RIVERSIDE, Ill. – Thanks to the most recent budget worked on by state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, Riverside Foods will receive $52,466 to upgrade their food refrigeration and stability infrastructure, allowing them to continue to provide healthy, high-quality food to the community. 

“Affordable, high-quality food doesn’t just help kids build strong bones, it builds stronger communities,” Hernandez said. “Riverside Foods has been a cornerstone for our community, helping to keep our kids growing strong and providing families with affordable, healthy foods they can depend on. Supporting local businesses and organizations such as this that work to address statewide food insecurity challenges is a critical tool to prevent kids and the most vulnerable from going hungry. This grant funding is much-deserved, and much-needed as we continue to combat food insecurity throughout our state.” 

“Refrigeration has become the highest overhead cost and risk to our operations,” said Peter Boutsikakis of Riverside Foods. “Opportunities like this have become essential, and allow us to effectively continue what we do best: serving our community and customers.”

The Illinois Department of Agriculture facilitates the Local Food Infrastructure Grant, a program that supports local food processing, aggregation and distribution. Additionally, it assists qualifying applicants in acquiring infrastructure that increases access to food and products grown in Illinois. 

Riverside Foods received $52,466 from this program to support its Energy Efficient Food Storage Refrigeration Project. This funding will help protect and enhance fresh, Illinois-grown foods by upgrading refrigeration technology and improving energy efficiency at the same time. 

For more information, visit agr.illinois.gov/assistance/illinoisfarmprograms/lfig.

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SPRING VALLEY, Ill. – State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel, D-Ottawa, is inviting community members and statewide disability advocates to a press conference Oct. 7 at the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living to celebrate recently signed legislation positively impacting residents with developmental or physical disabilities.

“I’m excited to share the meaningful strides made toward greater accessibility for the disability community not just here in the Illinois Valley but for families statewide. A huge thank you to the community and to the unwavering efforts of advocates and organizations who spent countless hours working to ensure every Illinoisan can live safe, healthy and comfortable lives here,” said Briel. “I’m so happy we’ve been able to see this work—from assuring mental healthcare access, strengthening classroom accommodations and improving accessible restrooms—represent real change for real people, and I couldn’t be more eager to continue these efforts as we head into a fall veto session.” 

Briel’s press conference will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Illinois Valley Center for Independent Living, located at 1 Les Buzz Way in Spring Valley. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Briel’s district office at contact@staterepbriel.com or 815-587-7912. 

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EVERGREEN PARK, Ill. – State Rep. Rick Ryan, D-Evergreen Park, is partnering with Nicor Gas, Cook County Commissioner Dr. Kisha McCaskill and the Village of Alsip to host a free Community Connection Resource Fair at the Worth Township Hall Gymnasium at 11601 S. Pulaski Rd. in Alsip this Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. 

“I’m proud to join Nicor Gas and our state and local partners to provide tangible, in-person assistance to our local families in need,” Ryan said. “Especially after this summer and its extreme weather events, families need extra help managing their high energy bills and navigating state and local services. I hope everyone comes out to join us for this event and take advantage of the services available.” 

Ryan’s event will provide comprehensive support for constituents with energy-saving offerings, energy bill management and more. Additional support from the Salvation Army, Cook County Health, Illinois Tollway, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District will be available. 

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – State Representative Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville releases a statement supporting the federal Combating Illicit Xylazine Act and calls on the Illinois House to pass Senate Bill 1773:

“Earlier this month, we watched the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act unanimously pass the federal House of Representatives. Their bill would list xylazine as a Class III controlled substance while still allowing professionals, like veterinarians and biologists, access explicitly for work needs. 

“Xylazine is being used as a low-cost cutting agent, leading to the fentanyl crisis becoming increasingly more deadly. This drug has harmful side effects, like lowering a person’s heart rate and blood pressure to dangerously low levels. It does not respond to opioid reversal medications used when treating fentanyl overdoses, making it difficult to treat. 

“If their act passes the Senate and is signed into law, it will be a clear signal that the drug crisis cannot continue, and it’s time to hold those who profit from these drugs accountable. It’s a clear step in the right direction, and I hope that Illinois will follow the same path.   

“Over the most recent session period, the Illinois Senate passed my legislation, Senate Bill 1773, which would classify xylazine as a Class III controlled substance, while still allowing professionals access. It’s time that the Illinois House of Representatives also passed this bill, so we can send it to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. With this classification, we would be taking an important step towards saving lives, strengthening public safety, and providing law enforcement with the tools they need to protect our communities.”

WAUKEGAN — Rep. Rita Mayfield, chair of the Illinois House Appropriations Public Safety Committee, said dozens of law enforcement agencies have contacted her to express support for House Bills 5750 and 5751, legislation that would provide $4 million for a critical state program to analyze cartridge casings recovered at crime scenes and casings recovered from crime guns. 

