Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed the Warehouse Safety Tornado Preparedness Act, among more than 200 other bills, into law.
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August 24, 2025 at 10:48AM
BELVIDERE, Ill. (WIFR) – In response to the Trump administration’s Big Beautiful Bill, Congressman Bill Foster and State Representative Dave Vella co-hosted a town hall Wednesday night.
More than forty people, some of whom brought their children, spent more than an hour hearing about how local lawmakers are responding to their concerns at the state and federal levels; most notably, healthcare.
“How will the Big Beautiful Bill actually impact people?”
As this question is top of mind for some voters, dozens gathered in Belvidere to look for answers. Local lawmakers said the bill could impact roughly 17 million Americans. Congressman Foster said those without Medicaid will also be affected.
“If you’re not one of them, you’re probably going to see your rates go up as well because when people become uninsured, they show up in emergency rooms,” said Foster.
Vella said changes at the federal level will impact those who are enrolled in the supplemental food assistance program, also known as “SNAP.”
“We did actually cut some stuff out of the state budget. We couldn’t cut enough because we’re going to be losing billions and billions of dollars. What’s going to come from the federal government isn’t anymore,” said Vella. “Overall, just from a macro level, it’s going to hurt the state of Illinois.”
When asked about the progress on the reopening of the Stellantis Plant in Belvidere, Vella said work with the company shifted because funding scheduled to come into the stateline won’t happen.
“The one thing that they tell me and I usually talk to them on a bi-weekly basis, is they love everything, they are ready to go, just they’re trying to figure out if it’s going to be an internal combustion vehicle, hybrid vehicle, electric vehicle,” said Vella.
They also talked about election security
“If they are really paranoid, they can get out their spreadsheets and check the calculation to make sure all the precincts are being added up properly. It’s pretty hard to hack that as long as citizens are paying attention to what’s happening in their precinct,” said Foster.
Vella said the intention for the passenger rail service from Rockford to Chicago should start in 2027. He told residents they’ve run into issues with federal funding and the fact the Chicago Bears are moving to Arlington Heights.
Congressman Foster said he plans to have another town hall about artificial intelligence in the near future.
Copyright 2025 WIFR. All rights reserved.
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August 21, 2025 at 06:12AM
Freshman Democratic State Representative Amy “Murri” Briel will be hosting a town hall on September 9 at the International Union of Operators and Engineers Hall, aka Celebrations 150 on Route 6 near Utica.
The Speaker of the Illinois House will be Briel’s special guest at the town hall. Emanuel “Chris” Welch leads the Democrats in the lower chamber and is among the highest-ranking legislative Democrats in Illinois.
Children are welcome at the union hall on September 9. They’ll have activities just for them.
Doors open at the town hall at 5:30. The event kicks off at 6.
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August 20, 2025 at 02:02PM
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Illinois State Representative Dave Vella has announced his re-election campaign to serve the 68th District.
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August 19, 2025 at 04:55PM
A new law led by state Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, will make it easier for Illinois farmers to use large farm equipment during harvest by extending the time temporary workers can use commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for farm work.
“It’s very common for farms across the state to employ temporary help during planting and harvesting season, and we want to ensure these workers are able to operate equipment critical to the farm’s success,” Briel said in a news release. “By extending the license availability to operate farm equipment another 30 days, we won’t be taking away these crucial tools halfway through their harvesting seasons.”
Previous laws didn’t allow temporary workers to use their CDL licenses to operate large farm equipment, like combines or irrigation machines, through the end of harvest season.
Senate Bill 849 lets temporary farm workers use their CDL licenses for up to 210 days in a year, instead of 180, so they can operate large farm equipment through a full planting and harvest season.
“I’m pleased to work on legislation that will directly uplift my community of farm families who have been integral to sustaining Illinois’ food supply for generations,” Briel said. “Expanding this license availability is essential to maintain the efficiency and prosperity of Illinois farms.”
The bill was signed into law on Friday, Aug. 15 and will go into effect January 1 of next year.
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August 19, 2025 at 08:32AM
State Rep. Katie Stuart represents the 112th District that includes Edwardsville and Glen Carbon. She can be reached at repkatiestuart@gmail.com. Aug …
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August 17, 2025 at 07:25AM
State Rep. Amy Murri Briel, D-Ottawa, spoke Monday night at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby to update residents on her work in Springfield, focusing on healthcare, roads and how communities can work together to make a difference.
At the second of three sessions on her summer town hall tour, Briel opened by explaining her budget focus in Springfield has been “making sure our investments reflect our communities’ needs,” highlighting recent funding boosts for local schools, job training programs and various road projects in La Salle County.
