On Tuesday, August 5, thousands of residents across Illinois from small towns to big cities,are gearing up to participate in National Night Out, a nationwide campaign dedicated to fostering trust between communities and law enforcement. What started as a modest initiative in 1984 has grown into a cornerstone of public safety outreach, with millions of Americans now taking part. The first National Night Out, launched by Matt Peskin and the National Association of Town Watch, encouraged people to turn on porch lights and spend time outside with their neighbors. That simple act has since evolved into coordinated events featuring cookouts, concerts, emergency vehicle tours, and more.

Improving public safety for everyone in Illinois is a top priority for House Republicans. Unfortunately, the majority party continues to back legislation that puts innocent people at risk while blocking any attempts at needed reforms. In recent years, laws such as the SAFE-T Act and its Pre-Trial Fairness Act provision, which abolished cash bail in Illinois, have allowed dangerous criminals who should have been detained back out on the streets.

On April 10, 1912, leaving from Southampton, England and heading to New York City, the Titanic set out on its maiden voyage carrying over 2,200 passengers. Although a British ship, the Titanic has remained the most famous shipwreck in American history, claiming the lives of over 1,500 passengers when it hit an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean just five days into the trip.

Aboard the ship were passengers from a wide range of countries, with the majority being from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ireland. Of those on board, 108 of the passengers were from or had ties to Illinois.

While the Titanic is most known for how many victims it claimed, many families survived and lived prosperous lives, three well-known here in Illinois.

House Republican lawmakers presented their legislative proposals today to bring light to human trafficking and the impact it has throughout Illinois. With Illinois ranking among the top ten nationwide for human trafficking cases, State Representatives Nicole La Ha (Homer Glen), Jennifer Sanalitro (Hanover Park), and Dennis Tipsword (Metamora) discussed the importance of putting forth viable solutions.

House Republican lawmakers held a press conference in the Capitol on March 12, 2025, to discuss the dire state of public safety in Illinois and present their pathway forward, aiming to deliver a state where families can succeed.

Each year, on February 22nd, we take time to reflect on the life and contributions of George Washington, the nation's first president and an enduring symbol of leadership, integrity, and patriotism. While today’s observance is bundled into "Presidents' Day," Washington’s real birthday is February 22nd. His military victories and role in forming the United States helped to shape American ideals.  

Even as new laws sponsored by Illinois House Republicans were enacted this year to help survivors of human trafficking, the ill-conceived Safe-T Act, passed by Illinois Democrats, is keeping traffickers out of jail pending trials after their arrests, giving them the opportunity to target new victims.

Last week, news outlets reported that six men were arrested by the Illinois State Police (ISP) for allegedly attempting to engage in commercial sex acts with underage individuals in McLean County. According to Bloomington’s 25 News, only one of the six remains behind bars until their trials.

Every day, across towns and cities, law enforcement officers quietly step into their roles as protectors, peacekeepers, and pillars of safety in our communities. They wear their badges as a commitment to uphold justice and ensure that our neighborhoods remain places where families can thrive. On Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, we pause to honor these individuals who dedicate their lives to serving others.

Deer hunters in Illinois will be busy this weekend, as firearm hunting season begins this Friday and continues through Sunday, November 24. A second round of firearm deer hunting will be coming in two weeks, from December 5 through 8.

During Firearm Season, hunters can use shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, and centerfire rifles. Vertical, traditional, and crossbows can also be used, but only on private property. Hunters also must adhere to clothing requirements, which call for a solid blaze orange or blaze pink hat and an outer garment that displays at least 400 square inches of orange or blaze pink material. In 2018, Rep. Tony McCombie co-sponsored legislation that allowed deer hunters to wear solid pink gear in addition to solid orange. 

It’s not often that a small city in a rural area in Illinois boasts two destination restaurants, but that is an absolute reality in the Marshall County city of Toluca, population 1,336. Both Mona’s and Capponi’s date back to the 1930s, and since 1965 they have both been owned by the Bernardi family. The decadent Italian eateries are located a block apart on Main Street, and both sport large, retro glowing neon signs out front. 

