The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is reminding older Illinoisans about the importance of fire safety.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 Senior Illinoisans Hall of Fame awards hosted by the Illinois Department on Aging.

A dozen sites in Illinois have been added to the National Register of Historic Places of 2019 based on recommendations from the State Historic Preservation Office.

This week, Senate Republicans joined a group of bipartisan lawmakers announcing the filing of a new constitutional amendment, Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 18, which would take sitting legislators out of Illinois’ legislative map-drawing process and prevent them from drawing their own districts.

On Jan. 5, it was announced that $50 million in funding is being released for the first round of matching grants of Illinois’ $420 million statewide broadband expansion. Applicants for the grant are anticipated to include Internet service providers, rural cooperatives, nonprofits and local governments.

“The General Assembly has a lot of important issues to tackle this legislative session. With three lawmakers recently being indicted on corruption charges, we must start with ethics reform. While I was encouraged that the Governor mentioned the need to root out corruption, we must hold him accountable to that. Meanwhile, I was disappointed that he not once mentioned the need for fair maps. This is an issue that a vast majority of Illinois residents have been calling for. Until we change the process of drawing legislative districts and enact ethics reforms, we will never regain the public’s trust.”

Two local projects within State Senator Sue Rezin’s district have been approved for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants. The City of Ottawa received $305,100 for improvements at Thornton Park and the City of LaSalle received $400,000 for their Rotary Park expansion project.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) have extended the application period for the next Cadet class until Jan. 31. Candidates who successfully complete the Recruitment Examination will be invited to participate in a mandatory Physical Fitness Inventory Test in late March, with training to begin this summer. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have an associate’s degree or 60 credit hours of college course work. Prospective candidates can apply online at IllinoisTrooper.com.

The start of the New Year brought about the beginning of Illinois’ controversial minimum wage hike. Effective Jan. 1, Illinois’ minimum wage increased from $8.25 per hour to $9.25 per hour, putting additional cost burdens on small-business owners across the state. Wages will continue to increase incrementally to $15 per hour by 2025.

As temperatures drop, the Office of the State Fire Marshal encourages residents to have their furnaces checked and to make sure carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working properly.

In the midst of ethical probes into the Illinois Statehouse, Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza recently announced that her office will no longer assist municipalities in collecting fines for violations caught by red-light cameras.

Outraged by a possible sexual assault cover-up, State Sen. Sue Rezin joined the Illinois Senate Women’s Caucus in asking anyone with information to come forward.

As 2019 comes to a close and we prepare for a new year, several notable laws take effect January 1 that Illinois residents may want to know about. The new laws kicking off 2020 cover everything from recreational cannabis sales, to transportation safety and increased traffic penalties.

The Attorney General’s office has released its annual Safe Shopping Guide highlighting hazardous toys, children’s products and household items that have been recalled during the past year to help Illinois families ensure a safe holiday shopping season.

To help ensure residents in Will County are warm during the cold winter months, State Senator Sue Rezin is teaming up with area legislators to launch a winter clothing drive.

WATCH: A quick video message from Sen. Rezin.

In light of the recent health issues related to electronic cigarettes, State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) has filed legislation aimed at reducing underage individuals’ access to vapor products.

Legislation providing heightened protections for those with pre-existing conditions has failed to garner the 3/5 majority needed to override the Governor’s veto. State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) called for the motion Wednesday, Oct. 30, during the fall Veto Session.

In the wake of ongoing federal investigations regarding misconduct inside state and local governments, State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) joined several Illinois lawmakers today in Springfield to call for ethics reform legislation.

Nearly 50 high school students from across the 38th Senate District participated in a unique, hands-on experience in public policy, state government, and leadership Oct. 24 during State Senator Sue Rezin’s annual Youth Advisory Council.

As Veterans Day approaches, and we look for ways to honor Illinois veterans and tell their incredible stories, State Sen. Sue Rezin is asking constituents to submit a photo and tribute to a loved one who has served in the United States Armed Forces to be displayed on the Veterans Day “Wall of Honor” in the Illinois State Capitol Nov. 4-15.

Stricter reporting and investigative requirements will now be required by law in situations where an infant has died suddenly and unexpectedly thanks to legislation sponsored by State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and State Representative Thomas Bennett (R-Pontiac).

More than 200 people were in attendance for a road naming ceremony in honor of the eight Galetti brothers of Seatonville who all served in the U.S. military. State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and State Representative Lance Yednock (D-Ottawa) hosted the event Thursday, July 25 at the Seatonville Fire Department to officially name a section of Route 6 as the “Galetti Brothers Memorial Highway.”

On July 15, Gov. J.B. Pritzker asked Illinois residents to assess local flooding damage and report it to their county’s emergency management agencies. The information will be used to assess whether the state receives Federal Recovery Assistance.

Not only will a new fiscal year begin on July 1, but many news laws will also take effect starting Monday. From increasing the age to purchase tobacco products to changing what is considered a full day of school, these new laws cover a wide range of topics.