Mentorship

The volunteer business assistance nonprofit SCORE Peoria is working to expand its presence in Bloomington-Normal. But those efforts could be facing a major roadblock, as the pending reconciliation legislation in Congress would eliminate the national organization's funding.

A lack of institutional support, statutorily imposed legal barriers, stigmas, low wages — they all mean prison sentences can effectively be for life, especially for residents of black and brown communities.

A former Bloomington Housing Authority resident has created a space to encourage students in the community to achieve goals they might not have been…