McHenry Times

Senator Craig Wilcox recently expressed gratitude to attendees of the IPASS on Demand event held in collaboration with Senator DeWitte. Approximately 150 individuals participated, transitioning from plastic IPASS transponders to the new sticker system. The Tollway's mobile team will visit McHenry City Hall today for another IPASS on Demand event, where officials will assist with the transition to sticker technology and address account inquiries.

In a separate development, lawmakers are advocating for changes to the SAFE-T Act following a controversial pre-trial release in Grundy County. Two Honduran nationals were arrested with 3 kilograms of fentanyl, but one suspect was released within 48 hours due to a lack of accessible criminal history information. This incident has prompted calls for legislative amendments to extend the timeframe for pre-trial release hearings and classify certain charges as detainable by default.

The Illinois General Assembly's Fall Veto Session is scheduled for November 12-14 and November 19-21. Although there are no vetoes on this year's agenda, the session offers an opportunity to revisit unresolved legislative items.

Additionally, the Illinois Secretary of State’s office has launched "One Road. One Focus," a campaign aimed at reducing distracted driving among teens. This initiative includes educational videos and designated "Distracted Driver Corridors" in high-risk areas.

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation introduced CORE, an online licensing system for professionals such as clinical psychologists, nail technicians, and music therapists. This marks the beginning of a two-year digital transition affecting over 300 license types.

Lastly, with deer season underway, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources encourages hunters to utilize free chronic wasting disease testing available across affected counties. Early detection is crucial for managing this fatal disease impacting deer populations.