The NIBIN/ballistics grant program has provided $10 million in grants to local government public safety agencies in Illinois. The funding provides equipment and software that allow departments to access the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN stores and compares images of crime–related cartridge casings, allowing investigators to obtain critical information and advance their cases faster. Mayfield said, “Simply put, NIBIN is a program that quickly generates actionable leads linking shooting incidents.” 

House Bills 5750 and 5751 would renew the program by providing $4 million in fiscal year 2027 grants to the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement agencies for the purchase of NIBIN- related equipment and software. 

“There have been two mass shootings in Illinois in the last two weeks: one in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood last weekend and another two weeks ago in Chicago’s Washington Park,” Mayfield said. “On July 12, a targeted mass shooting in East St. Louis resulted in five fatalities among members of a single family. NIBIN is critical to these investigations, and police agencies are calling and writing to ask for immediate funding to purchase NIBIN technology and software services.” 

Among the agencies reaching out to Mayfield were the North Chicago Police Department and its Police Chief Laz Perez. 

“In 2025, North Chicago Police won a grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) for $25,000 to buy ballistics detection equipment. However, with no funding guaranteed yet for this fiscal year, our ballistics imaging efforts might not be able to continue because the North Chicago Police Department needs to buy supplies and continue technology contracts for our NIBIN equipment,” Perez wrote. 

Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler said his department worked to address unlawfully possessed firearms in 2024, with officers seizing or recovering 193 firearms through proactive enforcement activity. 

“Each weapon was processed as evidence and entered into NIBIN, a shared system that helps law enforcement agencies across the nation to analyze ballistic information to determine whether a firearm was used in incidents across multiple jurisdictions,” Tyler said. “This technology has helped reduce gun violence in Champaign, and funding should be available every year, and the program should be made permanent.” 

In South Suburban Harvey, Police Chief Dale Mitchell said, “We will need additional software and equipment soon to support our NIBIN ballistics efforts. In the cash strapped South Suburbs, lives depend on your legislation, and we hope it passes immediately.” 

The Northeastern Illinois Regional Crime Laboratory in Mundelein provides forensic services, including ballistic detection and imaging, to member law enforcement agencies in Lake County and across the region, which includes more than 1.6 million citizens. 

“Our laboratory urges you to revive the program,” Lab Director Peter St. Andre said. “This technology can help local departments solve gun crimes and reduce repeat shootings and should be more widely available to police departments throughout Lake County and across the state.” 

In 2025, the City of Peoria and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office received more than $300,000 in state grants through the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board to purchase NIBIN equipment. The grant program enabled Peoria County to become the first county in Illinois to operate NIBIN equipment machines thanks to this grant program. 

However, Peoria Assistant Police Chief Erin Barisch said the City of Peoria “urgently needs funding to purchase new equipment and supplies, and to upgrade existing software. We strongly support your legislation to provide $4 million in funding this fiscal year.”

MONTGOMERY, Ill. – State Rep. Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, encourages his community and communities across Illinois to use Rail Safety Week (September 21-27) as an opportunity to learn more about rail safety and share important information with friends, family, and neighbors.

“Happy Rail Safety Week!” said Hanson. “I know from my experience as a railroad employee how important safety is. It’s my hope that this week we can take time to communicate with one another, especially with young children, about the need for safety precautions and the increased risk around trains. Accidents can happen very quickly. Similar to crossing a street, people in Illinois need to know to stop, look, and listen.”

Earlier this year, Hanson introduced, championed, and passed House Bill 3743, requiring school districts to include railroad safety messaging in their respective handbooks. This new policy includes information about existing laws on rail safety, best practices when walking or driving nearby or over train tracks, and other general advice to help avoid a train-related accident.

Illinois has approximately 7,300 miles of railroad track, 7,482 public highway-rail crossings and 3,280 private crossings. In 2025, the state recorded 134 highway-rail crossing collisions, resulting in 34 deaths and 27 serious injuries.

Hanson encourages residents to remember several rules throughout the year: always expect a train, stay off railroad tracks, use designated crossings, obey lights and gates, eliminate distractions around railroad property, and never assume a train can stop for you.

“Rail Safety Week may only last for seven days, but trains run 24/7, 365 days. It’s our responsibility to ensure everyone, from toddlers to seniors, knows how to stay safe when encountering trains and railroad tracks,” said Hanson.

Hanson’s rail safety legislation was signed into law this summer as Public Act 104-0590.

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EAST DUNDEE, Ill. – State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-East Dundee, will launch her 6th Annual Diaper Drive on Oct. 21 through Oct. 30 to support families and hometown food pantries across northwest Illinois communities.

