Final summer season I used to be one of many many Illinoisans who was assisted on the roadside by an Illinois State Trooper after my automotive received a flat tire throughout a rainstorm. Police, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck operators are among the many many first responders who help motorists in misery alongside our highways. However each time they cease to assist somebody, they’re placing themselves in nice hazard, as we noticed as soon as once more a number of weeks in the past when a state trooper investigating a crash was struck by a drunk driver and needed to be hospitalized.

The crash occurred at 2 a.m. on Interstate 94 when the drunk driver rear-ended the trooper’s squad automotive. Already this 12 months 14 Illinois State Police squad automobiles have been hit and 7 state troopers have been injured.

Please bear in mind to do your half maintain our first responders protected on the roadway. State legislation requires motorists to decelerate or transfer over if you see emergency automobiles on the facet of the street. It’s a minor inconvenience to alter lanes or decelerate for a brief distance, however it might have main implications.

State lastly publicizes sale of Chicago’s James R. Thompson Heart

For nearly 40 years the state has owned an workplace constructing in downtown Chicago often known as the James R. Thompson Heart. Lately the Thompson Heart has been plagued with issues, like leaky home windows and local weather management points. Taxpayers have spent hundreds of thousands on repairs whereas the state tries to promote the constructing. Promoting the Thompson Heart has been a significant initiative of Home Republicans, and now we’re lastly capable of report success.

The long-awaited sale of the Thompson Heart has lastly been introduced, as Google will buy and renovate the constructing in downtown Chicago. Google at present has 1800 staff working in an workplace in Chicago’s Fulton Market. The tech firm bought the constructing for $105 million. The state will buy a constructing on LaSalle Road in Chicago for the workplaces of state companies. The brand new constructing can have extra space and save the state hundreds of thousands in leases within the years to come back, in addition to save taxpayers the rising prices of upkeep of the Thompson Heart.

Utility help purposes open on September 1

The autumn spherical of purposes for the Low Earnings Residence Power Help Program (LIHEAP) will open September 1. Eligible households can get help with power payments for the upcoming season. This help is offered to income-eligible households for payments comparable to electrical, propane and pure gasoline. In contrast to in earlier years, there aren’t any precedence teams: all income-eligible candidates might apply starting September 1 on a first-come, first-served foundation.

To use, contact the utility help company in your county. For an inventory of companies in every county, or for data on methods to apply, please click on right here.

Pleased birthday Gwen!

I used to be glad just lately to cease by the house of Gwen Ennen, a very long time pal and resident of Paxton who’s quickly to show 95. We talked about previous and present occasions. Like many Illinoisans she has an opinion on how issues are going with our state authorities. Gwen has been very lively in our area people for a few years and has met many good individuals. She cares a lot about our neighborhood and our state. Thanks Gwen for our enjoyable dialog and I hope you will have a really glad birthday!

State Truthful will get underway in Springfield

After an thrilling summer season of county festivals throughout the state, the 2022 Illinois State Truthful is now underway in Springfield. This 12 months’s annual showcase of Illinois agriculture started Thursday and runs by way of subsequent Sunday, August 21.

Along with the agricultural expositions and competitions, the truthful options live shows, rides, meals and many enjoyable. Every day of the truthful has a theme, together with Veterans day (Sunday), Senior and Scout Day (Monday), Ag day (Tuesday), First Responder Day (Friday) and Park District Conservation Day (Saturday). Yow will discover the total lineup of state truthful occasions at www.illinoisstatefair.data.

How a lot will we owe?

As of the time of this writing, the State of Illinois owes $1,711,433,037 in unpaid payments to state distributors. One 12 months in the past, the backlog stood at $4.1 billion. This determine represents the quantity of payments submitted to the workplace of the Comptroller and nonetheless awaiting cost. It doesn’t embrace money owed that may solely be estimated, comparable to our unfunded pension legal responsibility which is topic to a variety of things and has been estimated to be greater than $141 billion.

The invoice backlog has come down from its excessive level of over $16 billion 5 years in the past. Within the fall of 2017 the state performed a bond sale which paid down half of the backlog and left the remaining half with a decrease rate of interest. Since then, the backlog has been progressively shrinking, which means that distributors haven’t needed to wait as lengthy to receives a commission for his or her services.

Did You Know?

The Capitol constructing is much from the one constructing in what is called the Capitol Complicated in downtown Springfield. The complicated consists of the Stratton Workplace Constructing (the place my Springfield workplace is positioned), the Secretary of State’s workplaces within the Howlett Constructing, and buildings housing the Lawyer Common, Supreme Court docket, State Archives and State Museum.

Extra information from across the state

Discover out if you’re eligible for particular person revenue tax or property tax rebates

Gross sales tax vacation on college provides ends on Sunday August 14

The way to maintain teen athletes protected from warmth sickness

Federal report calls out IDES for failing to reveal knowledge on misspending

IDFPR, Illinois AG warn of recent rip-off concentrating on banking shoppers