Latest news with #SleepinHeavenlyPeace
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed ordinance could deter adult-oriented businesses from opening in Mahomet
MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — Village of Mahomet Board Members will discuss a proposed ordinance regulating 'sexually oriented businesses' at Tuesday night's study session. It would set a standardized regulation should a gentleman's club or adult bookstore want to go into business in Mahomet. WBGL hosts biggest bed build ever for Mahomet's Sleep in Heavenly Peace Administrator Patrick Brown said village officials are neither for or against opening an adult oriented shop or club. The proposal, if approved, would presumably make it less enticing for potential businesses to come to town. Officials said they want to set standards for how those businesses would operate. 'Nothing has prompted this. It was just a goal of the administration, of our elected officials, to address different things in the village,' Brown said. 'I mean, similar to a couple of months ago, we addressed, you know, public camping and right of way spaces.' 'Change is long overdue': Urbana Police Chief calls for end to gun violence in the community Brown said the village researched the ordinance for a few years to make sure it was legally sound, even looking into what other towns have done. It would regulate things like how close a patron could be to a dancer, or the percentage of sales a business makes from adult-themed media. Brown said he expects the ordinance to pass when it goes up for a vote at the village's next meeting on Feb. 25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
10-02-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Oak Forest group, Midlothian library team up to fight ‘bedlessness'
Dave King and Ed Copher were looking in 2018 for a way to make a difference in their community and found while there were agencies devoted to fighting homelessness, there weren't as many resources available to help people turn housing into homes. 'I didn't realize there was a need but the more I learned, the more I realized 'bedlessness' is not a real word but is a problem in almost every single city across America,' said King. So the two south suburbanites started a local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, operating at first out of King's garage in Oak Forest and then property rented from St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 14700 Kildare Ave. Volunteers with the local chapter of the nonprofit — which is nationally based in Idaho — have constructed and given away nearly 800 beds across the Southland, from Chicago Ridge to Chicago Heights. Each bed comes with a sturdy frame, new mattress and pillow, sheets and comforter or a handmade quilt. 'Basically in order to qualify they (recipients) just have to have experienced something throughout their lifetimes that has prevented them from having a bed of their own,' said King. Each month, volunteers gather to saw, drill and stain raw lumber, fashioning it into finished beds, which are delivered to families sometimes as early as the next day, said King. Between 500 and 1,000 volunteers typically show up. 'It's just a very empowering experience for everybody,' said King. Copher's reasoning for getting involved was simple. 'I love kids,' said Copher, the local chapter's copresident. 'I want to help kids with whatever they need. We don't just bring them beds, we bring them hope and love.' Copher said they also try to involve kids in bed-making when they can. 'And before we leave, we tell them that this is their bed and it is their responsibility to keep it in good shape and keep it made,' said Copher. Their rented property is near Midlothian Public Library, so when library director Jennifer Cottrill heard about the nonprofit at a chamber of commerce meeting, she knew the library needed to help out. Now there's a donation box at the library where people can drop off new pillows to go with the beds created by Sleep in Heavenly Peace. 'Any time I can build goodwill between the different agencies that serve Midlothian, I try to do that,' said Cottrill, who broached the idea to King at that meeting. 'Also in doing it, it's an opportunity to get the word out about the organization. 'It raises awareness, so hopefully if families are in need, they will be aware such an organization exists, and they always need people to build beds … so hopefully people will learn that this is also something they can donate their time to.' Information about volunteering also is available through Copher at The library has collected donations for plenty of worthy causes, Cottrill pointed out, including the Kiwanis Club of Crestwood and Oak Forest Area, April Food Day for United Way, and local Girl Scout Troop 65659, now collecting for PAWS of Tinley Park. New, wrapped pillows may be dropped off in the receptacle in the main part of the library.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘Click your phone, lose your home'; U of I professor explains dangers of gambling