“Our annual diaper drive collects the most essential goods for the families and little ones in our communities who need support. Being a new parent is no easy feat. This drive’s goal is to ensure every baby and every parent has the supplies they need to grow safe and healthy families,” said Ness. 

Ness’ Annual Diaper Drive was first organized in 2021. Last year, Ness’ drive received 27,725 diapers, 6,480 baby wipe packages and roughly $13,000 to invest in families and local food pantries across District 66. This year, the D300 Food Pantry, Crystal Lake Food Pantry, FISH Food Pantry, Algonquin/Lake in the Hills Food Pantry and the Food for Greater Elgin Food Pantry will receive donations. 

If you are interested in donating to Ness’ 6th Annual Diaper Drive, please drop off supplies at one of the following locations: 

• • Algonquin Area Public Library 2600 Harnish Dr., Algonquin
  • D300 Central Office 2550 Harnish Dr., Algonquin
  • Baird & Warner 1557 S. Randall Rd., Algonquin
  • Fox River MedSpa 1543 S. Randall Rd., Algonquin
  • Northern Kane County Chamber 20 S. Grove St., Carpentersville
  • First Congregational Church 461 Pierson St., Crystal Lake
  • Alero Financial 1950 Big Timber Rd., Elgin
  • Eastside Cafe 311 Barrington Ave., East Dundee
  • Rep. Ness’ District Office 611 E. Main St., East Dundee

Online donations via an Amazon wish list will also be accepted here.

“A huge shoutout to Jacobs High School National Honor Society for their collection efforts this year. The more awareness we can raise, the more support our families here at home can benefit from. Thank you to everyone who has made this drive a success in the past and to those who will continue to uplift our efforts this October,” said Ness.

For more information, please contact info@repsnessil66.com or call 224-484-8620. 

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EAST DUNDEE, Ill. – Improving support for small businesses including farms, processing facilities and food hubs across Kane and McHenry counties, state Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-East Dundee, is highlighting $287,543 awarded through the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program to ensure fresh food remains accessible and affordable to residents.

“With costs continuing to rise, families across Illinois deserve peace of mind knowing that fresh, locally sourced food remains within reach. Tandemly, it’s so important that our local farms and other industry-related businesses have the support and resources needed to keep operations running for the millions of residents they serve,” said Ness. 

Ness was integral to passing this year’s state budget, effectively allocating $1.8 million to the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program. This year, five grants were awarded to four local businesses in Ness’ district, which encompasses towns including Crystal Lake, East Dundee, Algonquin, Sleepy Hollow and Lake in the Hills, to improve infrastructure that will increase market access of Illinois agricultural projects to Illinois communities.

The following small businesses will receive funding: 

• Prairies Edge Garden, LLC will receive $1,959 to complete the installation of a walk-in cold storage facility on the farm. 
• Food for Greater Elgin, Inc. will receive $73,041 to purchase a refrigerated truck and delivery van to support its food pantry, the largest food pantry in Kane County.
• Rustic Road Farm, LLC will receive $75,000 to construct an on-site cold storage and freezer facility to improve the farm’s efficiency. 
• Prairiesburg Fields, Inc. will receive $137,543 to increase freezer and dry storage capacity for Country Village Meats, as well as increasing general freezer capacity for processed meats. 
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“Local farmers and food hubs have had to face major hurdles lately, from illegal tariffs and climate impacts to rising operational costs that threaten small-scale sustainability. I’m thrilled to see these grant dollars invested directly in our community so our local families and businesses can keep flourishing,” said Ness.

Ness voted to create the Local Food Infrastructure Grant Act in 2024. Grants are eligible for Illinois businesses with 50 employees or less, including nonprofits and local governments. To learn more about the grant or to apply in the future, please visit agr.illinois.gov/assistance/grant-programs.

For more information, please contact info@repsnessil66.com or call 224-484-8620. 

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.— State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, released the following statement supporting The Alestle, the student newspaper at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and its student journalists:

“Over the last few months, tensions have risen between student journalists and their institution’s administration over disagreements on what topic can or cannot be approached in The Alestle— a student-run newspaper that is operated by funds generated from student fees. Student journalists’ work is crucial when analyzing a university’s function or understanding the youth’s perspective of a current event.

“Everyone in the United States is covered by the First Amendment, offering us the freedoms of speech and press. In Illinois, we have additional protections specifically for our student journalists. The College Campus Press Act states that campus media is not subject to prior review by public officials of those institutions. I supported an effort this spring to strengthen these protections, and House Bill 4420 will go into effect on January 1. The only exception would be if the content is unconstitutional or harmful, and neither is the case for the student journalists of The Alestle.

“I stand with the students and staff behind The Alestle in their commitment to free press and free speech, and refusing to be silenced. I sincerely hope they are allowed to return to their high-quality and extremely important journalistic duties, without unjust institutional oversight and censoring.”

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