ComEd Works Around the Click to Restore Power after July 15 Storms
The storms that ripped through Northern Illinois during the evening of July 15 produced at least 10 tornadoes and left almost half-a-million ComEd customers without power. However, I am happy to report that as of last Friday, power had been restored to 99% of the utility’s customers.
As crews addressed the widespread outages, they prioritized repairs to hospitals, senior centers, law enforcement and fire departments, and then the residential customer base. I sincerely appreciate that ComEd crews worked around the clock to restore power to those living in the 32nd District and across Northern Illinois.
Over $80,000 Returned to 32nd District Residents at Recent Wilcox ICASH Event
I want to thank everyone who came out to my ICASH Unclaimed Property event held last week in Algonquin Township. With the help of officials from IL Treasurer’s office, we were able to connect over a dozen people with unclaimed property and cash of more than $80,000. One lucky constituent even walked away with just under $59,000 that was being held in the state’s ICASH vault.
The ICASH program helps residents identify and reclaim unclaimed property held by the Treasurer’s Office, and since 2015, the Treasurer’s Office has successfully returned over $2 billion in assets to Illinoisans. On average, one in four searches are successful.
According to the Treasurer’s website, unclaimed property includes abandoned intangible assets such as checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, overpayments, insurance checks, payroll checks, utility refunds, money orders, un-cashed checks, dividends, stocks, bonds, and the contents of safe deposit boxes, among other things.
Senate Republicans are committed to continuing these ICASH events throughout Illinois, providing local access to ICASH services and assisting residents in claiming their rightful property. The process is free of charge, requiring only proper identification to return the property. For more information and to conduct searches, interested individuals can visit the Illinois unclaimed property official state site.
Transportation Committee Launches Public Hearings to Address Public Transit Challenges/Funding Deficit
The Senate Transportation committee recently hosted the first in a series of public hearings to discuss the possibility of merging the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace into a single public transit agency. This initiative comes as legislators face a $730 million funding deficit for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) projected for 2026.
The hearings will focus on various aspects of the state’s transit system, including its economic impact, public health benefits, and the necessity for service and governance reforms. Among the key proposals under consideration is a potentially controversial plan to consolidate local transit authorities.
Proponents of consolidation see the merger as a way to streamline operations, and opponents fear that consolidation could result in a de facto Chicago takeover of suburban transportation systems. This is a real concern for those of us who live in the suburbs and use Metra and Pace. There is a distinct possibility that we will be asked to pay more for these services while at the time having our representation on the governing board diminished. I am watching the issue closely.
While stakeholders may disagree about how to move forward, they all point to a similar ultimate goal of creating a transit system that is not only dependable and accessible but also financially sustainable.
The next hearing is scheduled for this week on Wednesday, July 24.
Summer Events Continue in 32nd District
Our summer events are in full swing! Please mark your calendars now for the following:
- August 5, Secretary of State REAL ID Event*: McHenry City Hall, 333 S. Green Street, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- August 17, District Office Open House: Wilcox Office, 209 N. Benton Street, Woodstock, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- September 11, Medicare 101: Nippersink Public Library, 5418 Hill Rd, Richmond, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 19, Barks & Brews: In cooperation with K9s4U at Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Court, Woodstock, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- September 25, Conversations Untapped: Richmond Brathaus, 10310 North Main Street, Richmond, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 2, Conversations Untapped: The Grove Pub and Grill, 2008 Main Street Road, Spring Grove, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
- October 15, Senior Health Fair: Crystal Lake Park District Grand Oaks Building, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
* For the Secretary of State REAL ID event, registrations are required. Appointment spots are filling up, so do not delay if you want to get a REAL ID at this event. Walk-ins will not be able to be served, so if you want to reserve a time, please call my district office at (815) 455-6330. Additionally, please refer to the check-list in the graphic to ensure you arrive with all necessary documents to complete a REAL ID transaction.
ISP Enhance Efforts Against Vehicle Theft and Hijacking
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is continuing its efforts to combat vehicle theft and hijacking, thanks to a substantial $10 million grant from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.
This funding aims to support ISP’s mission of catching bad actors committing vehicle thefts, hijackings, and other related violent crimes. An additional $677,000 grant was also announced in June 2024.
From April to June of 2024, ISP recovered 251 stolen and/or hijacked vehicles and made over 24 stolen vehicle arrests.
This grant will allow ISP to allocate more resources towards enhanced patrols, air operations support, investigations, and forensic services to address these issues effectively.
Governors’ Progressive Tax Rate for Sportsbooks Doubles Rates for Some Operators
Earlier this month, Illinois began a sharp tax increase on its sportsbooks, with rates more than doubling for some operators.
This tax hike, driven by Governor Pritzker’s bloated budget, introduces a progressive tax system to Illinois’ robust sports betting industry. Under the new tax system, the industry will move away from a flat 15% rate to a graduated structure, ranging from 20% for its lowest-earning sportsbooks to up to 40% for high-end earners. This change is expected to impact both sportsbook operators and everyday bettors in the state.
During the spring legislative session, Senate Republicans voiced strong opposition to the new tax rates for Illinois sportsbooks, arguing that the increased taxes could harm both the industry and casual bettors. Republican lawmakers were also concerned that higher rates could drive operators out of the state and reduce the quality of sports betting options available to Illinois consumers.
When the proposal was first brought forward, some of the titans of the sports betting industry, including FanDuel, threatened to potentially leave the state if the new tax structure was implemented but have since reevaluated. However, concerns remain that the tax hikes will result in a net-negative outcome for Illinoisans, with major gaming outfits potentially looking to spend their marketing budgets elsewhere and offering less promotional opportunities for Illinois bettors.