Senators Harriss & Plummer: Legislation Passes to Deal with Licensing Delays
State Senator Jason Plummer (55th -Edwardsville) and Senator Erica Harriss (56th– Glen Carbon) have released the below statement following the Senate’s passage of HB 2394, which provides additional resources to the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation licensure process: “Delays at IDFPR have been an ongoing issue for far too long, which has created […]
Illinois communities set Trick-or-Treating hours
It’s that time of year when little ghosts and goblins take to the streets in search of candy and other treats. Communities all across the state are setting Trick-or-Treating hours for either Halloween Day on October 31, or during the weekend preceding the 31st. Most communities have their Trick-or-Treating hours posted on their official websites, […]
Sen. Harriss asks for submission of photos and stories of veterans to be showcased at Illinois Capitol
State Senator Erica Harriss is asking for your help in paying tribute to our service men and women this Veterans Day by submitting a photo and story of their loved one to be displayed in the Illinois Capitol Rotunda from November 7 through November 20. “Honoring our veterans is extremely important. Having their photos and stories […]
Senator Harriss engages students in state government during fall youth council
State Senator Erica Harriss welcomed nearly 50 high school students from a dozen different schools for her Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Tuesday at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. “This event is always a great way to offer a glimpse of the state government process to area high school students interested in government,” said Senator Harriss. “We had […]
Illinois gears up for deer season
Deer hunting season has officially returned to the Land of Lincoln. Deer archery hunting season began October 1 and will run through January 2024. For Illinois residents, the application for a single deer archery either-sex permit is already closed. A combination deer archery permit or a single deer archery antlerless-only permit are still available for […]
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The month of October is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and has been each year since 1989. According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical or emotional violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime. Domestic Violence Awareness Month evolved […]
Senator Harriss reacts to leadership changes at DCFS
State Senator Erica Harriss has released the following statement following the resignation announcement of Marc Smith, Director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: “DCFS is entrusted to protect our most vulnerable children. With the recent release of an audit showing an unacceptable increase in the mishandling of cases by this state agency, it […]
Small equipment grants open for local fire departments
The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal announced the application period for the Small Equipment Grant Program is now open to eligible fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and not-for-profit ambulance services. In an effort to address the financial hardships many fire departments face, the Small Equipment Grant Program provides grants of […]
Application period for energy bill assistance to open in October
Low-income Illinois families can soon begin to apply to receive financial assistance for natural gas, propane, and electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The application period begins Monday, October 2, 2023, under a tiered system, allowing priority groups the first chance to receive available funds, including seniors (age 60 and older), […]
Senator Harriss releases statement ahead of the implementation of no cash bail
State Senator Erica Harriss has released the below statement regarding the implementation of no cash bail set to take effect on Monday, September 18: “The General Assembly is intended to be a deliberative body. The expedited process that rewrote the state’s criminal justice system, making Illinois the first in the nation to eliminate cash bail, came […]