South Bend Tribune: On Tuesday, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act - more commonly known as the stimulus bill - will turn 18 months old. Since the bill's signing in February 2009, St. Joseph County has been awarded $149.6 million in stimulus money, according to information compiled on the government website www.recovery.gov. More than a third of that money has been awarded to public schools to help make up for shortfalls in state funding but to also provide for things such as special education and new kitchen equipment.