Working for Illinois Caucus

ROCKFORD, Ill (WREX) – State Representative Dave Vella is calling on the community to help bring holiday cheer by participating in his annual Cards For Seniors holiday card drive. 

Holiday cards can be brought to his office located at 4007 N. Mulford Road in Loves Park by December 18. Participants are welcomed to bring both hand made and store bought cards. The cards will then be taken to senior homes in the 68th District. 

Participants are encouraged to write messages inside the holiday cards they bring. State Rep. Dave Vella encourages artists to have fun when designing the cards. 

All holiday cards will be distributed to residents at senior homes by December 23. For more information please visit the official website at https://www.staterepdavevella.com/calendar/cards-4-seniors.

ROCKFORD, Ill (WREX) – In an effort to bring warmth to the Stateline, State Representative Maurice West and the Rockford IceHogs are partnering for the 11th annual Share the Warmth clothing drive. 

Last year, the Share the Warmth clothing drive brought in nearly 800 items of clothing and were taken to the Rockford Rescue Mission, Carpenter’s Place and Shelter Care Ministries. 

Rockford Ice Hog fans can bring a warm clothing item with them to the upcoming game on Friday, November 29 to receive a free ticket to a future IceHogs game. Fans are encouraged to bring either new or gently used items like jackets, hats, gloves, mittens, snow pants, sweatshirts, socks, and underwear. 

Share the Warmth drop off bins can be found at each entry at the BMO Center on Black Friday and fans that donate will receive a card with a QR code where they can then redeem their free ticket. 

“The Share the Warmth donation drive is a testimony to Rockford’s unity and care for those in need,” said West. “Let’s make sure our neighbors are covered in warmth and kindness this winter, ensuring that no one in our community faces the cold alone. Thank you to the IceHogs for demonstrating your continued commitment to our community by partnering in this important work.” 

“We are thrilled to partner with State Representative West on Share the Warmth again this season,” said Dave Costello, the Rockford IceHogs Manager and Marketing and Community Relations. “Our fans always seem to rise to the occasion with their generosity for important initiatives like this and I am excited to see the impact we can make for people in need this holiday season.” 

It took two weeks, but Democrat Murri Briel has been declared the winner of the 76^th District State Representative race.

Briel currently serves as State Representative Lance Yedncok’s aide and chief of staff. She appeared on Rod Thorson’s morning show Thursday.

One topic was Briel’s view of the future of education in a district that not only includes Northern Illinois University, but also a number of community colleges. Briel said she’s concerned about the load that would be put on the state if the U.S. Department of Education is broken up or dissolved.

On healthcare, Briel spoke personally. During the campaign she had described not being able to return to the Illinois Valley because of her neurodivergent sons’ particular needs.

Briel says free-market competition is a beautiful thing, and she’d like to see more providers move into Starved Rock Country.

Of course, younger people are leaving, too. Briel said innovative employers will be key to keeping young talent from leaving the Illinois Valley in search of opportunities elsewhere.

Briel said she’s going to stay in Lance Yednock’s Ottawa office at 628 Columbus Street. She says that he showed her that constituent service is the majority of the job.

You can listen to Rod Thorson’s full interview with State Representative-Elect Briel here:

State Rep. Sharon Chung, who fended off Republican challenger Desi Anderson to hold her Illinois House seat on Election Day, said state and local Democratic victories show "a really energized party with lots of momentum."

"I think it’s a lot of the work that we’ve been doing as a party — a lot of work that we’ve been doing as candidates, getting out there, talking to people," Chung said Wednesday during a live interview on WGLT on Morning Edition. "I think, in the past, there really haven’t been as many candidates who have been willing to step up and and run a really competitive race with resources put behind them."

Chung was among several Democratic wins in McLean County: U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen beat Republican Joe McGraw in the 17th Congressional District. Democratic state Sen. Dave Koehler, whose 46th District now includes Bloomington-Normal, won his sixth term against Republican challenger Sally Owens. And Democrats also seized majority control of the McLean County Board in Tuesday’s election, unseating two incumbent Republicans and tipping the balance of power in their favor for the first time.

Chung, a former county board member, said the shift in power balance on the county board is the byproduct of years of on-the-ground work.

"Every single one of the candidates who ran for county board this year — they were out there knocking on doors, talking to their neighbors, talking to their friends. We started that back at in 2018 when I ran for county board," she said. "Back then, there were five Democratic members on the board. [It’s pretty] incredible just to be able to make the make up those grounds, in that short amount of time."

Chung gave the comments during an interview on Morning Edition, where she also discussed upcoming legislative priorities. You can listen to the full interview below.

In the 76^thHouse District race between two challengers, Democrat Amy “Murri” Briel – according to our numbers – holds a five hundred vote lead over Republican Liz Bishop. Bishop won La Salle and Bureau Counties, but those numbers were overshadowed by the support Briel received in DeKalb County. Not all the ballots have been counted, so, Briel wasn’t ready to declare a victory, but is cautiously optimistic:

Briel was Chief of Staff for retiring Representative Lance Yednock and is an Ottawa native.. We will continue to follow this story until a winner is determined.