Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly are calling for ethics reforms in the state’s legislature.  This comes on the back of multiple investigations relating to state representatives which are making headlines entering the final four months before election day.  State Representative Carol Ammons, a Democrat from Urbana, was charged on July 8 with misusing campaign funds and scheming to receive financial kickbacks.  Also this month, another representative from the same party, Harry Benton of Plainfield, resigned amid bipartisan pressure to do so.  He had been accused of sexual harassment and other unethical conduct.

State Senator Steve McClure, a Republican from Springfield, is among those calling for reforms.  He says without them, investigating ethics-based claims is more difficult to do. 

Senator McClure cites campaign financing as one example.  He believes sanctions for violating related laws are too lenient and says candidates in many instances can avoid fines merely by closing related accounts. 

Away from the Capitol, the state senator’s staffers are organizing several ICash events in conjunction with the State Treasurer’s office within his district.  Constituents can attend and find out if the state owes them money.  These events have happened in Taylorville and Carlinville this summer, with another in Sullivan to follow. 

Interested attendees can simply show up; no advance registration is required.

State Senator McClure also recently traveled to Washington, D.C. for events as part of the U.S.’s 250th anniversary.  He had the opportunity to view historical artifacts with deep connections to his district. 

More information on Senator Steve McClure is available at www.senatormcclure.com.

Senator Steve McClure appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

New road improvement work is set to come to Springfield.  State Senator Doris Turner announced on Thursday that $192 million in state funding will go towards the work. The money comes from the Rebuild Illinois program, which has seen bipartisan support.  State Senator Turner praised the move, saying it is an investment in transportation which in turn creates jobs and supports economic growth. 

The new funding will support nine projects.  One of them has already been completed. Five are expected to be completed within this calendar year, with the other three to follow inside the succeeding two years.  More information on the projects is available here. 

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will be looking for a new Executive Director.  Christina Shutt, the current executive director, announced Wednesday that she will leave the position at the end of the year.  The decision will bring an end to what will be five-and-a-half years in the role, the longest such tenure of anyone in the position in the museum’s history.

The ALPLM saw notable success in her tenure.  The museum attained national accreditation, won awards for new exhibits, and strengthened connections with the local community.  Shutt says she is proud of the landmark’s accomplishments in her time there, adding that these successes achieved the goals she set when she arrived. Gary Johnson, chairman of the museum’s board of trustees, thanked Shutt for her service, saying her work will shape the museum well for the future.

The board will work to nominate a new executive director.  The nominee must be confirmed by the Illinois State Senate to assume the role. 

Community members in Christian County can expect to see improvements and extensions to the Lincoln Prairie Trail in the coming weeks and months.  The Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy is orchestrating these changes to the trail, which runs between Taylorville and Pana.  They are looking to extend the route through to the northwest portion of Taylorville and have been in talks with the city on proposals. There are other efforts to improve and beautify the surroundings of what already exists, as well as events to inspire local youth to use the trail.

Steve Dennis is a member of the Conservancy’s board.  He says the route through the city will use side streets to take walkers and riders to where Route 29 meets 104. 

Another proposed project would see a more easily accessible crosswalk built for visitors to access the veterans memorial at Lake Taylorville from the trail and vice versa. 

The Conservancy has worked with Owaneco’s village board to add amenities there, similar to what currently exists at the trailheads. 

The organization has also partnered with the University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners to plant native sunflowers at the Pana trailhead and between Owaneco and Millersville. 

Students at elementary schools in Taylorville will be able to participate in a “bike rodeo.”  The Conservancy is organizing this event thanks to grant funding the city received from the Illinois Department of Transportation. 

More information on the Lincoln Prairie Trails Conservancy is available at www.lincolnprairietrailsconservancy.com and on their Facebook page.

Steve Dennis appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Heartland CASA and Kemmerer Village are joining forces in the effort to recruit more court-appointed special advocates, as the acronym stands for.  Heartland CASA works to provide support and guidance to children in the foster care and child welfare system.  The Assumption-based Presbyterian child-care agency will host trainings for interested volunteers.  The move comes as local demand for advocates is far outpacing availability.
 

One training series will take place Mondays during the day starting July 27.  The other is set for Wednesday nights starting July 29.  Each series lasts six weeks.  Lori McDaniel, recruitment and retention manager for Heartland CASA, says the collaboration was inspired by a Kemmerer Village employee taking the training. 

Schäles Nagle, Kemmerer Village’s executive director, says the similarities in the two organizations’ missions played a notable role in their working together. 

Blaine Smith, Heartland CASA’s executive director, says new volunteer advocates could streamline cases for any of the over 250 children awaiting an advocate. 

McDaniel says the trainings cover all steps in the legal process, with the goal of ensuring prospective advocates know what to expect. 

Amid the collaboration, the organizations’ leaders call for the community to play its part to help children in need of support. 

More information on Heartland CASA is available at www.maconcountycasa.org.

Lori McDaniel, Schäles Nagle, and Blaine Smith appeared as guests on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.

The Autism and Movement Project, or AAMP, is reporting new levels of growth in interest such that there is now a waiting list for participants.  The Pana-based organization works with individuals of all ages who are neurodivergent.  With younger participants, they focus on Autism Movement Therapy which is believed to help the brain develop more easily.

Community members or their parents can express interest in the program at their website, www.aamplearningcenter.org.  Erica Matthews, the founder and owner, says accepted participants are placed based on individual needs and availability.

Matthews handles some of the instruction herself and generally does not hire others to teach due to the lack of turnover in staff.

AAMP is based at 11 South Locust Street in Pana.  They also oversee Brewin’ Hope Coffeehouse at 215 South Locust Street, which their adult participants run. 

Matthews says the opportunities across the age spectrum came about after early participants outgrew the youth activities but still wanted the connection with the organization.

More information on the Autism and Movement Project is available at www.aamplearningcenter.org and on their Facebook page.

Erica Matthews appeared as a guest on the WTIM Pana Morning Show. 

Tuesday's meeting of the Taylorville CUSD #3 Board of Education saw school principal changes announced and a student cell phone policy approved, among other business.

Taylorville Junior High School will have a new principal in Grant Graham.  The North Mac alumnus has familial connections to the area and served as offensive coordinator for South Fork High School's eight-man football team.

Graham takes over for Stile Smith, who in turn will become the principal of North Elementary School.

The board voted to approve a new universal cell phone policy for students at the high school.  The decision comes following the Illinois General Assembly's passing of Senate Bill 2427.  The legislation requires school districts to enact policies that prohibit the use of cell phones by students during classes.  Principal Matt Hutchison says the district's new policy, which he read aloud at the meeting, required only minimal alteration compared to last year to comply with the new state law. 

The board also approved a proposal for junior high-level track athletes at VisionWay Christian School to join Taylorville Junior High School's track team in a co-op.  The agreement is contingent upon approval from the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA).  Superintendent Brandi Bruley says VisionWay's staff will retain supervision responsibilities of their students during team activities. 

Other motions the board passed regard:

• A surety bond package,
• A facility usage agreement with the Christian County Board,
• A trade-in of two Dodge Caravans the school district had used for transporting groups of students to activities for two newer models,
• The allowance of inter-fund transfers. 

During the superintendent's report, Bruley spoke on the quickly approaching start of the 2026/27 academic year and several orientations and conferences ahead of the start of classes. 

The next meeting of the Taylorville School Board is set for Tuesday, August 11.