A plan sponsored by state Senator Don Harmon and backed by the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition is moving in the Senate. Dubbed the Illinois Clean Jobs Bill, the package is expected to create an average of 32,000 good-paying jobs per year investing in solar power, wind energy and increased energy efficiency.

“We owe it to our children and grandchildren to protect the Earth. That means we have to use energy more efficiently and to start using more renewable energy,” Harmon said. “More immediately, we can create good jobs across the state. Illinois has tremendous potential to grow its solar and wind energy industries, training people for jobs that will be needed far into the foreseeable future.”

A proposed law in the Illinois Senate could make it easier to catch criminals and the pawnshops that help them fence their stolen goods. Senator Don Harmon introduced the plan in response to a local incident where Oak Park Police worked together with Cash America pawnshop to locate stolen computers and jewelry in late 2013.

“I’ve heard from many Oak Park and Chicago residents who are concerned with the proliferation of pawnshops along North Avenue,” Harmon said. “I want to make sure that these pawnshops – or any others – aren’t helping criminals profit from theft.”

Under Harmon’s measure, pawnshops would be required to hold onto items for one week before selling them or releasing them back to the people who brought them in. This holding period would ensure local police have time to check pawnshops for stolen goods during burglary investigations. It also bans pawnshops from accepting items with missing or altered serial numbers.