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The American Gaming Association estimates Illinoisans will bet $130 million in legal wagers on the Super Bowl. But — gambling researchers say you should think twice before placing money on the big game. The numbers speak for themselves. In 2022 the Illinois Department of Human Services estimated close to 400,000 people in the state have a gambling problem. The same study said nearly double that are at risk of getting hooked. WBGL hosts biggest bed build ever for Mahomet's Sleep in Heavenly Peace One professor at the University of Illinois is hoping to tell people about the dangers gambling brings before it's too late. 'Click your phone, lose your home. Click your mouse, lose your house,' John Kindt, Professor Emeritus of Business Administration, said. Professor Kindt has been studying the effects of gambling for over 30 years. 'If you look behind me, you'll see a whole series of red books. And this is the United States International Gambling Report,' Kindt said. Celebrating the life of a U of I pitching coach He helped contribute to the report along with many other researchers around the country. What they found was concerning. 'We have hundreds of studies showing the downside of gambling economically,' Kindt said. It can be simplified to what Kindt calls the 'A-B-C's' of gambling. 'You have, the 'A' stands for new addicted gamblers, and kids are now showing double the gambling addiction rate of the older generation,' Kindt said. 'The 'B' stands for new bankruptcies, up 18 to 42% as people lose their money. The 'C' stands for new crime. A major report out of the University of Illinois years ago, people lose their money, crime rates going up about 10% every year.' The American psychiatric Association calls this a gambling disorder. C-U at Home's annual event back for 13th year, supporting the homeless 'And this is the first behavioral addiction. It's known as a behavioral addiction,' Kindt said. Kindt also said 20% of people addicted to gambling attempt suicide. This issue also impacts those living in the state — even if you don't gamble. 'That costs the state of Illinois 6 to $13 billion per year,' Kindt said. But if you do struggle with a gambling disorder there is hope. Shane Cook works for the Gateway Foundation which helps people who struggle to stop. 'In a situation where you're just feel compelled to continue to gamble, maybe step back and look for somebody that you can have a conversation with and explore,' Cook said. Sarah Bush Lincoln issuing visitor restrictions as flu rates spike Cook said the foundation is here to help. They're one of 30 behavioral health clinics working with Illinois' 'Are You Really Winning?' campaign. 'All of the organizations, including Gateway Foundation, we are out in the community, reaching out to individuals, and we have the services where people can access them,' Cook said. The 'Are You Really Winning?' campaign lists a couple signs to look out for when you bet. Some of those are hiding gambling by lying — borrowing money to cover losses — and feeling irritated when trying to cut back on gambling. Keep those in mind before you put big bucks on the big game. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WBGL hosts biggest bed build ever for Mahomet's Sleep in Heavenly Peace
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A Mahomet charity says there are at least 50 kids in the area on a list who don't have a bed to sleep on. Sleep in Heavenly Peace decreased that number on Saturday when more than 100 volunteers came together to make it zero. People of all ages helped cut, sand and stain wood to make full frames at the Bed Build event at the WBGL Radio warehouse. They made 80 beds for kids who will now have a comfortable place to lay their heads. 14th Annual Ice Bowl looking to raise money for food insecurity 'To me, it's more than just building a bed. I mean, I think that's a crafty type thing and people can get behind that. But when you start thinking, this isn't about building beds and just using tools and stuff like that, you're literally getting a kid off the floor so that they're not sleeping on a hardwood floor,' Sleep in Heavenly Peace Vice President Mike Case said. If you missed the event, they'll be having another build, which is planned for April. People can also donate mattresses and sheets to make the beds complete. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Volunteers build dozens of beds for Evansville children
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT) — Sleep in Heavenly Peace and its Evansville chapter are making a difference for children. About 60 volunteers are building beds for them on the east side on Saturday. Volunteers say some children they help are sleeping on couches and floors. Since 2020, the Evansville chapter has built 2,000 beds, but another 3,000 kids do not have one. The organization says it's always looking for people to join, and no experience is needed. You can find on Facebook: Sleep In Heavenly Peace Evansville. You can contact us through that. You can also just show up here,' says volunteer Mike Primus. 'It's the second Saturday of every single month. We start at 8:00 sharp. By 11:30, we're cleaning up. Everybody's out the door at noon.' The 51 beds built on Saturday morning will be delivered to children next month. 39 beds from last month were delivered this morning. Owensboro Fire Department recognizes nine in annual awards Volunteers build dozens of beds for Evansville children INDOT working to reduce severe crashes with speed feedback signs Fort Branch resident fundraising for state historical marker at local Union Army camp Volleyball tournament draws thousands to Madisonville Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
