalists and senators have warned could be useful to his business ventures and harmful to national security? Do voters care that the outcome of Musk's attempt to cut government spending has had little impact, beyond fear, confusion and reduction of services? Do they care that Trump appointed the wealthiest Cabinet in U.S. history? Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick alone is worth over $3 billion — and entered government heavily invested in crypto, which he now helps oversee. It's time for the American people to follow the money — and connect the dots. While they grow poorer, Trump and his inner circle are growing ever richer. Juan Williams is senior political analyst for Fox News Channel and a prize-winning civil rights historian. He is the author of the new book 'New Prize for These Eyes: The Rise of America's Second Civil Rights Movement.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
