Peoria Standard

State Representative Ryan Spain's annual Holiday Diaper Drive has achieved great success this year, with over 12,500 diapers and 19,000 wipes collected for families in need. Rep. Spain expressed his gratitude to all the donors, stating, "To everyone who donated, thank you! Thanks to your immense generosity, local families in need will be able to sleep a little easier this holiday season, and that is the best gift anyone can receive."

In immigration news, thousands of migrants have crowded into Chicago without shelter as winter approaches. These migrants, who claim status as refugees, are facing a humanitarian and budgetary catastrophe. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had planned to construct a "migrant tent city" in Brighton Park, but Governor JB Pritzker recently announced that the State of Illinois would not support the construction. This leaves the 2,000 migrants who would have been housed at the Brighton Park site with no suitable place to shelter as winter approaches.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA) has reported a slowdown in Illinois personal income tax revenues. In November 2023, personal income tax revenues dropped to $1.802 billion, reflecting job losses and declines in ancillary tax payments. Sales tax revenues also dropped by $20 million during the same period. These declines come after several months of strong tax payments at the start of fiscal year 2024. The state's spending plan will leave little margin for error if revenues come in below target during the second half of the fiscal year.

Illinois' gun ban law, known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, is being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Plaintiffs argue that the law violates the Second Amendment rights of Illinois residents. A recent decision by a federal appellate panel opened the door for an appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the power to issue a preliminary injunction to suspend the enforcement of the law. A plaintiff has filed an appeal against the Act on the Supreme Court docket.

In business news, McDonald's, the world's largest fast-food chain, has announced plans to open 10,000 more restaurants. The expansion plan focuses on international growth and the expansion of the McDonald's loyalty program. The goal is to have 50,000 McDonald's locations by December 2027. The loyalty program currently enrolls 150 million customers worldwide and aims to reach 250 million customers by the end of 2027.

The CGFA has released a report on the state's pension funds. Illinois' pension systems face an unfunded-liability gap of $141.4 billion. The largest of the five pension systems, the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), has seen its unfunded liabilities increase from $44 billion to $81.9 billion. All five pension funds have substantial unfunded liabilities, presenting a significant fiscal challenge for the state.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has opened its application window for households struggling with high home energy costs. LIHEAP provides federal assistance for heating bills during the winter. Eligibility is based on income, with the cutoff being 200% of the federal poverty level. Trigger events such as shutoff notices or disconnection from energy services complete LIHEAP eligibility. Applications can be submitted to the Community Action Agency with jurisdiction over the applicant's county.

These are the latest updates on the diaper drive, immigration crisis, budget revenues, McDonald's expansion, gun ban appeal, pension report, and LIHEAP application. Stay informed and stay connected with the news that matters to you.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://repryanspain.com/2023/12/12/update-diaper-drive-results-immigration-firearms/