Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation that streamlines veteran identification services and makes it easier for homeless veterans to access needed medical benefits. Rauner also made Nov. 4th GI Bill of Rights Day to pay tribute to the American Legion committee, chaired by the 29th Governor of Illinois, that wrote the historic Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944.

“We should seize every opportunity to streamline services to better honor and support those who selflessly gave so much to our country,” Rauner said. “Providing a free medical record for homeless veterans will help them more easily access the critical services and benefits they earned, and the ID designations and license plates represent tokens of our gratitude for the monumental sacrifices made by Illinois veterans to protect our freedoms.” 

A group of southern Illinois lawmakers is showing support for a Salem teenager who is fighting for his life.

Weston McGhee was severely injured in a car accident recently.  His older brother, Wyatt was killed in the accident.  Dense fog that morning is to blame for the crash. WSLITV has the story.

Weston is known for wearing his 'superman' t-shirt under his athletic gear for 'good luck' which is where the idea for these shirts came from. The campaign uses the hashtag #WestonStrong to encourage Weston and support his family to stay strong.

State Reps Davidsmeyer, Brown, Bourne, Bryant, Cavaletto, Meier, Phelps & Reis wore Superman T-shirts on the floor of the House of Representatives on March 26 in a show of support for 14 year old Weston McGhee and his family.

Even though the Chicago Bears won't be participating in Super Bowl XLIX, Illinois will be well represented when players take the field.

On Super Bowl Sunday, thirty-five players from the Seahawks and Patriots will be wearing helmets made in Salem, IL by Schutt Sports.

The number one maker of football helmets in the nation, Schutt manufactures between 300,000 and 600,000 football helmets each year for professional, collegiate and high school athletes in its Salem and Litchfield Illinois facilities. Schutt is also one of the area’s largest employers.

Rep. John Cavaletto serves the 107th District which includes the communities of Centralia, Greenville, Effingham, Salem and Vandalia.

A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Rep. Cavaletto taught students at Mater Dei High School in Bresse and was a school administrator at Salem High School. He also coached boys basketball for many years.

Strong thunderstorms swept across the state on Thursday, dropping record amounts of rain in Peoria and causing substantial wind and hail damage throughout central and southern Illinois. Towns in the Effingham area measured around five inches of rain over two days.

Chicago – Neighborhood Recovery Initiative
Lawmakers Urge Freeze of Chicago Anti-Violence State Funds; Call for Additional Investigation of Programs.  In the wake of the Illinois Auditor General’s scathing audit of Governor Quinn’s $54.55 million Neighborhood Recovery Initiative (NRI), State Reps. David Reis (R-Ste. Marie), John Cavaletto (R-Salem) and Dwight Kay (R-Glen Carbon) are demanding all state funds allocated to questionable Chicago anti-violence programs be frozen.  The lawmakers are also calling upon the Auditor General to further investigate state moneys allocated to these programs.

Rep. John Cavaletto

Follow live coverage of the today's session of the Illinois House of Representatives at 2:00 PM.

May 24 is the House deadline to pass senate bills.
House Calendar for today.
House hearings scheduled today in committees