(SPRINGFIELD) Whether Illinois’ Firearm Owner’s ID cards are constitutional is now up to a State Appellate Court as the case against the state says the law violates the Second Amendment. While a Sangamon County Court originally sided with the state, a three-judge panel of the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court heard the case yesterday and took it under advisement with a ruling pending. Some believe regardless of the Appellate Court’s decision, the case will eventually go before the Illinois Supreme Court and then on to the U.S. Supreme Court as well. Illinois is one of only a handful of states that requires individuals to have a specific permit or ID to purchase firearms and its one of only two states in America that requires a FOID card to possess firearms and/or ammunition.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Board of Education has awarded a nearly $20 million grant from the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicles Grant Program. In fact, the grant funds will be distributed to nine statewide school districts to replace 70 internal combustion engine school buses with electric buses, plus install at least 70 electric charging stations along with workforce training to support new EV technologies. However, some are concerned with the number of electric buses that have been involved in fires over the past couple of years.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity yesterday announced the selection of southwestern Illinois as the location for an $820 million sustainable aviation fuel project. The taxpayer funded investment will support the development of a facility capable of producing up to 120 million gallons of fuel every year. The project is estimated to create at least 150 full-time jobs & some 1,000 construction jobs.
(SPRINGFIELD) Several new specialty license plates are being added to 16 existing designs in the new year in Illinois. Separate laws going into effect January 1st will create the Sons of the American Legion plate among others. Another new law also allows specialty plates to be issued for motorcycles. Go to the Secretary of State’s website for details, at ILSOS.org.