Governor J.B. Pritzker sworn in
On Monday at noon, J.B. Pritzker took the oath of office to become the 43rd Governor of Illinois. Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Attorney General Kwame Raoul also began their terms in their new offices on Monday, as did our returning Secretary of State Jesse White, Treasurer Mike Frerichs and Comptroller Susana Mendoza. With the House and Senate taking office last week, we now have everyone in our new state government in place and can begin our work for the people of Illinois.

101st General Assembly sworn in
The members of the House and Senate for the 101st Illinois General Assembly were sworn in on Wednesday in Springfield. It is a privilege to stand on that stage being sworn in with my colleagues, but also a reminder of the responsibility we have as legislators to make good policies for our districts and for the state as a whole.

Route 66 Centennial Commission among new laws now in effect
Historic Route 66 will mark its 100th anniversary in 2026, and Illinois will be prepared to participate in the celebration due to the creation of the Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission. The Commission was created by House Bill 66, which became law on January 1. The historic “Mother Road” is an important tourism resource for Illinois and for the 106th District, as it winds through Livingston County. The new 20-member commission will be responsible for coordinating planning of centennial celebration events along the Illinois portion of the highway’s route from Chicago to St. Louis.

Vermilion County honors Blake Kinnett

Monday afternoon a community event was held at Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin High School to honor Blake Kinnett, a local student who has been courageously fighting a battle with adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD. It was my honor to present Blake and his family with a resolution from the House of Representatives recognizing his courage, and to talk about legislation in the upcoming General Assembly to promote testing and awareness about ALD, which currently has no cure. BHRA Principal Brent Rademacher put together a great event for a great cause.

IDOT wants your opinion
Illinois motorists are being asked for their opinion on the status of the state’s highway system. The Illinois Department of Transportation is conducting its annual Traveler Opinion Survey from now until the end of the year.

Unemployment rises slightly in Illinois metro areas
October 2018 Illinois unemployment rates rose slightly in 12 out of 14 Illinois metropolitan areas according to information from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The increases for the month occurred in areas such as Champaign, Rockford and the Quad Cities. Unemployment numbers for the state as a whole improved because of a decline, from 4.8% to 3.9%, in the unemployment rate posted in the area around Chicago.

Happy 200th birthday to Illinois!

Monday December 3 will mark the 200th anniversary of the state of Illinois’ admission to the union back in 1818. It will be the day that caps off a year-long celebration of Illinois’ past and present, and which looks to the future.