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Newly elected state rep to leave Vernon Township post

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Vernon Township Supervisor Daniel Didech will officially leave the post as he heads to Springfield as the newly elected Democrat state representative for the 59th District.

A special board meeting has been called for 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the township office, 3050 N. Main St., Buffalo Grove. Didech has tendered his resignation and the board is expected to choose a successor at the meeting. The pending position was advertised in a recent township newsletter and three candidates were interviewed, Didech said Friday.

In November, Didech, a municipal attorney, defeated former Lincolnshire Trustee Karen Feldman to take the seat held by Democrat Carol Sente, who did not seek a fifth term. He’ll be sworn in Wednesday with other state legislators as the 101st General Assembly.

He was elected supervisor in 2017 and had an active tenure. He led an initiative, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in November, to eliminate the local highway district and its elected highway commissioner and shift oversight of its duties to the township board starting in 2021.

Didech said he also successfully fought to lower the township’s property tax levy by more than 5 percent, modernized the township’s food pantry, increased transparency and accountability of expenditures and "shut the door on a culture of corruption" that served insiders.

During his time as supervisor, he, the township board and highway commissioner were sued by Assessor Gary Raupp alleging they held an illegal meeting to deal with claims of sexual harassment against Raupp’s son and another employee.

The suit has been settled, with the assessor agreeing to put policies and training in place, Didech said.

"I look forward to bringing this brand of independent leadership down to Springfield, where our work at Vernon Township can serve as a model of how to reform government, pursue justice and equality, and reduce the tax burden on middle-class families while improving services that are provided to our neighbors," Didech told township trustees in his letter of resignation.

Illinois faces many challenges after four years of "reckless leadership, unnecessary tax increases and irresponsible cuts to social services," Didech said, and it will be a full-time endeavor to get the state back on track.

He said he will work to consolidate layers of government while trying to build coalitions to make progress on that and other matters.

"I’m not going down there to work for the insiders," he said Friday.

The 59th District spans portions of 21 towns, including large sections of Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Vernon Hills and Mundelein.

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via Daily Herald

January 6, 2019 at 08:46AM

State rep. delivers clothing drive donations to MorningStar Mission in Joliet

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John Connor
John Connor

State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, recently visited MorningStar Mission in Joliet to deliver donations from the clothing drive he hosted earlier in December with state Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., D-Joliet.

“MorningStar Mission is a wonderful organization that does important work in our community,” Connor said in a news release. “The winter months can be especially difficult for those in need, and I hope that the donations from our clothing drive can help make a difference.”

MorningStar Mission is an organization that offers programs for families, young men and at-risk youth. The organization also provides thousands of food baskets and gifts to families and individuals in need during the holiday season and gives school supplies to more than 300 children at the beginning of each school year.

“Helping those in need is important during the holiday season, but is necessary year-round,” Connor said. “I’m grateful for everyone who generously donated, and I encourage residents to visit MorningStar Mission’s website to find information.”

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Feeds,City: Joliet,Region: Joliet,Region: South Suburbs,Opinion

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January 1, 2019 at 11:00PM

Connor-backed Health Care Violence Prevention Act to take effect in 2019

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John Connor, D-Lockport
John Connor, D-Lockport

Legislation backed by state Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, will require hospitals and other health care facilities to develop a workplace violence prevention program to help address increased violence toward registered nurses.

The law takes effect in January, according to a news release from Connor’s office.

“Workplace violence committed against nurses has been increasing in recent years, and something needed to be done in order to prevent future incidents from occurring,” Connor said in the news release. “I am hopeful that the Health Care Violence Prevention Act will being about better safety guidelines to prevent violence toward nurses and allow for better working environments moving forward.”

The bill was prompted by incidents last year in Geneva and Joliet where medical professionals were held hostage and assaulted.

The law will require hospitals and correctional agencies to create a workplace violence prevention program that must reference Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines.

The measure also requires hospitals to establish protocols for the intake and treatment of incarcerated individuals, and for in-hospital emergencies. It also creates whistleblower protections for nurses who take action on instances of workplace violence.

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Feeds,News,Local

via MySuburbanLife.com http://bit.ly/2ECFGk7

December 26, 2018 at 10:30PM

State Rep. Says New State Law Would Have Helped Vet Whose Remains Were Found Along Fox River in Kendall Co.

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A new state law that becomes effective on January 1st will include what is called a “Silver Alert” for missing veterans, particularly those suffering from a physical or mental health condition.

House Bill 4212 amends the Missing Persons Identification Act to add veterans and active duty members suffering a physical or mental health condition in an attempt to reduce the suicide rate.

Law enforcement will be able to issue a “Silver alert” for a missing veteran. Like an Amber alert, the public will be notified in an effort to quickly locate a missing veteran and perhaps save a life.


+1 

Representative Stephanie Kifowit. (Photo provided)

The measure was a bi-partisan effort that passed unanimously. Democratic State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego says the new law, “would have helped the Soesbe family when their son Trey, a National Guardsman, who struggled with depression, was missing for two years.”  

As WSPY reported in August, the Kendall County Coroner’s Office positively identified 30-year-old Trey Nathan Key Soesbe of Aurora as the man whose remains were found by kayakers near the Route 30 bridge between Oswego and Montgomery.

Soesbe, a former Army National Guard Specialist, was reported missing in December of 2015 and was last seen by a family member Dec. 29, 2015 when he was dropped off at a homeless shelter in Aurora but never registered or spent a night there.

Police say Soesbe suffered from alcoholism and bipolar disorder. In July of 2016, Soesbe’s father wrote an email to Kifowit about his son recalling when Kifowit had visited Soesbe and his father two years prior to the disappearance.

