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Yednock supports bill to let employees keep their tips

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A bill to let tipped employees keep their tips is awaiting a decision by Gov. Pritzker. St. Rep. Lance Yednock says the bill would prohibit employers from forcing employees to pool their tips. The Ottawa Democrat says employers couldn’t deduct tip amounts from the regular wages an employee makes either. Employees could still decide on their own to pool their tips, but the boss wouldn’t be allowed to influence the decision. All of this area’s lawmakers voted for the bill.

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

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

July 4, 2019 at 12:22PM

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Crowe, Bristow partner on food donations

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WOOD RIVER – State Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon, and state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, are partnering to bring in non-perishable food items for those in need in the Metro East.

“We can all make a difference right here in our own neighborhoods by donating a few food items to those in need,” Crowe said. “This food will be available to our friends and neighbors who are struggling to find their next meal.”

Non-perishable food items are being collected at Crowe’s office at 111 N. Wood River Ave., Suite A, in Wood River, and at Bristow’s office 102 W. 9th St., Suite 104, in Alton.

Hunger relief is one of the core programs Operation Blessing employs to help families rise up out of poverty. The nonprofit, humanitarian organization — with a branch in Wood River — is dedicated to alleviating human need and suffering.

Crowe also is coordinating with the Goshen Market to bring its “Beet Box” program to Wood River by the end of the month. For more information, call 618-251-9840.

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Region: Metro East,City: Alton,News

via News RSS Feed https://ift.tt/2GriCHc

July 2, 2019 at 04:31PM

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Bristow, Area Legislators Connect Seniors and Veterans with Local Services at Fair

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Residents attend the Senior, Veteran and Children’s Service Fair last week hosted by state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, and other area legislators to help connect residents with services and other valuable community resources.

State Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton (right) and state Sen. Rachelle Crowe, D-Glen Carbon (left), joined local service providers last week to host a Senior, Veteran and Children’s Service Fair to help connect residents with services and other valuable community resources.

GRANITE CITY – Last Thursday, state Rep. Monica Bristow, D-Alton, joined area legislators to connect residents with local service providers and agencies at their Senior, Veteran and Children’s Service Fair.

“As I go door-to-door and talk with residents in our communities, I often hear about the need for community services for our veterans, seniors and children,” said Bristow. “Many of those who attended our fair were able to find out about a new service or program that will be able to help them improve their lives. I am glad so many vendors were able to come and share with residents all that they have to offer our communities, like assistance to veterans, senior services, and children’s programs,” said Bristow.

More than 20 different local programs and service providers came to the Granite City High School gymnasium to share with residents what programs and assistance are available, many at no cost to those receiving the services. The fair was primarily centered on helping seniors, veterans, and young families, but residents of all ages were able to learn about programs available to them.

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Region: Metro East,City: Alton,News

via RiverBender.com News https://ift.tt/1eKjjEE

July 2, 2019 at 11:24AM

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Rockford’s freshman lawmaker not resting on party laurels

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This article is part of Next Up, a special section published June 30 about the future leaders of the Rock River Valley

ROCKFORD — State Rep. Maurice West II was pleased to vote for a balanced budget that includes plenty of perks for the Forest City, including a new casino, $275 million earmarked for passenger rail service, money for maintenance of roads and bridges, and the promise of hundreds of construction jobs to bring each project to fruition.

Now comes the hard part.

"We’ve got to make sure everyone delivers," he said.

"When they start building this I plan on driving by and making sure that there are women, black folks, brown folks — people from the 67th (District) are all there to help build this casino. I want people from the 67th to get as much out of this as possible."

West, a former director of career development at Rockford University, is a freshman lawmaker who credits his first and second ventures into politics — a failed 2012 run for a seat on the City Council and a failed 2014 run for Rock Valley College trustee — as building blocks.

"Those two losses got me ready for this," he said, seated in his third-floor office in the E.J. Zeke Giorgi Center overlooking the Rock River. "Those two losses helped me stay grounded. Because when you go to Springfield, your mindset has to change. Here in Rockford, it’s ‘What can I do for you?’ When I go to Springfield, it’s like, ‘What can you do for me so that I can do for my district?’"

