State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, joined 4 Kids’ Sake Food Pantry to deliver 100 coats, hats and gloves to students at Cunningham School in Joliet.
Illinois General Assembly
Posted inNews
Pritzker proposes $56B budget with minimal new spending, tax on social media companies
Governor JB Pritzker has proposed a $56 billion budget for fiscal year 2027, which includes a tax on social media companies, increased funding for education and pensions, and a ban on junk fees, as well as other policy initiatives.
Posted inNews
Clean Slate Act for some non-violent convictions signed into law
Governor JB Pritzker signed the Clean Slate Act, which will automate the state’s record-sealing process for individuals with certain non-violent convictions, providing increased access to employment, housing, and educational opportunities and reclaiming $4.7 billion in lost wages annually.
Posted inNews
New Center for Student Wellness and Support open at Joliet Junior College
Governor Pritzker, school leaders, and community members celebrated the grand opening of Joliet Junior College’s new Center for Student Wellness and Support, which provides students with accessible, compassionate, and culturally responsive mental health services, as well as food and clothing assistance.
Posted inNews
Joliet Township passes resolution in support of One Fair Wage for workers
Joliet Township has adopted a resolution in support of the One Fair Wage legislation, urging the Illinois General Assembly and Congress to eliminate the subminimum wage for tipped workers and ensure all workers receive a full minimum wage.
Posted inState
Laws to take effect Jan. 1
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced new laws that will take effect in the new year, including measures to prevent catalytic converter theft, assist victims of crime, enhance Scott’s Law, and honor Gold Star Families.
Posted inRegional
Illinois Democrats brace for second Trump administration amid return to Springfield
Illinois Democratic leaders are preparing for a second Trump administration by enacting laws and policies in direct opposition to the conservative agenda, while also forming a coalition to protect against “the dangers of authoritarianism and the undermining” of state-level institutions.
Posted inCommentary
Letter: Do not support legalizing physician-assisted suicide
The Illinois General Assembly is considering a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, which is opposed by the “Stop Assisted Suicide Illinois Coalition” due to the potential risks it poses to vulnerable communities and the erosion of the doctor-patient relationship.
Posted inState
Illinois Girls Lead Program Offers Mentorship Opportunities for Aspiring Female Leaders
The Illinois Council on Women and Girls has announced the opening of applications for the Girls Lead program, a mentorship initiative aimed at empowering girls to pursue careers in public service.
Posted inNews
Teen voter registration surges after Illinois’ pre-registration law took effect
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has reported that nearly 50,000 16- and 17-year-olds have pre-registered to vote in the state, in accordance with a new law allowing teens to pre-register before turning 18.
