Latest news with #BradStephens
CBS News
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
14 months after fire, Rosemont, Illinois halts electric vehicle charger installations in parking garages
The Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois, is putting the brakes on installing electric vehicle chargers inside parking structures — in a development that comes more than a year after an EV caught fire. The electric vehicle burst into flames in January 2024 while charging in the garage at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, and a specialized blanket was needed to extinguish the fire. "Once these EVs catch fire, they're a dickens to deal with," said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. "In the process, the car had to be dragged out of the garage, and then additionally to that, portions of the garage had to be closed down." Repairs have been made to the EV chargers at the mall. But Mayor Brad Stephens and the Rosemont Village Board have now approved a temporary ban on the installation of charging stations in parking garages. "You just want to make sure that your community is safe," Stephens said. "That's what this is all about." While parking structures in Rosemont won't have EV chargers, some EV experts question how effective the ban will be. "That's really shortsighted, and it's really not going to make a difference in the long run," said electric vehicle expert Christopher Allessi II. "EVs are here to stay. The only people it's going to hurt is going to be the businesses." Allessi runs a YouTube channel dedicated to all things electric vehicles. He was at the mall the day of the fire. "Those charging stations are busy," Allessi said, "and what are those people doing while they're charging? They're going in. They're using the facilities. They're going to the food court. They're getting something to eat. They're going shopping." Since the fire, Mayor Stephens said the Village of Rosemont has discouraged businesses from installing EV charging stations in parking structures. "You have a very, very strong financial and personal incentive to make sure that charging station is safe," said Ryan McKinnon of Charge Ahead Partnership. The partnership advocates for companies, organizations, and people that sell EV charging or want to be in the business. "There's businesses that legitimately want to get into this," McKinnon said. "They're looking for ways that they can bring EV charging stations onto their property where they can serve drivers."
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IL Republican lawmakers file batch of bills to boost relief for families
Springfield, Ill. (WCIA) – House Republicans filed several bills that aim to reduce the financial burden on middle-class small business owners and increase the state's economy. The introduced bills include reducing registration and license fees for businesses and removing taxes on tips, increasing education tax credits and allowing people skilled in the trades to teach without degrees. In a news conference Thursday, Rep. Brad Stephens (R-Norridge) said their focus is to grow the economy of all businesses, particularly small shops, without increasing taxes. Illinois senator introduces legislation to make textbooks more affordable Under the current law, any workers who receive tips have to pay taxes on the tips they receive. Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) filed a bill that would change that by removing state income tax on tips. This means service workers in Illinois, from waiters to bartenders, won't have to pay state income tax. If passed this legislation will only be applied to state tax, not federal tax. One of the introduced bills, by Rep. CD Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville), will waive the fees for any business looking to renew their license. To qualify for the fee waiver you must show proof with either a W-2 form or any other tax document that shows you made less than $ 50,000 in the previous year. This applies to business owners who require state licenses to operate. Similar bills filed by Rep. Kyle Moore (R-Quincy) and backed by House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) would eliminate fees for all first-year business license fees for any new business and home-based business in Illinois. Currently, business license prices depend on the municipality and the type of business. 'There are many incentives to encourage large employers to set up shop in Illinois and that's certainly important to have in our toolbox. But your neighbor, who is a banker who wants to go from their kitchen to a storefront, also deserves to have similar incentives,' Moore said. 'Small businesses support families. They provide vital local tax revenue for our communities. Eliminating startup fees will help working families achieve their dreams and further boost small business growth in Illinois.' Illinois Secretary of State urges Illinoisans to double check if they need a REAL ID before heading to the DMV Additional bills aimed to increase the state trade program and ease the pathway for people interested in plumbing, and construction. The following legislation by Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) will allow people who are skilled and experienced in their respective work fields to teach manufacturing, engineering and trade without a bachelor's degree. 'I've gone across the district meeting with different businesses. And one common theme that comes up every single time is we don't have enough workforce, we need more help, particularly in the construction industry where we've mandated hiring practices,' Rep. Mike Coffey (R- Springfield) said. Coffey filed a similar bill of his own that will create scholarships for students attending vocational schools. Another part of the bill proposes the Department of Revenue give tax credits to people who donate to organizations that award scholarships for vocational schools. Coffey said this will open opportunities to students and tackle the staff shortage. 'They say, Mike, here's the problem. We don't have the technical support to fill these positions,' he said. 'We've got the work. We've got a year's worth of work, two years, three years worth of work, but we don't have the manpower. So the purpose of this bill is to help. And, you know, one of the things that we need more people trained.' Advocates, Central Illinois lawmakers call for more protections for Mahomet Aquifer Another bill would increase tax credits on education expenses. The bill, filed by Spain, will increase tax credits from $750 to $1,500 for families who pay for their kids' school expenses from kindergarten through high school in public and private schools. The credits and fee waivers proposed come during a difficult year for budgeting, Governor JB Pritzker said. During his budget address, he told the General Assembly if they want to spend, he will ask them where they want to cut. Stephens said that creating these financial incentives will create more jobs and make people invest back in the state. 'It's about putting more money in folks' pockets and then they will have more disposable dollars to be able to spend and purchase goods and services around the state,' Stephens said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
