19-Legal

All ESL students approved for free bus rides to school

Some 1,800 students in the East St. Louis School District will receive free bus rides to school beginning with the 2020-2021 school year thanks to state legislation passed at the instigation of district parents.

Illinois House Bill 5195, adopted in late 2018, allows qualifying schools to provide free bus transportation to students who reside in an area with high incidence of criminal gang activity. Previously, free school transportation was only provided to students who live more than 1.5 miles from school or for those who live less than 1.5 miles but who walked through hazardous areas as identified by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Data from the Illinois State Police, as well as the City of East St. Louis, City of Washington Park, City of Centreville and the Village of Alorton, were used as evidence for determining eligibility in the application to the Illinois State Board of Education.

The East St. Louis School District was the first school district in Illinois to apply and receive a waiver for all of its students and the first to receive a transportation waiver from the Illinois State Board of Education. According to the school district, its transportation provider, Illinois Central, is in the process of adding new fleet and recruiting additional drivers to meet the increased service demand.

The bill was championed by Rep. LaToya Greenwood, Rep. Jay Hoffman and Sen. James Clayborne Jr. to ensure approval in the House and Senate. East St. Louis School District Superintendent Arthur Culver noted that the district and concerned partners have been working for several years to get free transportation for students who reside in areas with high incidences of criminal gang activity.

“Our parents are the ones who raised this issue and worked tirelessly to advocate for free bus transportation for all students,” Culver stated in a release. “Their advocacy has led to this win for our students. We also want to thank our Board of Education and the Financial Oversight Panel for their support and steadfast concern for the safety of our students.”

The district also thanked local municipalities and police departments for their assistance with compiling the data reports needed for the waiver application.

“The chances of being murdered in East St. Louis are 19 times greater than the national average,” the Belleville News-Democrat reported last April. “The national homicide rate is around 5 murders for 100,000 people; in East St. Louis, it’s 96 murders per 100,000, topping cities like Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit and Washington, D.C. Yet only 25 percent of the murders are charged in criminal court, compared to a national average of 60 percent.”

The News-Democrat noted that there were 453 murders within the 14-square-mile border of East St. Louis from 2000 to 2018.

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via St. Louis American

February 5, 2020 at 06:48AM

February 5, 2020 0

Rep. Mason hosts forum in Gurnee

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State Rep. Joyce Mason of Gurnee is hosting a legislative forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 O’Plaine Road in Gurnee.

The forum is free-flowing and residents can ask questions and share concerns about state issues and legislation. Attendees will be able to have an open and friendly conversation with Mason about new legislation she is working on and other proposals being considered in Springfield.

Mason represents the 61st House District, which includes much of northern Lake County. For more information, call (847) 485-9986 or email info@repjoycemason.com.

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via Daily Herald

February 4, 2020 at 09:57PM

February 4, 2020 0

Bristow Overrides Veto to Protect Local Jobs and Aviation Repair Industry in Illinois | RiverBender.com

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SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, released the following statement after the Illinois House overrode the governor’s veto of House Bill 3902 on Tuesday, which would protect local jobs and industries in the region and keep Illinois businesses competitive in the field of aviation repair:

“Today, the Illinois House sent a strong, bipartisan message that we value good-paying jobs in our state and will do what it takes to protect them. With major concerns about people and businesses leaving Illinois, it is our responsibility to protect industries and jobs, including the more than 3,400 jobs in aviation repair across our state.

“I came to Springfield to put local jobs, people and families over politics, even if it means standing up to a governor of my own party. While some party leaders may not have wanted me to do this, I overrode the veto of the governor because he chose to misrepresent this issue and play politics with legislation that directly impacted hundreds of local jobs in the Metro East that people depend on to support their families.

“As state representative, I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats in a bipartisan fashion to keep industries in our state competitive and to keep those high paying jobs here in our communities, supporting our local economy and families.”

