New tax incentives could help some downstate Illinois cities rehab some old buildings for housing and businesses. But there are a few catches.

A law allows Illinois school districts to use a portion of their transportation funding to help homeless families, and those at risk of becoming homeless, pay for a place to live.

The city of Urbana and Brinshore Development have agreed to pull the plug on an arts-centered residential development that was planned to go up on a city-owned parking lot just across Illinois Street from Lincoln Square Mall.