Kane County Reporter

The deadline for the "Valentines for Seniors" program, organized by Senator Don DeWitte, is approaching this Friday, February 7. The initiative aims to deliver valentines to seniors in assisted living centers or nursing homes within the 33rd District. Contributions can be mailed or dropped off at district offices in West Dundee and St. Charles until the deadline.

Senator DeWitte's office has also outlined a series of community events planned for 2025. These include an ICASH Unclaimed Property Event on February 19 at the Dundee Township Park District Rakow Center and another on March 26 at his St. Charles office. A Prescription Drug Drop-Off Event is scheduled for May 16 at the South Elgin Police Department, and a session on understanding property tax bills will occur on June 4.

In legislative matters, Senator DeWitte has co-sponsored Senate Bill 1313, which mandates state law enforcement coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport undocumented individuals convicted of serious crimes in Illinois. He criticized Governor J.B. Pritzker's support of the TRUST Act as contradictory to public safety claims.

Another legislative effort by Senator DeWitte includes co-sponsoring Senate Bill 98, addressing sexual assault in schools by requiring a minimum one-year expulsion for students found guilty of such offenses. This legislation was prompted by an incident in Taylorville and seeks to ensure accountability while offering rehabilitation paths for offenders.

A report from the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked Illinois low in education freedom, citing the end of the Invest in Kids program as a factor contributing to its "D" grade. Despite this, Illinois received high marks for its homeschooling environment.

Lastly, Illinois faces economic challenges with a December unemployment rate of 5.2%, ranking third highest nationally behind California and Nevada. Job growth remains below average since January 2020 due to factors like high taxes and business costs impacting sectors such as manufacturing and finance.