West, D-Rockford, already is party to the largest capital program in the state’s history, but he said there is still much to do such as addressing the food desert on the city’s west side and a lack of well-paying jobs throughout the county. 

"Remember back in the day when Illinois 173 was nothing but cornfields? Springfield Avenue is similar to what 173 used to be," he said. "Why can’t Springfield Avenue be the next Illinois 173?

"I’ve talked to RMAP (Rockford Metropolitan Agency For Planning) and they say we need more rooftops to justify a Walmart or a grocery store going way out there. It’s a conversation that I am willing to have."

West also said he wants to help make the workforce in the region more marketable to attract more employers.

"We have a skills gap of 44,000 people without a GED or high school diploma," he said. "We need to decrease that skills gap and make way for more short-term training programs like apprenticeships. Not everyone is built for college, but anyone and everyone can get a license for certification.

"We need to get people certified and marketable to get a job, and then businesses will start coming."

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

 

 

 

 

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via Rockford Register Star

July 1, 2019 at 05:03PM

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Rep. Mason to have satellite hours at Antioch Farmers Market

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ANTIOCH – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is taking her office outdoors for the summer, hosting satellite office hours with educational materials at the Antioch Farmers Market at 900 Skidmore Drive in Antioch every other Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m. until Sept. 19.�

“For our first week at the Antioch Farmers Market, we shared information about how a bill becomes a law,” Mason said in a news release.

“In the weeks to follow, we will be passing out information on a variety of other topics, including energy efficiency, home safety and tips for r�sum� writing.”

Mason’s office will return to the Antioch Farmers Market on June 28 to share information on Medicare and Medicaid, the release stated.

For information on Mason’s office hours in other parts of the district, contact Mason’s constituent service office by calling 847-485-9986 or emailing info@repjoycemason.com.

– Lake County Journal

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Region: Lake County,Local,Region: Suburbs

via Lake County Journal https://ift.tt/2XsvNQ3

June 28, 2019 at 05:22PM

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Reitz evaluates first session

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State Rep. Nathan Reitz (D-Steeleville) was only in Springfield for the final 16 days of the legislative session, but he still passed several bills and voted on numerous critical proposals. 

“I enjoyed my time,” Reitz said. “It was quick. I got in there when there was a lot of legislation that had to be finished.”

Reitz was appointed on May 9 to replace former state representative Jerry Costello II after Costello got a job at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

His first day in the Legislature was May 14. 

With the state moving on measures like legalizing recreational marijuana, a capital plan and a budget,  Reitz pointed to that final item as a highlight. 

“The best thing about the session, in my opinion, was that we passed a balanced budget,” he said. “It took a lot to get to that point.” 

Reitz said the speed with which bills moved surprised him, singling out one proposal in particular. 

“I was most surprised by how fast the capital bill ended up coming together when it looked like things weren’t quite going to get there,” Reitz said. 

That legislation was introduced with about 12 hours to go in the General Assembly’s scheduled session.

All the activity may have helped Reitz, as he said he learned much about how the process works in Springfield.

“It takes a lot to make things happen,” he explained. “You don’t just write a bill and then voilà. I had been up there over the years, but I’d never sat on committee hearings and stuff like that to see how that process works. There’s a lot of give and take to make a good bill and end up creating something that everybody can vote for.” 

The first-time lawmaker had some firsthand experience with that, as he sponsored or co-sponsored several bills that passed…

For more on this story pick up a copy of this week’s issue, or click here to subscribe. 

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Feeds,SW IL

via Republic-Times | News https://ift.tt/KQy1ig

June 25, 2019 at 07:27PM

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Yingling presents Good Neighbor Award

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State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, kicked off Small Business Week by presenting Sara Alwin Gallagher of Alwin Anthony Salon with a Good Neighbor Award.
State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, kicked off Small Business Week by presenting Sara Alwin Gallagher of Alwin Anthony Salon with a Good Neighbor Award.

