Carbondale Reporter

The Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation is seeking nominations for the “Illinoisan of the Day” program at this year’s Illinois State Fair, scheduled from August 8 to 18. The foundation aims to recognize ten outstanding community servants each day who have significantly contributed to county and state fairs in Illinois.

To be eligible, nominees must be Illinois residents, 25 years or older, with a history of service at state and/or county fairs in the state. Nominees should also demonstrate characteristics of integrity, dependability, community spirit, and strong ethics. Those selected will be honored during one of the days of the Illinois State Fair.

Nomination forms are available on the foundation’s website at www.illinoisstatefairmuseum.org, with a submission deadline of July 20.

Legislation that aims to alleviate some financial burdens placed on disabled veterans in Illinois was signed into law on July 1. This new law waives permit fees for disabled veterans who need to modify their homes for accessibility.

Previously, disabled veterans returning from service who needed to adapt their homes were required to pay permit fees to their local government in addition to covering renovation costs. This added financial strain often made essential home modifications more challenging.

Senate Bill 2751 specifically addresses this issue by waiving permit fees for disabled veterans making necessary home modifications. The bill passed both chambers unanimously and was signed into law on July 1, 2024. It will take effect on January 1, 2025.

New data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that in 2022 alone, more than 87,000 Illinoisans relocated to other states. This exodus saw nearly $10 billion in income leaving Illinois, significantly impacting the state’s economic landscape. Meanwhile, Chicago has earned the distinction of having the third-highest rate of domestic population loss in the country.

This spring, Governor J.B. Pritzker indicated that working families are unlikely to see meaningful tax cuts soon after signing nearly $1 billion in tax hikes into law to fund spending on the migrant crisis he invited.

Senate Republicans argue that the continued high tax burden on working families and misplaced policy priorities are key contributors to ongoing population decline. State Senator Terri Bryant asserts that state leaders must recognize current policies are driving residents away and focus on enacting genuine relief and reforms.

Applications are now being accepted for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program offered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This state-financed grant program provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquiring and/or developing land for public parks and open space.

All local governments must be authorized by Illinois law to spend public funds for those purposes; school districts are not eligible. These projects can range from smaller neighborhood parks to larger county nature areas.

Under this program, grants can cover up to 50% of approved project costs or up to 90% of costs for economically distressed communities. Grants for acquisition projects can be awarded up to $1.725 million while development or renovation projects are limited to a maximum of $600,000. All applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on September 13.

State Senator Terri Bryant will once again travel her district as part of her Small Town Tour. The first event will take place on July 23 in Murphysboro and conclude on August 23 in Mount Vernon.

Senator Bryant will be joined by State Representatives David Friess and Dave Severin throughout the tour. In total, Senator Bryant will make thirteen stops over seven days.

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