Believe in the Children Expanding Mental Health Services
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Derek Glover, Executive Director of Believe in the Children in Freeport, and learn more about the work his organization is doing for local children and families.
Believe in the Children works closely with families involved in the child welfare system, providing counseling and helping connect people with the support they need. It was great to hear directly from Derek about the impact they are making here in our community and what they have planned for the future.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2027, Believe in the Children plans to expand its work by providing mental health services to individuals who are eligible for Medicaid. This will help make care more accessible to people across our region.
I appreciate Derek taking the time to meet with me and share more about the organization. I look forward to seeing Believe in the Children continue its important work in our community.
Proud to Earn the Highest Senate Score from the IMA
I was proud to learn that I earned a 92% rating on the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association’s 2025-2026 Legislator Report Card, the highest score awarded in the Illinois Senate.
Manufacturing has a major presence across Illinois, and especially in the communities I represent. These are businesses that have built their operations here and provided generations of families with good jobs. State government should be working to create an environment where they can continue doing that.
Unfortunately, I hear far too often from employers who feel like Illinois is making their job harder. When the cost of doing business continues to rise, it becomes more difficult to justify the next investment or expansion here. Those decisions eventually reach beyond the walls of a business and affect the communities and families that depend on those jobs. We cannot allow that to happen. That is why I support our manufacturers and business leaders.
I appreciate the IMA recognizing my record and will continue working with our manufacturers and local employers to make sure Illinois is a state where they can see a future and continue investing in the communities we call home.
You can read my full release and learn more about the IMA Legislator Report Card here.
A Reminder to Stay Safe During Harvest
As harvest gets underway across Illinois, National Farm Safety and Health Week is a timely reminder for both farmers and drivers to use extra caution and keep safety in mind.
Recognized since 1944, National Farm Safety and Health Week runs from September 21 through 25 this year. The theme, “Safety Today, Success Tomorrow,” highlights many of the risks that come with working in agriculture, including equipment and roadway safety, health and wellness, cancer prevention, and confined spaces.
Harvest is an especially busy time for farmers in our area. Long hours in the fields also mean more tractors, combines, and other slow-moving equipment traveling along rural roads. I encourage drivers to be patient when they come across farm equipment, leave plenty of space, and wait until it is safe before attempting to pass.
Safety is just as important on the farm. Working long days around heavy machinery, grain bins, and other potentially dangerous areas requires extra attention, particularly as fatigue begins to set in.
As farmers across our region head into harvest, I hope everyone will take a little extra time to look out for themselves and those around them.
More information and farm safety resources are available through the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.
Legislation to Ensure Students Learn About 9/11
Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, we now have an entire generation of young Americans who were not alive when our country was attacked. I believe it is important that we make sure the story of that day continues to be taught.
Legislation proposed in the Illinois Senate would require schools to provide some instruction about September 11 each year. Illinois recognizes September 11 as a commemorative day, but current law does not specifically require schools to teach students about the attacks.
The proposal would require schools to dedicate some time to learn about that day and its importance. Potential aspects of 9/11 students could learn about include what happened that day, the nearly 3,000 lives that were lost, or the incredible courage shown by first responders and ordinary Americans.
For the last 25 years, Americans have promised that we will never forget. As fewer people have their own memories of that day, keeping that promise means making sure future generations understand what happened and why September 11 remains such an important part of our nation’s history.
Students need to understand how September 11 changed our country and shaped the years that followed.
The legislation has been introduced and is awaiting further action in the General Assembly.
