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While some resources are available for inmates looking to turn their lives around after jail, many children with incarcerated parents end up making many sacrifices due to a crime they did not commit.

One student at Southern Illinois University wants to help those children go to college.

Stephen Ross, an agribusiness economics major at SIU, started the "Peanut Scholarship Fund" after his friend went to prison--leaving his son (nicknamed "Peanut") behind. Ross told the Saluki Times that he knew the child would face an uphill battle trying to pay for college with an incarcerated parent.

Ross, who is from Chicago, told the Associated Press that the "Peanut" fund would provide need-based scholarships to potential students at the Carbondale school whose parents can't provide financial support because of crime, either because they are in prison or have been victims of crime.

Ross hopes to raise enough money to provide full-ride scholarships to eligible students.

A fundraiser for the "Peanut Scholarship Fund" will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 8 the SIUC Student Center at the Carbondale university. The event will feature a screening of the Norwegian film, "Troubled Water," according to the Saluki Times. The film tells the story of what happens when a young man recently released from prison encounters the victims of his crime.

Admission to the event is $2.

Illinois politicians came out on top (and bottom) of a new "Best & Worst of Congress" list in the September issue of the Washingtonian magazine.

Republican Aaron Schock of Peoria made it into five categories on both sides of the list--and was the only House member from Illinois who made it on at all. Schock was deemed the No. 1 male "hottie" in Congress, No. 2 "gym rat," No. 3 "best dressed," and second most likely to star in a scandal.

Though the list is not online yet, the Chicago Tribune reports that Democrat Dick Durbin came off looking quite well. The senator from Illinois was ranked No. 1 "workhorse" and the No. 1 "most eloquent" member of Congress. The magazine's list is not scientific, as the Tribune explains:

The magazine's unscientific findings are compiled by survey of administrative aides, press secretaries, legislative directors and high-level committee staffers willing to participate. The top three vote getters in most categories made mention in the magazine.
Illinois was also represented on the "worst" list. Roland Burris, the senator appointed by convicted felon and former governor Rod Blagojevich, was named No. 1 "most clueless" and third "most likely to star in a scandal."

Rahm Emanuel, who wants to be Chicago's mayor some day, was given some mixed reviews. The president's chief of staff was named No. 2 "Best Obama administration figure" and No. 3 "Worst Obama administration figure." The full list is available in the September issue of the Washingtonian.