Montgomery State Representative Matt Hanson says there’s still no resolution to a $770 million-plus funding gap in the Chicago area’s public transportation system.
Lawmakers wrapped up their spring session in May.
"Frankly, there was no deal yet. There’s a lot of considerations when you haven’t changed anything in forty years," Hanson said. "And some of the designs, whether it be through governance, be designs through planning, be designs through capital priorities need to be redesigned. And I believe that a lot of the the structural changes, the structural considerations have been agreed upon and are very, very close. But the other part is how are we gonna pay for it and who’s gonna pay for it?"
Hanson says the current Regional Transportation Authority structure may need to be replaced. The RTA oversees rail, buses, and other transit services.
He says many of the agencies under the RTA are working on multiple budget scenarios: one with serious cuts, one holding steady, and one with increased funding to improve public transportation — which Hanson says he would prefer.
76th District State Representative Amy "Murri" Briel is hosting a series of town hall meetings in the coming months around the district.
The first one is on July 11 at Northern Illinois University at 6 p.m. in the Holmes Student Center. Briel says participants can discuss pressing issues and share the needs and values of the district.
The next town hall is on August 11 at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. Another is scheduled for September 9 at the International Union of Operating Engineers Hall in Utica.
Kathleen Jamerson, with state Rep. Maurice West, answers residents questions Tuesday, June 24, 2025, about repairs coming to the Central Terrace Co-Op in southwest Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
ROCKFORD — A nonprofit housing cooperative on the city’s southwest side will get critical fixes to its residents’ homes through a nearly $1 million state grant.
The Central Terrace Co-Operative is a resident-led community designed to provide its members with affordable housing. The 150 units in more than 50 buildings along Bishop Washington Avenue were originally Army barracks during World War II, according to Kathleen Jamerson, board president of the co-op.
In recent years, electrical issues inside some of the homes have sparked fires, she said. There were also electric outlets that wouldn’t work, preventing the use of lighting or air conditioning units in some spaces, and other issues such as drafty or damaged windows.
“This was a true blessing,” Jamerson said. “It will make the members safe. They’ll be able to adequately use the outlets and have lighting where they need it. It’s really important.”
The co-op reached out to state Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, who helped them win a $930,000 grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. The money will help replace electrical wiring and install new windows in each of the units. It will also help repair a maintenance garage with new siding, roofing and asbestos removal.
“Bringing long-term improvements into our communities so that residents can thrive in their homes and neighborhoods is always a top priority for me,” West said. “This funding represents more than just infrastructure — it’s an investment in people, stability and the future of this community.”
Shane Hobbs, vice president of Carpenters Local 792, moves plywood on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, as work gets underway to repair a maintenance garage at the Central Terrace Co-Op in southwest Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
The work is being handled by Kee Solutions, a Rockford-based construction company. Approximately 15 people will be part of the job, all earning prevailing wages. The work is expected to be complete by November.
“I love it because it’s my community and I know that I can maximize the dollars for them,” said Quentin Wainwright Sr., president of Kee Solutions. “I know there are other contractors where it’s all about profit. For me, it’s all about community.”
Jamerson said they will pursue other grants in the future to help pay for new siding, roofs, cement fixes and other beautification.
Central Terrace Co-Op will make electric repairs and replace windows on 150 housing units thanks to a $930,000 state grant. Some of the homes are shown Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in south Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
State Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) has announced she is running for re-election in the 96th District in the 2026 election. Scherer has been state representative since 2013. The 96th district includes all or parts of Springfield, Decatur, Taylorville, Blue Mound, Mount Auburn, Niantic, Edinburg and Rochester. A former educator of more than 30 years, Scherer serves as Chair of the House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing and Charter Schools Committee. Scherer is recognized for her work to increase educational funding, DCFS reform and for bringing billions of dollars in infrastructural advances to her district.
June 23, 2025 – State Representative Sue Scherer has announced her intent to run for re-election in the 2026 election.
The former teacher was elected to the Illinois House 2013. Scherer serves as Chair of the House Elementary and Secondary Education: Administration, Licensing and Charter Schools Committee.
Scherer notes her workto increase educational funding, DCFS reform and for bringing billions of dollars in infrastructural advances to the 96th district.
Schere has a B.S., Illinois State University and her Masters in Education from Eastern Illinois University.
Region: Decatur,Feeds,News,City: Decatur,Region: Central
Controlling spending on government bureaucracy and overhead so we can devote our limited resources to the resources families need is something we can all agree on.