Bristow sponsored House Bill 3902 which reinstates a tax credit that will allow aviation repair stations across the state to remain competitive and continue providing high paying jobs and economic growth in their communities. By overriding the governor’s veto of the bill, Illinois will once again join 36 other states with similar legislation and keep Illinois from losing businesses and jobs to neighboring states. The legislation will directly impact local businesses such as West Star Aviation in East Alton, which provides maintenance and repair services for private aircraft and employs more than 500 Metro East residents.

The legislation originally passed the Illinois House of Representative and Illinois Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support before being vetoed by the governor.

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February 4, 2020 at 03:36PM

February 4, 2020 0

State Rep. Bristow to Help Local Residents Find Property Tax Relief With Sen. Crowe

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WOOD RIVER – To help local resident find property tax relief, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, is hosting Property Tax Office Hours with Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, for residents of Wood River Township. The event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 11 at Wood River Township Assessor’s office, located at 49 S. 9th Street, from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.

“One of the best ways people can find property tax relief is by ensuring they are taking advantage of current property tax exemptions. The best way to find out which exemptions you qualify for is by sitting down with your local township or county assessor,” said Bristow. “This event will allow folks to sit down one-on-one with property tax experts from the assessor’s office and ask questions about how to save on their property taxes.”

Bristow’s free property tax event will allow residents to engage one-on-one with members of the Wood River Township Assessor’s office to learn about exemptions and the property tax appeals process. Residents are encouraged to bring a copy of their most recent property tax bills and a valid state ID.

“I encourage homeowners that are concerned with the rising costs of their property taxes to come and ask questions,” continued Bristow. “With new state laws and proposals, it’s good to stay up to date about how you can save on your property taxes.”

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February 3, 2020 at 02:07PM

February 3, 2020 0

St. Rep. Yednock says infrastructure program will be good in a number of ways

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Ottawa Democratic St. Rep. Lance Yednock says not only will a statewide infrastructure program be valuable just as a public good, it’ll spur a lot of apprenticeships and new construction companies.

Yednock talked to WCMY about it after the governor’s State of the State Address last week.

On other issues, Yednock says everyone wants clean energy to protect the environment and for the jobs. He wants something done to help those who lose jobs because of the shift away from dirtier energy production such as coal mining. And he says working toward more state funding for schools will help relieve local property taxes.

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Region: Northern,Feeds,News,Region: La Salle

via WCMY-AM http://www.1430wcmy.com

February 3, 2020 at 06:17AM

February 3, 2020 0

CUB, Bristow to host utility bill clinic in Godfrey

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The consumer watchdog group Citizens Utility Board and state Rep. Monica Bristow will host a clinic to help Godfrey residents potentially save hundreds of dollars a year on their utility bills. Attendees are encouraged to bring copies of their gas, electric and phone bills for free one-on-one consultations with CUB’s experts.

CUB’s utility bill clinic is:

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, February 14

Godfrey Village Hall

6810 Godfrey Road, Godfrey

Co-hosted by state Rep. Monica Bristow

Registration is required. To register, contact CUB at 1-800-669-5556 or email events@citizensutilityboard.org using the subject line "Godfrey 2/14.”

CUB will give consumers information on:

How to spot unnecessary charges on natural gas, electric and phone bills.

Energy efficiency programs and rebates that can help people cut their utility bills.

Programs like Peak Time Rewards and Power Smart Pricing that can save consumers money.

How to avoid scams from alternative electric suppliers.

“Our free utility bill clinics are open to anyone interested in saving their hard-earned money and shaving unnecessary spending off their utility bills,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said.

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January 31, 2020 at 05:25PM

January 31, 2020 0

Kifowit acknowledges disparities in property taxes, calling problem ‘epidemic’

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The disparities in property taxes across the state of Illinois is "epidemic," according to Representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego).

"I think overall, the property tax discussion is one that should be had statewide," Kifowit said. "When you look at the disparities, it’s epidemic statewide."

Kifowit made the comment in response to the news that Oswego School District 308 had not been selected as a beneficiary of a property tax relief grant through the state’s Education Based Funding (EBF) formula for the second year in a row.

