SENIOR EXPO/SALVATION ARMY DRIVE
Please join us at our upcoming Senior Expo in Pontiac on Wednesday, August 6! The event will be held at the Pontiac Parks and Recreation Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Admission and refreshments are free, and free screenings will be available. Please see the flyer above for more details.
In addition, we are currently collecting items for the Salvation Army to help those in need. If you would like to donate, please see the list of needed items below. They can be dropped off at our Pontiac District Office, 305 W. Madison St. Pontiac.
Items being collected for the Salvation Army: Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Toothpaste, Deodorant (men’s and women’s), Men’s Razors, Hair Brushes/Combs, Tampons, Maxi Pads, Bottled Water, Cereals, Pasta (spaghetti or other noodles), Jelly, and Liquid IV or similar hydration packets.
SAFE-T ACT
For months now, Megan Bos’ family had to live with the pain of knowing the man who concealed her death and hid her body was able to walk free because of the ridiculous SAFE-T Act.
This past weekend, ICE detained the man and he remains in custody. We shouldn’t have to rely on the federal government to get justice for victims in Illinois.
These frightening examples continue to happen in our state. Every day, suspects are released because the crimes they are suspected of committing are not on the short list of detainable offenses. This means the person is released pending their trial. We need to repeal the misguided SAFE-T Act to protect our communities.
LEGISLATIVE MAPS
Another Pritzker flip-flop. When he first ran for governor, JB Pritzker pledged to veto any partisan-drawn legislative maps. A couple years later, he signed into law the most gerrymandered maps in the nation. Maps that were drawn behind closed doors by Democrats. Earlier this week, the governor again signaled support for fair maps. Can the people of Illinois really trust him on this one? Actions speak louder than words, Governor.
Learn more here.
PUBLIC SAFETY
House Republicans have sponsored 41 bills that would improve public safety, assist law enforcement, and help innocent victims in Illinois. Representatives Dennis Tipsword, John Cabello, and Patrick Sheehan all have extensive law enforcement backgrounds, and they, along with their Republican colleagues, will continue to fight for better public safety measures to be enacted in Illinois.
Learn more here.
JOBS
Adient, a global leader in automotive seating, plans to establish a facility in Normal to assemble seat components for Rivian products. Adient plans to make a capital investment of more than $8 million with support from the REV Illinois program, enabling the company to establish its operations and creating 75 new full-time jobs.
Learn more here.
SCAMS
Beware of scam text messages claiming to be from the Illinois DMV. Remember, the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office only sends text messages to remind residents about appointments. Learn more here.
STATE POLICE
Illinois State Police graduates the largest cadet class in 25 years
The newly sworn troopers will be assigned to join all ten regional locations of the Illinois State Police (ISP). Commending the graduates, State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly noted that the new troopers marked the largest ISP cadet class in the past 25 years.
The State Police will consider qualified adults for cadet training and sworn standing. Qualified new applicants may be chosen to initiate 29 weeks of traditional cadet training. In addition, persons who have already won standing as certified police officers with prior experience may choose to apply for entry to an accelerated 12-week State Police entry program, open only to persons with prior police experience.
In both cases, after undergoing State Police academy cadet training, future ISP troopers are then invited to participate in a final 14-week field training program, for hands-on experience-based learning. After completion of the field training program, the 95 members of the summer 2025 Illinois State Police cadet graduate class were sworn in as State Police troopers.
EDUCATION
Illinois children could get a second chance at better schools and choice
The State of Illinois had a successful school-scholarship tax incentive program, “Invest in Kids,” until 2022-2023. The “Invest in Kids” program was then allowed to expire, despite House Republicans fighting to keep it alive.
Through Invest in Kids, Illinois taxpayers could make tax-free donations to the fundraising groups of the private school or school system of their choice. The fundraising groups were mandated to use funds raised through Invest in Kids to provide scholarship opportunities to selected students. The young people participating in the Invest in Kids program received reduced-tuition or tuition-free education at the schools to which they had been admitted.
A recent change in federal law has given this concept a new chance of life in Illinois. A new federal tax law contained within the “One Big Beautiful Bill” has created a new, nationwide program for opt-in states, and their taxpayers, to participate in a new package of income tax scholarship incentives. For opt-in states, the new federal scholarship program would operate in a manner like “Invest in Kids.”
The Chicago Tribune has called upon Illinois leaders to opt into the school-choice provisions of the new Trump tax law. House Republicans have supported the reinstatement of “Invest in Kids” and the restoration of school choice to thousands of Illinois students and their families.