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Rep. Jerry Costello resigns from House, takes IDNR top cop job

http://bit.ly/2Vi4asF

* Other governors might have made Jerry wait until after the session so he could vote with the governor’s agenda. But Gov. Bruce Rauner did the same sort of thing by appointing legislators who didn’t love his policies to top agency jobs (pro-AFSCME folks like Raymond Poe) and then replacing them with people who would be more, um, amenable…

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker appointed state Rep. Jerry Costello II to serve as the Director of Law Enforcement at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

“After serving his country in the battlefields of Iraq and the people of Southern Illinois in the statehouse, I’m thrilled Jerry Costello is continuing his public service by leading law enforcement at the Department of Natural Resources,” said Gov. JB Pritzker. “His wide-ranging experience brings much value to an important piece of state government.”

“It’s an honor to lead the dedicated group of men and women who keep Illinoisans safe while they enjoy our state’s natural resources,” said state Rep. Jerry Costello II. “I’m excited to start this new chapter, and I thank Gov. Pritzker for the opportunity to serve.”

Background

Jerry Costello II will serve as the Director of Law Enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Costello has represented the 116th district in the Illinois House of Representatives since 2011 and currently chairs the Agriculture and Conservation committee. A graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Costello decided to serve his country by joining the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. Not long after signing up, he and his unit saw combat during Operation Desert Storm. Following his military service in Iraq, Costello returned to Illinois where he became a police officer and started a family. Initially a patrolman, he would rise through the ranks and become assistant chief of police. Born and raised in Southern Illinois, Costello lives in Smithton with his wife Lori and their three children.

Beginning his transition into the new role, Rep. Costello resigned from his House seat effective today.

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CF

via Capitol Fax.com http://capitolfax.com

May 7, 2019 at 10:41AM

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Rep. Yednock acts to raise awareness of veteran suicide

http://bit.ly/2ZUGCZB

SPRINGFIELD — To bring attention to the recent epidemic of suicide among veterans, state Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is sponsoring a resolution that supports veterans who may be facing mental illness. It also requests the state create a memorial for veterans who have been lost due to suicide.

“As the son of a United States Marine, I know that the physical and mental scars suffered abroad by our bravest citizens are often brought back home and can last forever,” Yednock said.

“That’s why we need to make it clear to our veterans that we support them in many ways, not just with words, but with action. As a state, we should both honor our fallen heroes and do everything we can to support future and current veterans who may face mental illness by providing the services and support that they deserve.”

Many veterans returning from active duty experience physical and psychological ailments. In 2016, the suicide rate for veterans was 1.5 times greater than non-veterans and accounted for 14 percent of all adult suicide deaths in the U.S, even though only 8 percent of the population has served in the military. In 2016, 162 veterans died by suicide in Illinois.

House Resolution 168 states support for veterans currently struggling with mental illness and suicidal thoughts and pays tribute to veterans who have lost their lives to suicide. HR 168 encourages the state of Illinois to create a memorial for veterans who have died of suicide to be included at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, where other war memorials commemorate Illinois’ veterans.

“It’s important to establish a memorial to honor our veterans who have been lost to suicide, because they are still very much casualties of war,” Yednock said.

“By having a physical memorial erected here in Illinois, we not only pay tribute to them, but future generations can learn about one of the many real world consequences of military intervention abroad. As state representative, I am committed to supporting our veterans and ensuring that they have available access to the quality services and care that they need.”

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via | Tonica News

May 3, 2019 at 06:55AM

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House bill could grant both student trustees a vote

http://bit.ly/2GBmTGs

Under state Rep. Katie Stuart’s, D-Edwardsville, new legislation, both student trustees would have a vote on the SIU Board of Trustees. The bill has passed through the Illinois House and has already experienced its first reading in the Senate.

HB2239 is an amendment to the Southern Illinois University Management Act; it specifically changing the mentions of student trustees voting in sections two, four and five. Stuart filed the bill on Feb. 7.

Board of Trustees Chair Phil Gilbert is in support of the bill, as he said giving both student trustees a vote is the fair thing to do.

“I think that it doesn’t seem fair to have one campus’ student trustee have a vote and the other student trustee not [have] a vote, so I think in terms of fairness, it would be fair to have both student trustees have a [vote],” Gilbert said.

SIU Carbondale student trustee Brione Lockett said he discussed HB2239 with former trustee and board vice chair Shirley Portwood, and they both agreed the changes make sense on a fundamental level. The reason behind this being that the non-voting student trustee is still subject to the same responsibilities as the voting student trustee.

“[Portwood] also stated that it just makes sense,” Lockett said. “You’re asking people to read all this stuff and spend all this time traveling to all these places and learn all these things and not get a vote. That didn’t make sense, and I couldn’t agree more.”

However simple the rationale may seem, SIUE student trustee Molly Smith said this is not the first time a bill of this sort has been proposed, and it may encounter some of the same roadblocks as before. Smith said if the SIU system changes its board, other systems may feel pressure to follow suit.

