Rockford Sun

New laws that change the term “offender” to “justice-impacted individual” in some state statutes, and that provide free state IDs to individuals released from Illinois jails, have sparked debate over the priorities of Democrat leaders in addressing crime.

State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) argues these new laws, along with previous measures like the SAFE-T Act, reflect misplaced priorities by Democrat leaders regarding public safety.

In recent years, crime has surged as Governor JB Pritzker and his allies in the General Assembly have promoted policies perceived as lenient. As of July, major crimes in Chicago have increased by nearly 60% compared to 2019 and 18% since 2022. During the Fourth of July weekend alone, more than 100 people were shot in Chicago.

Senator Syverson asserts that the recently signed legislation will not reduce crime in Illinois but instead prioritizes the rights of criminals over those of everyday citizens.

House Bill 4409 is a controversial proposal requiring certain “offenders” to be referred to as “justice-impacted individuals” in state statutes. Senate Bill 2803 expands a pilot program offering free state IDs to individuals being released from state prisons to include those released from federal prisons and county jails.

House Bill 4409 was signed into law on Aug. 2, while Senate Bill 2803 received gubernatorial approval on Aug. 6.

The Illinois State Fair officially opened on Aug. 8 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the annual Twilight Parade. A longstanding tradition at the fair is the Butter Cow sculpture made of roughly 500 pounds of unsalted butter displayed in the Dairy Building.

The daily schedule for the fair includes themed days such as Agriculture Day, Kids Day, Veterans and Gold Star Families Day, Senior & Scout Day, "Twosday," Governor’s Day, Republican Day, First Responder & Healthcare Heroes Day, Park District Conservation Day, and Family Day.

Grandstand concerts during the fair feature performances by Keith Urban, Motley Crue, Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit, Jordan Davis, Lil Wayne, The Jonas Brothers, Miranda Lambert, and Shaboozey. The final weekend will also include USAC and ARCA racing events at the Grandstand.

For more information about the fair's events and schedules visit https://statefair.illinois.gov/.

A recent study from the University of Illinois System reveals ongoing struggles among students recovering from pandemic-related learning disruptions. Despite efforts to mitigate these impacts only a quarter of public-school students have returned to pre-pandemic academic levels in English language arts; fewer have achieved similar progress in math.

Since the pandemic began Illinois has seen a decline of nearly 60 thousand students statewide enrollment coupled with a significant rise in chronic absenteeism further complicating efforts to address learning loss within schools.

These challenges arise as billions in federal relief funds crucial for educational support are set to expire this year necessitating schools seek alternative funding sources to maintain essential programs aimed at closing learning gaps.