Metro East Sun

Rep. Elik’s Capitol Update

Aug 19, 2024

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great week and relaxing weekend. It’s been another busy week in the 111th District! I’ll update you on what’s going on with Gordon Moore Park, a local blood drive, corruption, education, and jobs.

Gordon Moore Park is Open! It was great to drive by and see the gates open wide. I want to thank the workers at Alton Parks and Recreation and Spencer T Olin Golf Course for maintaining the park and course while things were closed.

The East Alton Fire Department wants your blood! On Friday, August 30th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., come to the Keasler Recreation Complex in East Alton to donate your blood to the American Red Cross. To schedule an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: EastAltonFire.

Prosecutors Ask Court to Reject Effort to Sever Upcoming Racketeering Trials of Michael Madigan, Michael McClain. Federal prosecutors argued ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his longtime confidant and current co-defendant Michael McClain should not be tried separately later this year, as it would give each man the ability to “blame a missing person.”

Prosecutors late Tuesday filed their response to McClain, whose attorneys last month filed a motion seeking to sever his case from Madigan’s before the men are set to go to trial on racketeering charges later this year.

McClain in his motion argued that Madigan could try to point the finger at him during trial, but prosecutors contend that Madigan would also benefit from the cases being tried separately.

“This makes it obvious that Madigan, even though he has not joined the motion, wants severance just as badly as McClain, for it will allow him (and McClain at his own trial, if there were one) to do precisely what the Seventh Circuit has cautioned joinder is meant to avoid: blame the absent defendant,” assistant U.S. attorneys wrote in the 11-page response.

The longtime House speaker is accused of participating in, and benefitting from, a variety of corruption schemes. Among the charges he’s facing are counts of racketeering conspiracy, using interstate facilities in aid of bribery, wire fraud and attempted extortion.

Read more from WTTW News.

Keep kids safe as they head back to school. Children will soon be boarding buses to head back to school. According to the State Board of Education and the Illinois State Police, the most dangerous part of the school bus ride for students is the bus stop.

Children are at greatest risk when they are getting on or off the school bus. Most of the children killed in bus-related crashes are five- to seven-year-olds getting on or off the bus when they are hit by motorists illegally passing a stopped school bus.

In neighborhoods near schools and at bus stops drivers need to take special care because children do not behave like adults. Elementary school children become easily distracted and may start across the street without warning. They don’t understand danger from moving vehicles and can’t judge vehicle speed or distance. Their view may be blocked by buses which could cause them step out into oncoming traffic. Most importantly children expect vehicles will stop for them at school bus stops—and so does law enforcement.

School bus laws apply universally including those driving on school property who meet or overtake a school bus operating appropriate warning signals indicating pupils exiting or boarding possibly crossing roadways.

Read more on school bus safety at The Caucus Blog.

Illinois unemployment rate rises again in July. The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced Thursday that the unemployment rate increased +0.2 percentage point reaching 5.2 percent while nonfarm payrolls increased +12,900 based on preliminary data provided by U.S Bureau Labor Statistics (BLS) released by IDES; June revised unemployment rate was unchanged preliminarily reported standing still at 5%. June monthly change payrolls revised preliminarily reported dropping -4k300 jobs July reflecting activity week including twelfth day month largest job gains Government (+11k400), Private Education Health Services (+3k400), Other Services (+2k300); sectors declining Manufacturing (-2k500), Leisure Hospitality (-1k500), Trade Transportation Utilities (-800).

State unemployment rate higher national reported July standing nationally +0k9 percentage points lower state up annually previously reported +0k8 points year prior now recording +4%.

Morton Salt moves headquarters out Illinois Kansas mining distributing salt products headquartered Chicago area century iconic slogan 'When Rains Pours' product years family endowed Morton Arboretum DuPage County private parklands public headquarters Chicago office focus Illinois-based employees now leaving relocating Overland Park close big mine adjacent airport urban amenities Missouri Kansas City tax-friendly business-friendly environment Tax Foundation's Business Climate survey ranks #37 among states well below median Indiana #10 Missouri #12 ranking higher than Illinois.

Thank you for taking time read week’s Capitol Update! Have great week updating soon!

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