Wednesday • April 1, 2026
Urgent Warning: Don’t Click, It’s a Trick Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued another warning to Illinois residents about a surge in text‑message scams impersonating the DMV and demanding payment and personal information. To raise public awareness, Giannoulias launched a statewide consumer protection campaign – Don’t Click. It’s a Trick – urging Illinoisans not to click on any links. Giannoulias emphasized that neither the Secretary of State’s office nor the DMV ever send text messages requesting payment or threatening penalties. “Scammers are getting more sophisticated, more aggressive, and more convincing,” Giannoulias said. “They look official. They sound urgent. And they’re completely fake. These scams are designed to do one thing – create panic so people act without thinking. Bottom line: If you get a DMV text asking for money
or threatening penalties — Don’t click. It’s a trick.” Giannoulias’ office also created a new email to report the scam texts – scamalert@ilsos.gov. Illinoisans are encouraged to email the text message to the Secretary of State’s office, which is working with law enforcement to identify and take down the scammer websites. What to Do if You Receive a Suspicious Text: • Never click links in unsolicited DMV texts • Never send money or personal information • Report the message to scamalert@ilsos.gov • Delete the message immediately The Secretary of State’s office only sends text messages to remind customers about scheduled DMV appointments. It does not send texts related to driver’s license status, vehicle registration issues or enforcement actions.
Young Americans Launch “Letters to America” — A Nationwide Call for the Next Generation to Define the Country’s Future Ahead of the 250th Anniversary
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GET UP! by Janice R Newman
Photo provided by Made By Us
Submissions are now open at: youth250.org/letters Washington, DC – As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, Made By Us, a national coalition of hundreds of museums, historic sites, and cultural institutions, is launching a new youth-driven civic initiative inviting the next generation to define what America should become. Through “Letters to America,” young people ages 14 to 30 are being called on to share their vision for the country’s future through essays, videos, speeches, and art — putting forward their own declarations at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. Through this initiative, young people are putting forward their own declarations, reflecting on the country’s past, responding to the present moment, and imagining what the next 250 years should look like. Selected letters will be elevated by media partners, museums, and civic organizations nationwide as part of National Youth Takeover Day on June 27, 2026, when youth voices will take center stage across platforms, public spaces, and cultural institutions. Organizers say the initiative is designed to shift how the 250th anniversary is shaped — moving beyond official commemorations and toward a more participatory, youth-driven vision of the country’s future. “Young people are not just inheriting the future — they are actively defining it,” said Alex Edgar, Youth Engagement Manager at Made By Us and Co-Founder of Youth250. “Letters to America is about creating space for this generation
to speak for itself, in its own words, and to be heard at a national level.” The launch builds on a growing national effort to engage young people in shaping the story of the United States at a historic milestone. Through related activations like Wish Walls, town halls, and civic programming across the country, thousands of young people are already contributing their perspectives on issues including affordability, identity, safety, climate, and belonging. In addition to submitting letters, young people can: • Participate in local activations and Wish Wall installations • Share their work with media outlets, schools, and community platforms • Partner with organizations to amplify youth voices locally • Join the Youth250 Content Corps, a national network of 300+ young creators producing stories, videos, and commentary about the country’s past, present, and future Organizers say the goal is about participation and visibility, ensuring that youth perspectives are reflected in the national conversation as the 250th anniversary approaches. Youth250 is led by Made By Us and made possible through generous support from the Institute for Museum and Library Services, PolicyLink, the Hearthland Foundation, and the Bezos Family Foundation. The February 17 gathering was hosted at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, steps from where the Constitution was adopted.
Winter is coming to an end. Like bears waking from hibernation, many of us need to get up from the idle, stagnant place we’ve been living in for months—or even years. Too often, we sit on the couch scrolling through our phones, watching TV, or putting off the very goals we say matter most. But life doesn’t wait. Now is the time to get up, move forward, and take hold of what you’ve been wanting and waiting for. Have you been avoiding a project or goal that’s been on your heart? Maybe it’s writing a book, cleaning your home, getting in shape, going back to school, or starting a garden. Whatever it is, the first step is simple: get up and start now. Don’t wait for the perfect time, because it rarely comes. Begin with small tasks. Make a to-do list. Choose a few quick and easy items to complete early in the day. These small wins build confidence and momentum. At the end of the day, you’ll see proof that you’ve made progress. That feeling of accomplishment drives you to keep going. Getting up is not just physical, it’s mental and spiritual too. Physically, our bodies were made to move. When we stay still too long, our health suffers. Take a walk, stretch, exercise, or simply stand up and move around. Mentally, challenge yourself by reading books, learning a new skill, and growing your knowledge. Spiritually, spend time with God by reading the Bible, praying, and meditating to gain peace and direction. We must also get up after failure. Failure is not the end unless you stay down. Think about a baby learning to walk. When the baby falls, we don’t let them stay on the ground. We lift them up, encourage them, and cheer them on until they succeed. The same is true for us. If something truly matters to us, we must get up quickly after falling. Staying down leads to discouragement
and defeat. But getting up gives us another chance to succeed. Many great achievements in life came after repeated failure. You can only succeed if you get up and try again. Just as important, we must get up after success. Sometimes success can make us comfortable. We may think, “I’ve done enough,” or “I can’t do better”. This can cause us to stop trying. But success is not the finish line, it’s a steppingstone to the next goal or level. Whether you’ve done well in a career, completed a big goal, or achieved recognition, don’t stop there. Keep moving forward. Set new goals. Try new things. Refuse to settle. We must avoid distractions such as television, social media, video games, and easy conveniences like food delivery that can keep us stuck. While these things aren’t bad in moderation, they replace our action. Instead of going outside, we stay indoors. Instead of cooking, we order in. Instead of creating, we consume. Eventually, this leads to a life of hibernation, stagnation, and emptiness. It’s clear we must get up and get moving. As it says in Mark 14:42, “Get up, let us be going…” This is not just a suggestion—it’s a command to act. Stop procrastinating. Stand up for your purpose. Go after your goals with intention and effort. Make a daily plan, start small, and build from there. Getting up is necessary for success in every area of life. It means rising from laziness, pushing through failure, and continuing after success. It means caring for your body, growing your mind, and strengthening your spirit. Life is too short to remain in a state of hibernation. Get up today. Act. Move forward. Your goals, your purpose, and your future are waiting, but you must get up and go after them, to get them. Y? Why Not! Like us on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/ywhynotshow/