ROUND LAKE BEACH – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, recently presented Sara Alwin Gallagher of Alwin Anthony Salon with a Good Neighbor Award.

The award was presented to Gallagher because of her exceptional business, as well as her extensive work in the community.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community, and Alwin Anthony Salon is a perfect example of what a great small business should be,” Yingling said in a news release. “Ms. Gallagher not only runs a quality business, but she also takes the time to give back to her community in very meaningful ways.”

Yingling has been a staunch supporter of local small businesses. During his time in the General Assembly, Yingling has voted to decrease fees on small businesses, increase tax credits for businesses that create local jobs, and provide tax relief for businesses that offer internships and apprenticeships.

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Region: Lake County,Region: Suburbs,Opinion

via Lake County Journal https://ift.tt/2XsvNQ3

June 25, 2019 at 03:42PM

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Gordon-Booth: Marijuana Legalization Bill Contains “Reparations” For War on Drugs

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Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) is hailing today’s  passage of a recreational cannabis bill into law.

She said the criminal justice reforms in the bill serve as reparations and help repair the harm done by the so-called “War on Drugs” over the past four decades.

“After 40 years of treating entire communities like criminals, here comes this multi-billion dollar industry, and guess what? Black and brown people have been put at the very center of this policy,” she said.

Twenty-five percent of the tax revenue generated by legalization will go towards the Restore, Reinvest and Renew Program to aid communities most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence and the lingering effects of incarceration linked to heavier penalties during the War on Drugs. 

Under the bill, 700,000 criminal convictions are also eligible for expungement. Gordon-Booth was heavily involved in the criminal justice aspects of the legalization bill. 

“Governor Pritzker and our legislative leaders have recognized through this law that any opportunity to advance the legal cannabis industry must also address how the war on drugs continues to afflict communities,” said Revolution Cannabis CEO Mark de Souza in prepared remarks. “By removing thousands of cannabis misdemeanors and producing thousands of jobs across the state, they have done an extraordinary service to jumpstart communities across Illinois.”

Revolution Cannabis runs a cannabis cultivation facility in Delavan and a dispensary in the Chicago suburb of Mount Prospect.

Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Maisch said that while he’s had reservations about legalizing cannabis, he believes the legislation passed will allow businesses and local communities some flexibility in deciding how legalization looks.

“We believe the bill Governor Pritzker signed today, includes the strongest workplace protections in the nation, and maintains sturdy local control over zoning. We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of the importance of workplace protections for employers, employees and the public,” said Maisch in a prepared statement. 

House Bill 1438 allows employers to maintain zero-tolerance drug policies related to cannabis usage, and also gives local municipalities wide leeway over the breadth of cannabis availability and usage in their juristicitions. 

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Feeds,News,Region: Peoria,City: Peoria,Region: Central

via Peoria Public Radio News http://bit.ly/2WfQ5Yb

June 25, 2019 at 02:34PM

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Bill will address teacher shortage

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Bill will address teacher shortage

SPRINGFIELD — Legislation awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature will help address the teacher shortage currently facing Illinois, according to state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville.

“The mass teacher shortage currently facing Illinois is unprecedented, and it is clear that more needs to be done to attract new teachers to our state. The teacher shortage is especially devastating in downstate Illinois, and our local children will be the ones that lose out,” said Stuart. “I have spent my career as a teacher, and an investment into good, qualified teachers is an investment in our children and the future of our communities.”

Stuart spearheaded the effort to raise the minimum salary for teachers by passing House Bill 2078, which will raise the minimum salary for teachers over a four-year period. By 2024, teachers will make $40,000 in their first year.

Stuart passed this measure to address the Illinois’ teacher shortage, which resulted in 1,400 teaching positions being left vacant last school year.

“Educators are often overworked, underappreciated and underpaid for the incredibly important work that they do to help our children succeed and grow,” continued Stuart. “This legislation will make Illinois more competitive, helping to attract the best and brightest teachers to our local schools. I urge the governor to sign this bill when it reaches his desk to put Illinois on the right track to end the teacher shortage.”

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via The Edwardsville Intelligencer

June 24, 2019 at 08:38PM

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