As it stands now, the governor decides which student trustee has a vote. In the most recent years, the vote has alternated from year to year, but this is not always the case.

“In the past, the governor who makes the designation has alternated between the two campuses, so even if this bill doesn’t pass, according to tradition — and of course, it’s still up to the governor — SIU Edwardsville student trustee would have the vote during the next year because the Carbondale student trustee had the vote last year,” Gilbert said.

Lockett holds the student trustee vote on the board. While Smith does not have official voting power, she said she and Lockett would communicate about issues being brought before the board, and Lockett would especially consider her input with matters that would largely impact SIUE students.

However, Smith recognizes this may not always be the dynamic between future student trustees and believes the bill would be even more beneficial in those circumstances.

“We have a really good relationship, but for future students, maybe both votes would be really beneficial,” Smith said.

Lockett said if the new legislation does not pass before the next student trustee terms begin July 1, and Gov. J.B. Pritzker has not yet decided which student trustee has the vote, the voting power would stay with Lockett. However, Lockett doubts this will be a concern as he’s confident the bill will pass.

“If the bill doesn’t go through, it stays with the school that had the vote in years prior. But I doubt — and nothing’s for sure — but I’m 99 percent certain that the bill that would allow both students to vote would pass,” Lockett said.

Lockett said he feels the bill has already overcome the largest hurdle: obtaining House approval. Due to Stuart being a Democrat from the Metro East, an area that supported Pritzker during the elections, he feels that the legislators are more likely to sway in the bill’s favor.

“It passed the House, and in the state of Illinois, the House is where it’s the most difficult to get anything to pass — I feel,” Lockett said. “In recent years, it has been very difficult. I don’t know if that’s because there’s been a different governor and then a majority democratic legislators, but now it’s dominant democratic legislators and the Democratic governor.”

To stay updated on HB2239’s progress, visit the Illinois General Assembly Website.

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via AlestleLive.com

April 23, 2019 at 05:29PM

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Connor backs bill to defend immigrant communities from financial predators

http://bit.ly/2DrlqAw

State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is supporting a bill that would protect immigrant communities from predatory notaries attempting to steal from them.

House Bill 2176 amends the Illinois Notary Public Act and would require notaries who are not licensed attorneys to clearly inform clients that they cannot accept fees for legal work, both verbally and by openly-displayed notices written in both English and Spanish, according to a news release from Connor’s office.

“All Illinoisans deserve protection from criminals who try to exploit them for money,” Connor said. “Notaries have been damaging our immigrant communities for personal gain by performing legal tasks they have no authority to do, or even by accepting thousands of dollars in fees and giving no services.”

Notaries who do not follow these procedures can be fined up to $1,500, up from the previous $1,000 fine, and possibly lose their licenses.

“Financial opportunists take advantage of the difference between what notaries can do in other countries versus their more limited roll in the U.S.,” Connor said. “We cannot allow immigrant families to face attempts at exploitation alone. Notaries swindling vulnerable people … should be held accountable.”

The bill passed the Illinois House unanimously earlier this month and now goes to the Senate. State Rep. Celina Villanueva filed the bill.

Before becoming a state legislator, Connor worked for about 20 years in the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

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

via The Herald-News http://bit.ly/2CJDfuJ

April 22, 2019 at 11:15PM

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Mom urges Illinois to require a safety feature on water heaters after losing daughter

http://bit.ly/2VZqqnm


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via WICS

April 19, 2019 at 10:30PM

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Elgin lawmakers want funding for streets, trails

http://bit.ly/2Dlv1sI

Two legislators from Elgin said they will advocate for funding in a state capital bill for projects that will make the city safer and more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

State Sen. Cristina Castro and state Rep. Anna Moeller, both Democrats, took part in an event Friday afternoon organized by the Active Transportation Alliance along the Fox River bike trail in Elgin.

It’s important to make sure sidewalks are connected “so people don’t have to leave a sidewalk to walk on a busy street,” and bike paths also are connected “so there are routes people can ride on,” Moeller said.

Good transportation systems make communities more attractive and spur economic development, Moeller and Castro said.

The state’s last capital bill was in 2009, and some lawmakers are pushing to fund one this year. “You can tell our infrastructure really needs a lot of improvement and upgrades and maintenance,” Moeller said.

The state House Appropriations Committee is putting together a list of projects for a capital plan and the state Senate is conducting hearings, Moeller said. A hearing will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin.

Projects that improve the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists make transportation safer for everyone, including drivers, the Active Transportation Alliance says. However, such projects are nearly entirely federally or locally funded, and there is more demand than funding available, the group says.

In Illinois, more than 8,000 people are injured and 154 people are killed each year in traffic crashes while walking or bicycling, according to data provided by the group.

Resident Parker Thompson, who started the nonprofit Elgin Bike Hub, said he’d would like to see more bike infrastructure in town, but more importantly, the city needs more frequent buses and better bus stops, he said.