Fred Bernardi came to Toluca from Italy in 1907 with son Nildo, whose nickname was Mona. Fred opened a grocery store, while Mona played saxophone and clarinet for a traveling band called Mona’s Harmony Kings. As Prohibition ended in 1933, Mona Bernardi opened a Main Street bar that became Mona’s Italian Food, with the menu staples being 10-cent spaghetti plates and 15-cent chicken dinners. In 1934, Leno Capponi opened Capponi’s just down the street. The two businesses competed for patrons for 30 years until 1965, when Mona Bernardi bought out Capponi. The story behind the transaction involves a legendary card game bet. 

Not long after the merger of the operations in 1965, Mona’s son Jerry Bernardi came up with the idea of making, freezing, shipping, and selling tortellini and other pastas. While Mona was not a fan of the idea, Jerry got his way and Bernardi Foods opened in 1971 in Toluca. The 30,000 square foot facility soon became the largest employer in town. The plant has been sold twice since, but still retains 300 employees and remains one of the region’s biggest employers. 

Obviously, Mona’s and Capponi’s are known for their vast array of delicious Italian food, which includes pasta, lasagna, tortellini, mostaccioli, ravioli, and various sauces. But the two businesses share nearly twin menus and offer many other great choices, including Mona’s fried chicken. Steaks, burgers, ribs, pork tenderloins, seafood, and various appetizers and desserts are also featured. And don’t forget the salad, bread, and Bernardi’s Infused Dipping Oil, which are absolute staples of an Italian eatery. 

Each business employs just under 50 people, and Mona’s can seat up to 300, while Capponi’s has a capacity of 240. Mona’s has more of a brighter look of a supper club, while Capponi’s has more of an intimate and dimmer atmosphere. And while the menus are close to identical, there are a few unique options at each restaurant. 

A third generation of the Bernardi family now runs Mona’s and Capponi’s, and the business has expanded operations to three more locations in Washington (Bernardi’s), Pontiac (Bernardi’s II), and Dunlap (Bernardi’s Pub). Bernardi’s also offers a variety of catering options. 

For generations of local residents and visitors, Toluca is known for these two restaurants. Located 30 miles northeast of Peoria, Toluca got its start as a railroad stop in 1887. The population exploded to 3,500 and then 6,000 by 1907. Italian immigrants flocked to the area to work in the coal mines, with the mines once employing 770 workers and producing 379,000 tons of coal. By 1924, the coal mines became unprofitable and shut down. The population shrank and has leveled off at just under 1,500. 

Americans celebrate National Italian American month every October. The heritage month is celebrated in October to coincide with Columbus Day, the national holiday observed on the second Monday of the month. Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the United States, making up the nation’s seventh-largest ethnic group. 

“Mona’s and Capponi’s in Toluca fit the perfect definition for a destination restaurant in downstate Illinois,” stated Rep. Dennis Tipsword (R-Metamora). “Plan your trip accordingly, as these are can’t-miss experiences that should be on many bucket lists. Small town businesses that are passed down from generation to generation are the lifeblood of Illinois communities.”

Welcome to our "3 Things You Didn't Know About" series. Our aim is to help you get to know your legislators a little better.

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Each August, more than 175 Illinois communities around the state participate in National Night Out. The program began in 1984 as a way to link Neighborhood Watch and Law Enforcement organizations with residents in their communities. On this night, neighborhoods across the state host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and various other community events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel, exhibits and more. It has become an effective way to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and communities.

The Illinois Supreme Court has announced its opinion on the Pretrial Fairness portion of the SAFE-T Act, and by a 5-2 decision, they have ruled it as constitutional. This strikes down a lower court ruling in December 2022 which found that the portions of the SAFE-T Act that abolished cash bail were unconstitutional. Thus, the elimination of cash bail is now set to go into effect September 18, 2023 in Illinois.  Illinois becomes the first state in the U.S. to totally eliminate cash bail, and it comes at a time when crime in the state remains at the top of the nation.

National Police Week is celebrated May 14th through May 20th to honor the dedication, bravery, and unwavering commitment of the men and women who wear the badge. This annual commemoration is a reminder of the sacrifices made by our law enforcement officers, who, day in and day out, stand as our communities' first line of defense.

Every police officer begins their day with the fact that they might be called upon to face danger, to protect a life, or to keep the peace. Their uniform isn't just a piece of clothing; it's a symbol of courage, service, and public trust. These individuals are our neighbors, friends, and family members and have chosen a profession that puts others' safety above their own. For that, they deserve the highest level of respect and gratitude.