Carbondale Reporter

State Senator Terri Bryant recently hosted her annual Youth Advisory Council at Rend Lake College, welcoming approximately 50 high school students from 18 schools. The event aimed to provide students with a practical understanding of public policy, state government, and leadership. Participants were nominated by their schools in the 58th Senate District due to their interest in government and public service.

The day began with presentations from local leaders such as Buster Leeck, State Representative David Friess, Fisher Overstreet, Judge Barry Vaughan, Katie Main, and Ryan Litteken. Students then collaborated in groups to propose new state legislation ideas. Senator Bryant engaged with each group during discussions and facilitated debates on their proposals.

The council will reconvene in the spring for a mock committee hearing at the State Capitol. "I hope that the students left the event knowing that they have the ability to get involved in the state’s governmental process and can make a difference," said Sen. Bryant.

In other news, the federal government has intervened in a lawsuit against Illinois' Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency filed an amicus brief supporting efforts to block this law, which prohibits banks from charging interchange fees on taxes and tips. Critics argue it complicates transactions for consumers and retailers while federal officials claim it disrupts banking operations.

Supporters believe banks can adjust without significant issues. The case is scheduled for court on October 30th.

Meanwhile, Round 2 of the Illinois Grocery Initiative's program is offering $11 million in grants to support grocery stores in food deserts. Sponsored by Sen. Bryant, this initiative aims to enhance access to fresh food in underserved areas. Eligible stores must meet specific criteria related to location, revenue sources, and acceptance of SNAP and WIC benefits.

Grant awards range from $150,000 to $2.4 million with applications due by December 2nd.

With Halloween approaching, Sen. Bryant shared safety tips for trick-or-treating: adhere to local hours, use flashlights for visibility, inspect candy before consumption, choose flame-resistant costumes or materials like polyester/nylon for DIY outfits, wear reflective clothing or tape for visibility enhancement, prefer makeup over masks for better vision clarity, test makeup ahead of time for allergies prevention, avoid decorative contact lenses without prescriptions.

The FDA advises waiting until treats are inspected at home before eating them; avoiding unwrapped or homemade items; checking labels for allergens; removing choking hazards like gum or small toys from young children's bags.

Lastly, the Du Quoin State Fair set a new attendance record with over 204,000 visitors between August 23rd and September 2nd—surpassing its previous record from 2022—and contributed significantly towards combined attendance figures exceeding 977k across both fairs (including Illinois State Fair). Planning is underway already towards next year's events scheduled respectively between August dates mentioned above accordingly too!