(CHAMPAIGN) The University of Illinois Flash Index, a measure of the state’s economy, increased slightly last month. With any number over 100 indicating economic growth, the index rose from 102 in September to 102.2 in October. The Flash Index is the weighted average of Illinois’ growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending, and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate & personal income and retail sales taxes.
(SPRINGFIELD) As we observe Veterans Day today on this Monday, and as the holiday season nears, the organization “Illinois Joining Forces” is relaunching Operation Connect-A-Vet, a program designed to link Veterans, their families, and essential services. The group says Illinois is home to some 537,000 Veterans, including 49,000 women. Current data shows at least 700 Veterans are homeless in Illinois and 7% of statewide Veterans live below the poverty line on any given day. The campaign runs this month thru December. For more information about the program, go to the illinoisjoiningforces.org website.
(CARBONDALE) On last week’s November 5th ballot in seven (7) Illinois counties, was the Illinois separation referendum as voters in Calhoun, Clinton, Greene, Jersey, Iroquois, Madison, and Perry all voted to separate the State of Illinois from Chicago. While the goal is to form a new state from the Illinois counties that are not Cook County, the referendum has been slowly gaining momentum over the past several years. Many political professors across the country though, say it would be “almost impossible” for an Illinois split to occur with past movements failing in upstate New York and northern California in past years.
(SPRINGFIELD) State Senator Chapin Rose (51st) and State Representative Adam Niemerg (102nd) met late last week with local prison officials to address growing numbers of reports about the rising instances of drugs making it inside the facilities with exposure to guards, staff, and other inmates. Joined by State Senator Terri Bryant (58th) and Lawrence County State’s Attorney Brady Waldrop, the issue of complaints about the lack of medical coverage for staff who are injured at these facilities was also discussed. Additional meetings are being requested during the Fall Veto Session as lawmakers return to Springfield this week.