GPP News
Davidsmeyer’s school gun violence prevention bill signed into law
Legislation sponsored by State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Murrayville) to prevent school gun violence was signed into law on Friday. Representative Davidsmeyer filed his legislation after hearing of an incident in his district where a student threatened to commit an act of gun violence against another student. The victim told the school staff about the incident,…
Read MoreLawmakers discuss impacts of One Big Beautiful Bill on Illinois residents
By Peter Hancock and Ben Szalinski Capitol News Illinois Illinois Democrats brought some of their biggest names to Springfield last Tuesday to call attention to the massive cuts that will take effect in the coming years for programs that benefit low-income communities. At one event, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski hosted…
Read MoreState education board to vote on new test scoring system
By Peter Hancock Education officials in Illinois expect to see a marked increase this year in the percentage of students classified as proficient in reading, writing and math, along with a slight decline in proficiency rates in science. That’s not because of any change in the way schools are teaching or how well students are…
Read MoreCass Communications Management, Inc. announces retirement of Thomas Allen
Cass Communications Management, Inc. has announced that Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Thomas D. Allen will be retiring on August 31. Allen also serves as COO for Cass Cable TV, Inc. and Cass Telephone Company. He will remain on the Board of Directors for all companies. Allen joined what has become known as CASSCOMM…
Read MoreFree Zoom NARCAN® training
Chestnut Health Systems offers free NARCAN® and free training on how and when to use it. The free training is virtual, on Zoom, so you can attend without leaving your home. You can attend anonymously. The training is user-friendly, easy and interesting. There are no tests or quizzes. The training is offered every third Thursday…
Read MorePritzker signs Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act
The Illinois State Police (ISP) is announcing major updates to several laws impacting the ability to combat human trafficking and help those who have been trafficked with the signing of Senate Bill 2323, the Illinois Statewide Trauma-Informed Response to Human Trafficking Act. The Act addresses human trafficking through prevention, intervention, and establishing standards for…
Read MorePritzker signs police background check expansion in Sonya Massey’s honor
By Jerry Nowicki Capitol News Illinois Police agencies in Illinois will soon be required to do more thorough background checks on prospective officers. The measure signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Tuesday came in response to the July 2024 shooting death of Sonya Massey in Sangamon County by a sheriff’s deputy. Massey had called police to…
Read MoreMadison County farmer invests in next generation of ag leaders
By HANNAH SPANGLER FarmWeek With one of his final gifts, the late Gene Daiber is planting seeds for the next generation of agriculture leaders in the St. Louis metro area. As part of Gene Daiber’s estate plan, a generous gift to the IAA Foundation will be awarded over the next 10 years, supporting scholarships for…
Read MoreGood Growing – Nature by Design: Naturalistic Landscapes
By Chris Enroth, Horticulture Educator University of Illinois Extension In recent years, landscape design trends have migrated toward naturalistic aesthetics- a style that equally prioritizes ecological function, native plant selection, and beauty. For some, this may seem like an abrupt turn from the more familiar formal landscape design often employed in home landscapes. However, a…
Read MoreJacksonville Center for the Arts signs option to purchase Illinois Theater
In furtherance of its quest to create a multipurpose civic center with performing arts capabilities, the Jacksonville Center for the Arts Board has recently signed an exclusive option to purchase the historic Illinois Theater from owners Mark and Emily Hughes. “The Illinois Theater is iconic. It is historic. It is a jewel in the crown…
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