Carbondale Reporter

State Representative Dave Severin of Benton, Illinois, recently took the oath of office for his second term as the 116th District State Representative. Severin was sworn in during ceremonies for the 104th General Assembly. In his address, he expressed gratitude to his family and constituents, stating, "Taking the oath of office is an honor, and serving as State Representative is a full-time job that I take very seriously."

Severin first assumed office in January 2017 after defeating a Democratic incumbent. He has since been serving Edwards, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, and White Counties following a redistricting process in 2022. He emphasized his commitment to addressing high living costs and property taxes: "The people I represent are struggling with the high cost of living and high property taxes," Severin said.

Severin maintains two district offices in Benton and Mt. Vernon to serve his constituents better. His contact information includes an office at 303 N. Main Street in Benton and another at 2929 Broadway in Mt. Vernon.

In other legislative developments, McCombie announced a leadership team designed to push forward shared objectives without adding burdens on Illinois families. "My leadership team is built to provide a strategic advantage on how to achieve our shared objectives," McCombie stated.

Meanwhile, the trial involving Madigan continues with allegations of criminal conduct tied to ComEd utility company connections. The prosecution has presented evidence suggesting influence-peddling schemes involving Madigan's political network.

Illinois faces budget challenges as FY25 revenues maintain a balanced budget barely. Experts warn about potential tax increases or significant cuts for FY26 due to rising state expenditures.

Chicago's credit rating remains under scrutiny as further downgrades could reclassify its debt as junk bonds. This situation mirrors past financial challenges faced by Illinois itself.

Constellation Energy is exploring support for constructing a new nuclear reactor at Clinton nuclear power plant amid increasing electricity demand projections.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency has launched its annual Radon Awareness Campaign encouraging public testing of homes for radon presence using licensed professionals.