Latest news with #MauriceWest
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois lawmakers propose $250 tax credit for regular blood donors
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — A new bill under consideration in Springfield would give tax credits to blood donors. House Bill 1179 would give a $250 income tax credit to anyone who donates blood four times a year. Currently, only 3% of Illinois residents donate blood, with the average donor doing so less than twice a year. Experts say that as the state's population increases, there are not enough replacement donors to meet demand. 'Our health is the most important thing that we have. And we do not know what the future holds when it comes to our health. If you are in a position where you need blood, the last thing you need to hear is that we ran out,' said Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), who gave blood at a Rockford clinic on Monday. If approved, the tax credits are estimated to cost the state up to $8 million a year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
IL House Committee hears debate over SAVE Act
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — The Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee heard heated testimony over the potential impact of the proposal on Illinois voters and its impact on voters' ability to vote. The U.S House passed a controversial Resolution, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act, that would require proof of citizenship for anyone registering to vote or renewing their registration with a birth certificate or passport. Nearly $1 million in funding coming to expand workforce training in Sangamon County Committee Chair Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) opened the hearing by pointing to the committee's goal, which is to be 'proactive rather than reactive' to the proposal change that could affect future voting. Some exchanges were rather the other way. During the hearing, supporters said the federal proposal is about protecting the integrity of the election as they point out that non-citizens could vote in the election without being well aware. The opponents argued by saying the change would disenfranchise millions of Americans, including people with disabilities and women. Kerri Toloczko from Election Integrity Network was the only supporter to testify for the SAVE said the checkbox at the DMV is not enough and the SAVE Act will protect both citizens and non-citizens from voting fraud. 'The mechanism for attesting that a new registrant is a U.S. citizen and eligible to vote is a small checkbox on a federal postcard voter registration form, did not include proof that the registrant is a U.S. citizen, that is simply what the SAFE Act does,' Toloczko said. 'Those of us who have concerns about non-citizen voting are also often told, well it's already illegal so no need for the SAFE Act. A law by itself doesn't prevent a whole lot.' Eli Brottman, Policy director from Change Illinois, and five other supporters argued that the number of voting fraud cases is rare and instead the act would create more barriers for Americans and women whose names may not match because of marriage. 'For the 84% of women who are married who changed their surnames, transgender individuals and others, this presents a problem,' Brottman said. 'Disenfranchising millions of voters, including disproportionately women and people of color, will drastically change the outcome of elections.' Sen. Duckworth backs Juliana Stratton's Senate campaign Pew Research found that about 80 percent of women change their name after getting married and 34 percent said they would if they were to get married. This means over 5.1 million women in Illinois could be affected under the SAVE Act because their current name would not match their birth certificate. Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville), who was present at the committee, said she could have been among the women affected because of her name change. But because she travels, she has a Real ID and passport. However, her mother-in-law and people with disabilities could very much be affected. 'Many women have changed their names. I am one of those women. I happen to have a REAL ID and a passport, but I have an 85-year-old mother-in-law who's been Sandy Stewart for as long as she can probably remember,' Stuart said. 'But that's not her birth name. Her birth certificate does not match her ID. And if my mother-in-law were to move, she would lose her ability to be a registered voter.' Illinois Senate approves bill to ban styrofoam containers, House to vote next Toloczko said the states have some authority to make voting guidelines to ease burdens on disabilities and women could prove their name change. 'The SAVE Act very specifically and deliberately gives power to the states, just like in Illinois, the right to write those laws of registration the way you want them. So if you want people to vote or to register online, you can do that. They only have to provide proof of citizenship. And I believe that people with disabilities are just as capable of doing that as able-bodied people,' Toloczko said. 'And pardon me for saying this is insulting to a lot of women to imply that somehow they can't manage to get an ID or they can't manage to find their birth certificate or their marriage license.' The SAVE Act passed the House and is now headed to the U.S. Senate, where they will vote on whether to implement the proof of citizenship in order to vote. There may be a chance for a filibuster since the Senate Republicans don't have 60 votes, which is required to facilitate the passage of the SAVE Act. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rockford United Labor honors Workers' Memorial Day, urges safer workplaces
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Union members and advocates gathered in Rockford for Workers' Memorial Day to remember those who died on the job over the past year. The event was organized by Rockford United Labor, who represent over 25,000 workers in the area. Mayor Tom McNamara, Rep. Maurice West (D), and Sen. Steve Stadelman (D) also spoke at the event. Advocates expressed the need for more training and apprenticeships for workers, while others shared concerns about federal budget cuts and layoffs. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not been cut, but advocates say it could experience ripple effects from the closure of other agencies. Paul Nolley, the executive director of Project First Rate, said, 'Protections for workers on the job, whether it's construction or other industries, need to continue to be strengthened. And what we see, unfortunately, at this point in time, is they're actually trying to roll back those protections. So we're kind of working backwards instead of making progress on the issue.' Workers' Memorial Day is held on April 28th every year to commemorate the 1917 founding of OSHA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Metro-east residents rally to resist bill to ban Native mascots
