Kane County Reporter

Turnout for the July 10 IPASS on Demand event held by State Rep. Dan Ugaste and Senator Don DeWitte in St. Charles exceeded expectations, with over 100 individuals exchanging their plastic IPASS transponders for new stickers being phased in by the Illinois Tollway.

Senator DeWitte announced that the Illinois Tollway will return on Wednesday, July 31, for an encore event from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at their shared St. Charles office. "You will need to know your license plate number since that number is tied to the new sticker," DeWitte noted.

The new IPASS sticker tags, which are being adopted nationwide, will be ready for use immediately on the Illinois Tollway and within 24 hours on other E-Z Pass roadways. There is no charge for these stickers, and the $10 transponder deposit will be transferred into customers' prepaid accounts once registered.

Several additional employees from the Tollway will attend this second event to expedite service.

Additional summer events in the 33rd District include traveling office hours, mobile Secretary of State events, prescription drug drop-offs, senior expos, shred events, and ICASH unclaimed property days.

ComEd has restored power to 99% of its customers following storms on July 15 that left nearly half-a-million without electricity. Crews prioritized hospitals, senior centers, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and then residential areas. "I sincerely appreciate that ComEd crews worked around the clock," said DeWitte.

As ranking Republican on the Senate Transportation Committee, DeWitte highlighted a series of public hearings addressing a projected $730 million funding deficit for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) by 2026. The hearings consider merging Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra, and Pace into a single entity to streamline operations amid economic challenges.

DeWitte recently toured key facilities including Weststar Aviation in East Alton and Prairie State Energy Campus in Washington County. He emphasized ongoing efforts to support local energy producers ensuring reliable and affordable energy for Illinois residents.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) received a $10 million grant from the Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Council to combat vehicle thefts and hijackings. From April to June 2024, ISP recovered 251 stolen vehicles and made over 24 arrests related to vehicle thefts.

Governor Pritzker's budget introduces a progressive tax system for sports betting operators in Illinois. The tax rates range from 20% to up to 40%, replacing a flat rate of 15%. Senate Republicans have opposed this change citing potential negative impacts on both operators and bettors.

Finally, Senate Republicans are collaborating with the Illinois State Treasurer’s Office on ICASH events aimed at returning unclaimed property to residents across Illinois. Since 2015, over $2 billion has been returned through these efforts.

For more information about upcoming events or unclaimed property searches, individuals can visit the official state site.