The EBF includes a provision for school districts with high tax rates, relative to other school districts to lower the property tax burden on its residents, with the state replacing a portion of taxes through the grant.

OSD 308 had previously applied for the grant in 2018, but had been turned down.

In a statement sent to the Oswego Ledger Wednesday morning, OSD 308 Director of Communications and Public Relations Theresa Komitas said, "Oswego Community Unit School District 308 is disappointed to not have been included in the 39 districts that were announced�by the Illinois State Board of Education as eligible for the 2020 Property Tax Relief Grant.

"Confidence was not high our district would be awarded the grant, given our ranking on the list. We support this grant along with other�measures being put in place by the state to support funding of public education in Illinois."

Kifowit acknowledged that the fund is not currently given the money that it needs to provide relief.

"The fund was established with good intent, but we need to work to do more," she said. Part of the difficulty, she acknowledged, came from prior imbalanced budgets at the state level.

Legislators, she confirmed, are looking at multiple avenues of easing property taxes, including the different areas that make up a homeowner’s property tax.

Kifowit, who serves on the Property Tax Relief Task Force formed during the 2019 session, previously confirmed that the task force’s School Funding Subcommittee made four suggestions for reducing the overall property tax including: closing the loophole allowing districts to engage in continual bonding after a bond issue has expired; allowing school districts to petition for increased state funding to lower their levy; mandating that school districts with "significant" cash reserves must either abate the excess reserves by lowering the levy or identify the purpose and use timeline for the funds; and instruct the Illinois State Board of Education to establish best practices for districts regarding debt and mandating long-term planning goals to assess a district’s finances.

The possibility of a petition, Kifowit said in a previous interview, would be a more widespread method of appealing to the state for districts than methods already in use like the Property Tax Relief Grant of the state’s education funding formula.

"This is a goal that I think we want to go forward, not having a selective grant process," Kifowit said. "If we could expand the grant program and make it more petition-based, then that would be a goal."

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January 30, 2020 at 09:40PM

January 30, 2020 0

Illinois lawmaker seeks to change state’s window tint restrictions

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An Illinois bill would allow drivers with certain medical conditions to tint all of their vehicle’s window surfaces.

Under existing law, it’s illegal to apply window tint to the driver side window or entire front windshield unless the primary operator of the vehicle has a condition such as albinism that makes sun exposure damaging to the skin. The law specifically prohibits issuing full surface window tint for “any condition, such as light sensitivity, for which protection from the direct rays of the sun can be adequately obtained by the use of sunglasses or other eye protective devices.”

State Rep. Maurice West’s legislation would allow for all window surfaces to be tinted if a driver has a medical condition, such light sensitivity due to brain trauma, that results in photophobia.

“They will get a special license plate that will tell our law enforcement that they are approved through the Secretary of State’s office,” he said.

If the measure is approved, the Rockford Democrat said it will benefit police as well because approaching a vehicle that they cannot see into presents a real danger.

“It makes life easier for our law enforcement because they will know why his windows are tinted,” he said.

West’s office said he plans to file an amendment to his bill to further specify the changes he wants to make to existing state law.

The window tint could be a useful backstop of protection to someone with photosensitivity beyond protective glasses, something West said could become a safety measure for others around them if a light-triggered migraine hits when they’re driving.

Michigan, Massachusetts, and North Carolina have window tinting exemptions for people with light sensitivity. West’s office said other states offer medical exemptions as well.

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January 30, 2020 at 10:43AM

January 30, 2020 0

St. Rep. Yednock’s amendment says collective bargaining is fundamentally necessary

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A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution would recognize collective bargaining as fundamentally necessary to protect workers. Ottawa Democratic St. Rep. Lance Yednock introduced it last week. It’s been referred to the House Rules Committee.

Yednock’s proposed amendment would need to be approved by voters to become part of the Illinois Bill of Rights. It would prohibit any law that would interfere with workers banding together to negotiate for pay, hours, benefits, and other things about their work. Yednock says it’s in response to Gov. Rauner’s positions against unions.

The bill number is HJRCA37.

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