A small sea of purple and red gathered at Kahok Stadium Sunday afternoon — but not for a football game. Metro-East residents gathered to rally against HB 1237, an Illinois bill that could force Collinsville and at least 10 other local schools to change their Native logos, mascots and names. The rally was hosted by three of the impacted districts: the Collinsville Kahoks, Mascoutah Indians and the Granite City Warriors. Proponents of the bill argue Native American mascots, imagery and names can be harmful, racist and offensive. However, local opponents believe their mascots show the opposite. 'Our mascot wasn't created out of mockery,' said Eric Denny, a Collinsville senior. 'It was chosen out of admiration.' The bill, introduced by Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, passed the Illinois House of Representatives earlier largely along party lines earlier this month. All metro-east representatives — Rep. Amy Elik, R-Godfrey; Rep. David Friess, R-Red Bud; Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea; Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville; Rep. Kevin Schmidt, R-Millstadt; Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville — voted against it. West also introduced similar legislation that would bar public schools from using mascots that are deemed to be discriminatory of people with disabilities. The Freeburg Midgets would be the only school forced to change under this legislation. The twin legislative proposals now reside in the Illinois Senate, where they await committee assignment. If passed by the Senate and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker, schools would be required to change: Names of federally recognized tribes and historical Native American people Mascots depicting Native Americans Imagery associated with Native American people, such as feathered headdresses, tomahawks and arrowheads Terms like Braves, Chiefs, Tribe, Indians, 'or any synonymous term, logo or mascot depicting Native Americans' A school can continue using uniforms or other materials purchased before the legislation's effective date that feature the name, logo or mascot until September 2030 so long as they don't acquire any more of such materials. They must also have chosen a new name, logo or mascot by July 1, 2026. But there is an exception for cases in which schools who use the name of a federally recognized tribe can continue to do so with permission of the tribe. At the center of the bill's controversy is whether or not local Native American mascots are a source of honor or of disrespect. 'The only people that are disrespecting the Indians are the people that are pushing for this bill to go through,' said Judith Ham, who graduated from Collinsville in 1959. Staff and board members from Gichigaminn Indigenous Nations Museum in Evanston, Illinois, worked with state lawmakers on the legislation. The museum's executive director Kim Vigue, a citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and descendant of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin, said the harm of schools using Native imagery and names can be widespread. 'The use of symbols and mascots representing Indigenous people in schools negatively impacts the educational experience for all students, especially students unfamiliar with Indigenous cultures,' Vigue said in a statement. 'The harmful images not only normalize harmful behavior and spread misconceptions, but they also create a hostile learning environment for Indigenous students who are subject to these stereotypes, negatively impacting Native youth's self-esteem and mental health.' Scott Battas, Mascoutah's athletic director, said he understands such concerns. At the same time, Battas and Granite City High School senior Ivette Rios contend the mascots are a way to honor the area's rich Indigenous history. 'I believe it represents and shows respect and appreciation for the people who inhabited our homes before us,' said Rios, who is also Granite City's student body president. Critics of the bill at the weekend rally also worried about the cost school districts would absorb if it is signed into law, given the bill does not include an appropriation to help schools make the required changes. David Deets, the superintendent of Mascoutah, estimated required changes would cost the district between $1.5 to $2 million. For Collinsville, the bill would be roughly $2 million, its superintendent Brad Skertich said, and Granite City superintendent Don Harris said changes would cost his district at least $500,000 and likely more. 'It will be your tax dollars that will go to fix something that you hold dear,' said Annie Frey, a St. Louis talk radio host, who helped organize the rally. Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, said on Sunday that she would plan to vote against the bill if it makes it out of committee. 'I think that these kinds of decisions should be left to local control, and our local districts and people who live in the local area should have the opportunity to vote on that,' Harriss said. 'The state needs to stop coming in and telling locals how to do their business and passing unfunded mandates.' Under the bill, schools that continue to use the name of a federally-recognized tribe and corresponding logo and mascot with the tribe's permission must also partner with the tribe to create policies that prohibit slurs, stereotypes and other offensive portrayals. The bill also mandates that schools that use the name of a federally recognized tribe get permission of the tribe to continue to do so and use an agreed upon logo and mascot. Vigue said the only way for schools to ensure their portrayals of Native people and imagery is not disrespectful is to collaborate with corresponding Tribal Nations to make new images and representations. Without such collaboration, schools run the risk of perpetuating inaccurate stereotypes. 'The continued defense of and use of harmful imagery also limits the opportunity for Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities to accurately and authentically share their culture and contributions in schools and with the public,' Vigue said. As the bill is currently written, not all schools that use Native names, imagery and mascots have the opportunity to continue their use, Skertich said. That's because in order to keep them, schools must collaborate with the corresponding federally-recognized tribe. The Collinsville Kahoks, Granite City Warriors and Mascoutah Indians are not named after federally-recognized tribes. Currently, there are only a handful of schools across the state who are, Skertich said. Collinsville athletes and coaches created their mascot, the Kahoks, more than 100 years ago. They coined the term to signify the Native Americans who built nearby Cahokia Mounds, an epicenter of local Indigenous culture. Skertich hopes state lawmakers amend the bill before it hits the full Senate floor. 'If they're going to let it come out of committee, let's amend it so that all districts with a Native American mascot have the ability to partner with a federally-recognized tribe,' Skertich said.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Dillion's Law' passes in the Illinois House in hopes of saving lives
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — A bill to make Epi-pens more accessible to Illinois residents passed the House of Representatives on April 11th. Dillon's Law would allow anyone to be trained to use, carry or administer epinephrine to someone who is experiencing anaphylactic shock. Epi-pens are usually only provided to someone who has a known allergy. Rockford's State Representative Maurice West (D) sponsored the bill and said this bill would save people with undiagnosed allergies. 'As the father of a daughter with a peanut allergy, I know how important it is to be prepared for allergic reactions,' West explained. 'Dillon's Law will help keep people safe in unexpected emergency situations and help prevent unnecessary tragedies.' The legislation came about when Dillon Mueller, 18, was stung by a bee and died soon after due to anaphylaxis. The teen did not know he was allergic to bee stings. First responders attempted to help Mueller, but no epinephrine was provided in the multiple first aid kits that were on the scene. The bill is now headed to the State Senate after unanimous support. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
