Kane County Reporter

State Representative Steve Reick has called for General Assembly oversight of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) following allegations of sexual abuse at Aunt Martha’s Integrated Care Center in Chicago. Reick stated, "Once again our child welfare system is having a bright light directed at it for failing children in its care." He highlighted that despite abuse allegations surfacing in August 2023, DCFS only took action to remove children from Aunt Martha's ICC in May 2024.

Reick raised concerns about the hiring practices at Aunt Martha’s, noting a staffer with a federal penitentiary record for armed robbery was employed there. He emphasized the need for immediate hearings by the House Adoption and Child Welfare Committee to investigate the matter further.

In other news, Chicago experienced over 100 shootings and 20 deaths during the July 4th weekend, according to The Chicago Tribune. This marked an increase from the previous year, where 11 people were killed and more than 60 wounded during the same period.

The Illinois State Board of Education announced that starting spring 2025, high school students will take the ACT exam instead of the SAT as part of their annual state assessments. These exams are used to measure proficiency in core subjects and meet federal mandates under the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Bally’s Corporation has unveiled plans for financing a new casino complex on the site of a former Chicago Tribune printing plant. The project includes a massive hotel tower aimed at attracting long-term guests.

Forbes has recognized the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) as an "AI powerhouse" due to its advancements in artificial intelligence engineering. The university's transformation into the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science is driven by significant contributions from alumni like Thomas Siebel.

A $334 million federal grant has been announced for reopening Stellantis' Belvidere Assembly Plant, which will focus on manufacturing electric-powered Ram pickup trucks. The plant had been closed since February 2023 but is set to reopen with support from both state and federal funding.

The Illinois State Museum is collecting oral histories related to Route 66 ahead of its centennial in 2026. They are seeking stories from individuals who interacted with this historic highway before its decommissioning in 1985.

Rep. Dan Ugaste invites constituents to join him for coffee on July 23 at Arcedium Coffeehouse in St. Charles and attend an Illinois Emergency Management Agency presentation on August 1 at South Elgin Public Works Building.