Households that lost SNAP eligibility are eligible for a one-time $400 payment from Illinois | First Listen

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Michelle Eccles

Published August 5, 2026 at 6:16 AM CDT

State lawmakers appropriated $70 million in the budget to create the FRESH program to help those who lost SNAP benefits
Illinoisans have more protections when it comes to some home and auto insurance rate hikes
An Illinois State Police trooper who has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a bartender in a Chicago suburb will remain behind bars as he awaits trial
Most Illinois retailers will be required to accept cash payments beginning in 2028

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Michelle Eccles

Michelle Eccles anchors NPR Illinois' Morning Edition. Michelle has more than 30 years of experience in broadcasting which all began at her high school radio station, Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale for her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus in Radio Television and went on to become an award winning anchor and reporter for stations in Decatur and Springfield.

See stories by Michelle Eccles