At both the state and federal level, politicians need to go through the budget line-by-line looking for potential efficiencies and opportunities to make targeted cuts. That’s how we make sure that taxpayer money is spent in a smart way that benefits everyone. Carefully tailoring spending to best reflect both our shared values as well as the unique needs of various groups, as well as improving government efficiency has been a priority for me in Springfield. That’s why I voted for a budget that cuts nearly $400 million in state bureaucracy, putting that money back into the pockets of working families. I took a detailed approach to cutting government spending and funding our most critical services that support education, health, and economic development.
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Sadly, Washington is taking a very different approach. Extremist politicians are blindly taking a chainsaw to the services families depend on, slashing education funding alongside resources for our veterans, seniors, and more. Because these cuts are simply intended to cover the cost of expensive tax breaks for billionaires, Washington is not fixing our spending problems; in fact, they’re exploding the debt. When determining what services and resources will receive more, the same, less, or no funding, government officials should take a detailed approach to the budget to ensure that the services working families depend on aren’t cut.
One of the institutions that has been targeted by the federal government is higher education. Disagreeing with the majors, courses, and resources offered at many universities, the federal government has demanded that college and university curricula, such as those focused on education, public health, religion, and human rights, be shut down to align with the beliefs of the federal government. If universities refuse to comply, the federal government has threatened to take back federal funding, particularly research funding. This hostility has raised serious concerns about not only the future of higher education, but public health and local economies as well.
On the surface, a few among us may not like their taxes going toward the funding of colleges and universities, but these institutions use this money to fund research projects that benefit the public in more ways than many may know.
This funding has helped advance cancer and childhood cancer research, study why particular groups, such as people in rural areas, experience higher rates of certain diseases, and expand food access to those experiencing food insecurity. The research conducted by these colleges and universities has empowered Americans to tackle the issues they, their families, and their communities face. When looking to cut government spending, the federal government is overlooking the vast benefits of providing federal funding to universities, and instead is only looking at the money spent, not taking into account the critical contributions made to public health and wellness by university research.
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The people harmed by the federal government’s cuts to higher education aren’t limited to just those pursuing higher education. Every community that is home to a public or private university or community college will be hurt by these cuts. In communities like Edwardsville, these institutions offer employment opportunities for members of the local community. Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville employs over 2,200 people alone. The student body represents almost 12,000 additional consumers for the local economy, supporting landlords and small businesses and spurring economic development that would otherwise go elsewhere. Cuts to higher education by the federal government are cuts to employment and economic opportunities in local communities just like ours.
Matching government spending to the priorities of taxpayers and community members is an issue many can agree on and the way a government goes about cutting spending is critical to maintaining the services so many Americans depend on. The approach taken by Washington politicians is reckless and threatens to harm Americans both directly and indirectly, gutting or even eliminating vital research and services for working families. Washington needs to take a detailed approach to cutting government spending, much like the compassionate and responsible approach my colleagues and I took to the state budget this year. Cuts need to be made the right way, and that’s why I won’t stop fighting for federal funding for the resources and services our community depend on.
State Rep. Katie Stuart represents the 112th District that includes Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. She can be reached at repkatiestuart@gmail.com.
School is still in session here at Good Day Stateline. State Representative Maurice West stops by to show Michelle and Taminique how to tie a tie. You can keep up with everything Representative West is doing at https://www.staterepwest.com/.
As an early Father’s Day gift, we’re gifting him Damn, Man Nuts & Beef High Protein Gift Box and Damn, Man Sling Bag of Meat. You can get Damn, Man Snacks at https://www.dmsnacks.com/.
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Illinois State Representative Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, speaks about a bill that would create an automated system to seal criminal records for low level non-violent criminal offences, on the House floor on Friday May 30th, 2025. Read the full story at capitolnewsillinois.com
PEORIA, Ill. – An initiative pushed by state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, will deliver $400 million in state funding to help local governments repair local roads and other transportation priorities, with a focus on disadvantaged communities.
“When developing our current state budget, we saw an opportunity to invest more resources in local transportation projects that will provide real benefits now and for years to come,” Gordon-Booth said. “As local governments look to balance their limited resources between transportation and other services, this is a significant grant they should take advantage of. In particular, this program aims to help uplift disadvantaged communities that too often have been overlooked.”
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) recently began the application process for the $400 million initiative, with an anticipated range of funding between $100,000 and $10 million per project. Projects in economically disadvantaged areas will be prioritized for funding, and will be prioritized based on readiness with a focus on grant initiation within a two-year timeframe. Eligible categories of transportation include highway, rail, bicycling and pedestrian transit.
Financial support for the effort was included in the current state budget, which was spearheaded by Gordon-Booth as she served as the House’s lead negotiator.
“These are critical investments that spark development, support jobs and prepare us to meet the economic demands of today and tomorrow,” Gordon-Booth said. “I’m excited to see the impact.”
Communities have until June 1 to apply for grant funding. For more information, please contact RepJGordon@gmail.com.
Working for Illinois Caucus 