“You’re more likely to land in grass in the good seasons, or a snow bank or a mud puddles in the other six months out of the year,” Thompson said. “I think that creates some serious challenges in how welcoming the infrastructure is.”

Jennifer Fukala, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin, said the association and the city are working on a grant-funded project to install bike racks throughout downtown in 2020.

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Feeds,Region: AH,Local,Region: Suburbs,City: Arlington Heights,Suburbs

via DailyHerald.com > Local News http://bit.ly/174gVno

April 19, 2019 at 06:27PM

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Rep. Conroy Steps Up with Legislation to Save Lives

http://bit.ly/2Xx6qsN

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author’s own.

Rep. Conroy Steps Up with Legislation to Save Lives

The DuPage County lawmaker is working on a number of initiatives to help people deal with difficult circumstances.

Rep. Conroy Steps Up with Legislation to Save Lives

SPRINGFIELD — We send our state representatives and senators to the Capitol to work on difficult issues. Rep. Deb Conroy is proving that progress can be made to help people.

Her legislation to help prevent tragic stories like that of Mikayla King, burned accidently from bath water where a hot water heater did not have a safety valve, has moved through the Illinois House. Read more here about Mikayla’s story.

And her tireless work with advocates like Wendy Nawara to defeat a rare autoimmune disorder known as PANDAS is also getting attention in Springfield. Read more about Wendy’s story on improving Charlie’s Law here.

The views expressed in this post are the author’s own. Want to post on Patch?

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via Elmhurst, IL Patch

April 19, 2019 at 09:32AM

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Toddler’s Death Inspires Water Heater Legislation

http://bit.ly/2v9nTLy

An Illinois toddler died nine years ago after suffering third degree burns from bathwater. The Illinois House last week approved legislation to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

The measure would require all new water heaters be equipped with a safety valve.

It was introduced in honor of Mikayla King. Her mother, Jennifer King, recounted the event to lawmakers last month.

“Sheets of skin were falling off of her legs,” King said. “The skin looked like a sock hanging from her foot. My sweet little 18-month-old baby girl had third degree burns from less than 3 seconds in the bath water.”

Mikayla spent two months in the hospital before she died. During that time, she underwent 19 surgeries. An infection caused her right leg to be amputated below the knee. She was on so many medications that the doctors put her on kidney dialysis. Eventually, her heart gave out.

The Kings temporarily lost custody of their remaining three children while the Department of Children and Family Services investigated Mikayla’s death. They determined it was an accident.

In 2011, the Kings filed a product-liability suit against Whirlpool, the manufacturer of their water heater.

During the trial, King said, experts testified that 2,000 people suffer severe scald injuries each year, despite the fact that safety technology has been available for more than 30 years.

But the safety feature was only offered on their high-end water heater models.

“I was so angry when I heard that the people most affected by these injuries are our most vulnerable: children, elderly and people with different abilities,” King said. “And they still made the choice to continue this practice which allows them to be hurt and worse.”

A police investigation found the bathwater that killed Mikayla reached 138 degrees. A Whirlpool engineer told the court they couldn’t tell what temperature the water heater was set to because of a phenomenon called stacking, which allows a 30 degree difference between the temperature set and how hot the water actually is.

The safety valve mandate in “Mikayla’s Law” would ensure tap water doesn’t exceed 120 degrees — hot enough to kill legionella bacteria, but not so hot it causes injury when touched.

King said it’s the equivalent of requiring seat belts in a car.

“Thousands upon thousands of people are injured every year because of scald burns that could be prevented by technology that has been around for 30 years — technology that does not cost much in comparison to the value of people’s lives or the millions of dollars in medical costs in each year to treat these scald injuries,” she said.

The legislation is House Bill 2627.

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via NPR Illinois

April 19, 2019 at 06:54AM

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Manley bill aims to protect private consumer information

http://bit.ly/2XqoULj

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, speaks to a crowd of local officials and business leaders Friday, March 22, 2019, during a groundbreaking ceremony for Rock Run Crossing in Joliet, Ill.

Eric Ginnard – eginnard@shawmedia.com

Caption

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, speaks to a crowd of local officials and business leaders Friday, March 22, 2019, during a groundbreaking ceremony for Rock Run Crossing in Joliet, Ill.

State Rep. Natalie Manley, D-Joliet, sponsored a bill aiming to protect private consumer information that recently passed the Illinois House of Representatives.

The Genetic Information Privacy Act, H.B. 2189, would explicitly prohibit ancestry and genetic testing companies from releasing information about a consumer to any health or life insurance agency without the consumer’s consent, according to a news release. These genetic testing companies, like Ancestry.com and 23andMe, have become increasingly popular.

"Currently there are no protections prohibiting insurance companies from accessing data from genetic testing," Manley said. "My legislation protects consumers’ private genetic information to prevent it from being used against them by life insurance companies, to deny them or hike their rates."

The bill passed the House with unanimous bipartisan support and will move to the Senate for consideration.

"My legislation puts people first," Manley said.

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via | The Herald-News

April 19, 2019 at 06:44AM

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