The Illinois State Football team took fans, alumni and all of Illinois on a football adventure as they crisscrossed the country in the FCS playoffs on their way to the most exciting national championship game at any level. Honored to meet team members during their recent Capitol visit with Senator Dave Koehler.

The Chicago region has everything needed for success. Great resources, great people, great opportunities and great location.

You don’t have to take my word for it.

With more than 600 qualifying business projects across the region in 2025, Site Selection Magazine ranked Chicagoland as the top metro region in the nation. It’s the 13th year in a row the metro region has received the top designation from the industry publication.

https://siteselection.com/2025-top-metros-tier-1.../

Chicago scored higher than the Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth metro areas.

“This momentum is not accidental. It is the result of a region with unmatched logistics power, a diversified and resilient economic base, and a nearly five-million–person workforce spanning advanced research to essential operations. Add to that over 150,000 students entering the regional economy each year, competitive utilities, abundant water, scalable industrial space and a deliberate focus on vibrancy as an economic driver — and you have a market built for sustained corporate growth.” -- Andrew Hayes, vice president of marketing communications for World Business Chicago

Belt's measure expands suicide prevention awareness and education

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Christopher Belt introduced a new measure to increase access to life-saving mental health resources and strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the state.

“What we’re doing is expanding suicide prevention education across the entire state,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “These are meaningful steps to address mental health proactively and compassionately.”

Read more.

Halpin bill to address teacher shortage passes committee

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Mike Halpin’s bill to allow retired teachers to work additional paid hours as substitutes in order to address the statewide teacher shortage passed committee.

“Illinois schools need more teachers and more substitute teachers. Allowing retired teachers to continue to work more substitution hours gives the support our education system needs,” said Halpin (D-Rock Island). “If we are going to solve the teacher shortage we will need creative solutions, this legislation represents one of them.”

Read more.

Stadelman outlines safeguards for domestic violence and stalking victims following delays in protection

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Steve Stadelman called a press conference to outline critical legislation designed to eliminate gaps in protection that would leave survivors of domestic violence and stalking without enforceable safeguards.

“This bill was inspired by a courageous constituent who came forward to share her story. Her experience underscores why we must constantly review our laws to ensure they truly protect those they are meant to serve,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This measure guarantees continued protections for victims and strengthens accountability for those who violate court orders.”

Read more.

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Enjoyed a wide-ranging live radio discussion with Illinois Public Media's The 21st Show.

You can listen here: The 21st Show

Over the past months, communities across Chicagoland – our communities – and Minneapolis have been shaken by scenes that belong in history books warning us what not to become: masked federal agents jumping out of unmarked vans, grabbing residents off sidewalks, terrorizing families outside schools, hospitals and courthouses. In the most horrific incidents, they have killed innocent people exercising their constitutional rights.

Working together, the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, and a broad coalition of advocates, passed a new law designed to restore some measure of dignity, accountability and basic constitutional order. I was proud to sponsor it — and prouder still to see it signed immediately into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

The purpose is simple: your rights follow you everywhere. Into the courthouse. Onto campus. To the hospital. To your child’s daycare. No badge, no title, no mask puts anyone above the Constitution.

You can read the rest of my op-ed in the Wednesday Journal here:

In defense of dignity and the rule of law - Wednesday Journal