SE Illinois News

State Representative Patrick Windhorst has voiced his opposition to a newly introduced bill, HB 2827, which aims to impose regulations on homeschooling families in Illinois. Windhorst expressed concerns about the potential burdens these regulations could place on families choosing to educate their children at home.

“I have received a multitude of calls and messages from homeschool families throughout the state, concerned that HB 2827 places unfair and cumbersome new regulatory burdens on them as they try to work to educate their students,” Windhorst stated. He emphasized his support for families opting for homeschooling despite being a product of public schooling himself.

Windhorst criticized the state's handling of public school mandates, suggesting that efforts should focus on reforming these rather than imposing additional regulations on homeschoolers. “Our state government has placed a large number of onerous, time-taking, unfunded mandates on our public schools," he said. "Perhaps the energy being put into unfairly burdening homeschool families would be better spent reforming our unfunded mandate regime."

In response to the bill, Windhorst has initiated a petition drive available on his website for those opposing HB 2827.

In other developments within the Illinois House of Representatives, Republicans staged a walkout in protest against what they described as Democratic grandstanding focused on condemning President Trump instead of addressing legislative issues like family safety and tax reduction.

Meanwhile, deliberations continue in the trial involving Michael Madigan and Michael McClain. The jury's discussions have surpassed those in similar high-profile cases recently concluded.

On immigration matters, there is ongoing contention over Illinois' sanctuary laws following actions by Trump's administration aimed at enforcing federal immigration policies. Newly appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has indicated that jurisdictions impeding immigration enforcement may face legal challenges.

Illinois faces fiscal pressures with increased spending attributed to services for undocumented immigrants. The state's sanctuary policy is under scrutiny amid calls from Republicans for its repeal due to its perceived impact on community safety and budget strains.

Economic uncertainty persists as highlighted by recent reports from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), indicating limited growth prospects for Illinois' economy and tax revenues through FY25 and into FY26.

ADM's recent financial performance reflects challenges in biodiesel demand affecting its operations centered in Decatur, Illinois.