“We’re seeing the results of smart, steady investments so far,” Briel said. “It’s not flashy, but it’s making a difference in classrooms, in job training programs and in how safe and reliable our roads are.”
A big topic of conversation in the Illinois Valley – Briel made sure to talk about healthcare, emphasizing efforts to support hospitals and improve access to care in local rural communities.
“We increased the Medicaid reimbursement rates to help safety-net hospitals stay open, including many rural hospitals that are essential to their communities,” Briel said. “We still have a long way to go – hospital closures like St. Margaret’s in Spring Valley show us how fragile our system can be.”
She also highlighted expanding Medicaid coverage for women’s health services.
“We now cover doulas, postpartum care and other important services that weren’t reimbursed before,” she said. “Maternal health is a big concern, especially in areas where access is limited.”
Looking at the bigger picture, Briel criticized the shift in rural healthcare from patient care to consumer profit.
“We’re no longer just patients; we’re treated like consumers. When that happens, healthcare becomes about profits instead of people. It’s time to hold the medical industrial complex accountable and fight for care that puts patients first.”
“When people come together and demand better, we see change. We deserve care that respects us, not just treats us like a commodity.”
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Marlene Moshage, a member of the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Trustees and a new volunteer with the Voluntary Action Center, thanked State Rep. Amy Murri Briel for highlighting the importance of programs like Meals on Wheels during Monday’s town hall at IVCC. (Bill Freskos)
On infrastructure, Briel broke down how the state funds its roads and bridges, focusing on the gas tax.
“The gas tax is a key source of funding for maintaining our roads, bridges, and local transportation,” she said. “It’s collected at both the state and federal levels and then divided among different funds – some goes to state highways, some to counties and municipalities.”
“That’s why when you drive from one town to another, you might see different gas prices. Local governments can add their own taxes on top of the state and federal gas tax to fund their road projects. So, gas tax dollars directly impact the quality of the roads you drive on every day.”
She connected that to the bigger picture of infrastructure challenges and rising utility costs locally.
“We’re facing an energy crisis with rates going up and utilities struggling to keep up with needed infrastructure improvements,” she said. “That’s why we’re working toward an energy omnibus bill this fall to provide relief and fix the system. If it doesn’t pass this session, we’ll bring it back next spring.”
As prices rise, she encouraged residents to take advantage of utility assistance programs.
“There are programs through NICOR and ComEd that can help with monthly bills or offer incentives. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re struggling – help is available,” she said.
Throughout the session, Briel pointed to the challenges posed by recent federal funding cuts and corporate influence, but expressed optimism that advocacy and working together as a community can lead to real change.
Looking ahead, Briel’s third and final town hall session will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the International Union of Operating Engineers Hall, 740 E. Route 6, Utica.
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August 12, 2025 at 12:22PM
If you have questions or concerns you’d like to share with State Representative Amy “Murri” Briel, a town hall meeting would be the perfect opportunity to do just that.
The Democrat from Ottawa is hosting three town halls later this summer in DeKalb, Utica, and Oglesby. The first town hall took place last month at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Briel will be available Monday at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby. In September, Briel will host a town hall on the 9that the International Union Operators Engineers Hall (old Celebrations 150) along Route 6 in Utica. Each town hall starts at 6.
Briel hopes the town halls enable her to hear your thoughts on “hyperlocal” issues. You are asked to RSVP if planning to attend any of the Representative Briel town halls by clicking here
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August 6, 2025 at 02:49PM
(WIFR) – Democratic State Representative Maurice West will run for re-election as state representative of the 67th district.
West is currently serving his fourth term representing the 67th district, which includes parts of Rockford, Loves Park, New Milford and Cherry Valley.
“Serving this community is the honor of a lifetime, and we have so much more work to do together,” said State Rep. Maurice West. “We’ve brought record state investments to Northern Illinois, but there are still too many who struggle to afford the basics in our community – housing, childcare, healthcare, groceries, and more. My focus is to continue to fight for a better, stronger Rockford region, one where everyone has the ability to thrive.”
West also serves as Assistant Majority Leader, chair of the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission and chair of the Elections and Ethics Committee in the Illinois House of Representatives.
“Since I was first elected, I’ve worked collaboratively with anyone who is ready to invest in our region, grow good paying jobs, and make our community more vibrant,” said West. “Especially with the chaos coming out of Washington, D.C. right now, we need local leaders who are ready to step up and do what is right for our people. I would be honored to be reelected to continue this fight for this place I love so much.”
Illinois’ general primary is set for March 17, 2026, with the midterm election scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
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August 6, 2025 at 02:33PM
Working for Illinois Caucus 