Soesbe’s father in the email said that Trey Soesbe’s sister had contact with Soesbe, who’s phone allegedly went dead after he told her he was “down by the river by some dangerous people.” His remains were found on an island in the river on August 4, 2018.

Kifowit said in a statement on Friday about the law, “I think of Veterans such as Trey Soesbe, and hope that this law will help our struggling Veterans. The State of Illinois must help search for Veterans in danger and I will continue to support legislation that helps all Veterans readjust to civilian life.”

The legislation was proposed by Republican State Rep. Dan Swanson of Woodhull who was a 2nd Lt. in the Army National Guard. Rep. Kifowit served as a United States Marine.







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Region: Northern,News,City: Morris,Region: Morris

via http://www.wcsjnews.com – RSS Results of type article http://bit.ly/2T4KXF3

December 21, 2018 at 05:45PM

Stuart encourages food pantry donations

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State Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) attended the annual Christmas luncheon of the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees on Monday to discuss the canned food drive and other accomplishments of the organization this past year.

“This chapter of SOAR is one of the most active in the nation and has done so much to help steelworkers and local community organizations here in the Metro East, like TWIGS, Faith in Action, and others, through winter clothing drives and various fundraisers. Last year, they stepped up to help provide winter clothing to laid-off steelworkers in the area,” Stuart said. “This year, now that many of the steelworkers have rejoined the workforce at the mill, they are using their resources to help the entire community through a canned food drive.”

Stuart will collect canned and nonperishable food items from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Dec. 20 at her constituent services office, 2105 Vandalia St., Unit 16, in Collinsville. She will also collect donations from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, at her Holiday Open House, also at her local office.

“I am proud to support our active and retired steelworkers in any way I can, whether through legislation to help promote buying local and American-made goods, or through canned food collections for them to give back and donate to local food pantries,” Stuart added. “I encourage everyone to join local steelworkers and me to donate nonperishable goods and help those in need this holiday season.”

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via AdVantageNEWS.com

December 14, 2018 at 10:05PM

Local Representatives Backing House Joint Resolution for Illinois State Police to Process Forensic Evidence Faster

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Democratic State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego and Republican State Rep. Mark Batinick of Plainfield are both backing a House Joint Resolution that is calling on Illinois State Police to review their procedures in order to quicken the pace of DNA testing in violent crimes including shootings, murders and sexual assaults.

ISP reported the average amount of time to process DNA evidence for all criminal cases, including sexual assaults, is 285 days.

House Joint Resolution 140, if passed, would require the Auditor General to conduct an audit of ISP.

The audit of ISP would include, according to the text of the resolution, "an examination of the division’s equipment, procedures and staffing levels."

Additionally, the resolution grants law enforcement the support tools needed to access data from the nationwide Combined DNA Index System.

Batinick is a chief co-sponsor of the resolution, which was filed with the clerk in early September by Rep. State Rep. David McSweeney of Park Ridge.

Kifowit says she’s "hopeful that this audit will provide insights on how to resolve this issue."

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via WSPY NEWS

December 8, 2018 at 06:31PM

Stuart meets with SIUE chapter of Statue Universities Annuitants Association

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State Rep. Katie Stuart addresses the SIUE Chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association on Wednesday.COLLINSVILLE – Earlier this week, state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, spent time speaking with the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville chapter of the State Universities Annuitants Association to discuss recent legislation concerning the university and answer questions about the upcoming legislative session beginning in January.

“I was thankful for the opportunity to return to the SIUE campus and meet with both current and retired faculty and staff to learn about the newest renovations and additions to different buildings,” said Stuart. “I was able to share information about my work with the Higher Education Working Group, which is a bicameral, bipartisan group of legislators who come together to improve higher education in the State of Illinois.”

Stuart sponsored multiple pieces of legislation to fight for fair funding for the SIUE campus, including calling for an independent study of how the SIU system appropriates funding for the two campuses.

“For the first time in the history of the SIU system, SIUE surpassed the enrollment of SIUC, and we need to make sure the funding reflects that, not only for the school and the students, but for the retirees of SIU Edwardsville and the years of hard work they dedicated to the university,” Stuart continued. “Fighting for SIU Edwardsville will continue to be one of my top priorities during the upcoming legislative session.”












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Region: Metro East,City: Alton,Feeds,News,Southern

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December 7, 2018 at 01:22PM

Rep. Connor responds to report of coal ash pollution in Romeoville, Will County

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John Connor
John Connor

State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, announced he is engaging owners of power plants named in a report on coal ash pollution around Illinois, including Will County.

“I originally learned about the potential dangers of the coal ash ponds present in my district after meeting with Prairie Rivers Network advocacy group last year,” Connor said in a statement. “I appreciated the meeting because they informed me of the issue of coal ash disposal in the power generating industry, and how renewable energy could help address them.”

Connor said he advocated for renewable energy and improved environmental guidelines.

“After recently meeting with NRG, who has been proactive on this topic, and the village of Romeoville to discuss the coal ash ponds and water contamination, it is clear that significant change in the handling of coal ash is coming,” Connor said. “I’m hopeful that the new administration will implement policies to protect out environment, while looking long term by choosing to invest in renewable energy sources.”

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Feeds,News,City: Joliet,Region: Joliet,Region: South Suburbs

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December 6, 2018 at 05:02PM

Newsradio WJPF interview with Natalie Phelps Finnie

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Newsradio WJPF interview with Natalie Phelps Finnie


December 6, 2018
Robert Thies

Illinois State Representative Natalie Phelps Finnie (D) joins The Morning Newswatch.

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Shows,Politics

via WJPF Morning Newswatch https://www.wjpf.com

December 6, 2018 at 08:25AM