Monthly Archives: May 2015

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs announced today that following an extensive selection process, Sherri Whitmer of Princeton, Illinois is now the Veterans Home Administrator for the Illinois Veterans’ Home – LaSalle (IVH-LaSalle)

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), along with Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09), introduced the Federal Bird-Safe Buildings Act, which would help prevent the deaths of millions of birds by including bird-safe building materials and design features across federal buildings.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) today is pleased to announce that Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Joseph P. Galvan to serve as chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. He brings more than 30 years of public and private sector experience to the position.

U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) is an original sponsor of H.R. 2229, the Municipal Bond Market Support Act of 2015, a bill which would expand the use of local bank qualified bonds and allow local municipal governments and school districts to increase their use from $10 million to $30 million a year. He cosponsored a similar bill in the 113th Congress.

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has nominated James Dimas as the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services and Anna Hui as the Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Labor. He has also appointed the chairman of the Illinois Housing Development Authority

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Al Franken (D-MN) today called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set strong Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) required under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) that provides long-needed certainty to farmers and workers in the biodiesel industry while helping domestic producers grow. They also pressed the EPA to live up to its legal obligation of ending its years-long delay of setting RVOs.

As summer approaches and rental leases begin to expire, May is regarded as the unofficial start of renting and moving season in Chicago. The Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) urges renters to know their fair housing rights and to report any signs of discrimination to IDHR or local agencies.

In a city as large as Chicago, it can be difficult for communities to find the economic support they need. A lack of access to financial services and limited community development can inhibit the growth of these neighborhoods, but one organization has dedicated itself to ensuring that communities can thrive. The Resurrection Project (TRP) stands as a pillar of support for Chicago’s Southwest Side, including Pilsen Back of the Yards and Little Village

While every home should have a disaster preparedness kit and family communications plan, emergency preparedness is particularly important for households with members who have disabilities, functional needs or may need assistance during an emergency.

Agent Publishing, the country’s dominant hyper-local B2B real estate media company, has announced John Thomas, 50, has joined the firm as editor-in-chief and vice president of content strategy.

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today met with veterans who work at Rags of Honor, a silk-screening business that works to get homeless veterans off the streets, and talked with leadership and veterans about S. 1004, the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act, which was introduced earlier this year with five bipartisan cosponsors. The bill requires the President to issue a proclamation each year that calls on United States citizens to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout history

The House of Representatives quickly began its FY2016 appropriations process this week, agreeing to a balanced budget resolution and passing two of twelve annual spending bills. Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-15) voted in support of the House-Senate budget agreement and Military Construction - Veterans Affairs (VA) funding on Thursday, as well as the Energy and Water appropriations bill on Friday.

Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Jared Polis (CO-02) offered an amendment to the FY2016 Energy & Water (E&W) Appropriations Bill that would have saved taxpayers $167 million by maintaining the FY2015 acquisition schedule for the nuclear-armed cruise missile warhead (W80-4).

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced today that listening sessions being held throughout Illinois to discuss the state’s infrastructure needs and priorities will be in 12 communities next week.