Carbondale Reporter

State Senator Terri Bryant has initiated a petition urging the Governor to allocate state funding to preserve the Modoc Ferry. This historic ferry serves as an essential transportation link across the Mississippi River between Illinois and Missouri. Missouri has already committed financial support, but Illinois has not yet matched these efforts. The petition is accessible online at senatorbryant.com/save-the-modoc-ferry-petition.

Governor J.B. Pritzker recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify regarding Illinois' sanctuary state policies. These policies have reportedly cost the state's citizens billions of dollars by limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, even in cases involving serious offenders. State Senator Terri Bryant criticized the Governor's focus on national politics over local concerns.

Former House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7½ years in prison and fined $2.5 million for corruption charges. He was convicted of racketeering, bribery, wire fraud, and extortion related to a scheme with utility company ComEd. Despite his conviction, no new ethics reforms targeting the General Assembly have been passed since his indictment.

Illinois Democrats have approved a new tax on online sports betting wagers set to begin on July 1st. Sportsbooks will face increased taxes per bet, potentially impacting consumers and threatening the state's legal sports betting industry.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office is distributing over $1 million in technology grants to 88 public libraries statewide to improve technology access in underserved communities. Libraries can use these funds for various technological upgrades aimed at bridging the digital divide.