The Illinois Student Assistance Commission has recognized more than 17,577 high school students from 726 schools in Illinois for their academic achievements...

The Attorney General’s office has released its annual Safe Shopping Guide highlighting hazardous toys, children’s products and household items that have been recalled during the past year to help Illinois families ensure a safe holiday shopping season...

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is offering holiday safety tips for shopping, travel, winter heating...

Watchdog group Truth in Accounting has issued a report that ranks Illinois among the least fiscally-transparent states in the nation.

State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) has officially been named to serve on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform. The group is tasked with studying state ethics laws and issues, and to make recommendations for new legislation. “It’s obvious from even a cursory read of state news that the General Assembly is in dire need of better and stronger ethics rules with strong enforcement mechanisms to make them stick,” said Curran. “This can’t be just another blue ribbon panel that offers up little more than window dressing...

People who rely on vital doses on insulin each day will benefit from new legislation that caps increases in costs, according to State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove), a co-sponsor of the bill. “Insulin is literally a life or death necessity for millions of people regardless of its price,” said Curran. “This legislation ensures that it will remain affordable, so no one will have to choose between paying for their insulin or being able to buy groceries...

Over a dozen local students had the opportunity to put their passions and concerns front and center by proposing ideas for new laws directly to State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove). The students came from four local high schools to take part in the Senator’s annual Youth Advisory Council program earlier this week...

During the first week of the fall veto session, new ethics legislation is filed to restore accountability in the legislature, ethylene oxide legislation advances, and more...

Update on the week's happenings in state government...

As Veterans Day approaches, and we look for ways to honor Illinois veterans and tell their incredible stories, State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) is asking constituents to submit a photo and tribute to a loved one who has served in the United States Armed Forces to be displayed on the Veterans Day “Wall of Honor” in the Illinois State Capitol Nov. 4-15...

“This is tremendous news for the people of Willowbrook and the surrounding communities. The risks involved with this facility re-opening were simply too great to the public health...

After a rough and delayed planting season, Illinois’ agriculture industry received good news this week with a Taiwanese delegation committing to purchasing over $2 billion in Illinois soy and corn over the next two years. Meanwhile, Illinois motorists are encouraged to do their part to keep farmers safe as they head back into the fields and hit the roadways for the 2019 harvest season. Also happening this week...

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) has been appointed to serve on a task force that will develop solutions to combat the ongoing opioid crisis. “Opioid addiction continues to take lives in every corner of Illinois. This is a crisis that knows no cultural, economic, or ethnic borders...

“The Illinois EPA’s approval of Sterigenics’ permit is disappointing, but not unexpected. Since the beginning of this public health crisis I have stood with the residents of Willowbrook and worked with them to ensure this facility never again reopens...

The use of ethylene oxide (EtO) for sterilization could soon be banned in heavily-populated areas, as part of new bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) along with several other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle...

An update on what's happening in state government...

Illinois now has a robust and significant set of sexual harassment and discrimination protection laws on the books, thanks to legislation co-sponsored by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) and signed into law Aug. 9 by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Senate Bill 75 is largely the result of work by the Senate Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention, on which Curran served. “This is a major step toward ensuring that people can live and work free of sexual harassment and discrimination..

State government will have more control of over where and how coal ash disposal sites are located, thanks to legislation co-sponsored by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) and signed into law this week. “The goal of this new law is simple, to empower state government to protect people from pollution,” said Sen. Curran. “This is another step toward creating a healthier and safer environment for the families of Illinois...

As Willowbrook and surrounding communities continue their fight in court to keep Sterigenics closed, State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) continues to work on legislative solutions to keep dangerous ethylene oxide emissions out of the communities...

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement on the current Sterigenics situation: “This morning I asked the Illinois Attorney General, the DuPage County State’s Attorney, and the Governor to delay next week’s hearing and implementation of the settlement agreement and consent order regarding the Sterigenics litigation...

I do not support the agreement reached by the ILEPA, the Illinois Attorney General and Sterigenics, which will allow the facility to resume operations. Rather, I will continue to stand with the residents of Willowbrook and the surrounding communities who are fighting for clean air and a healthy future. For years, as testing has shown, Sterigenics has posed a critical public health risk to our communities. They must remain closed...

The State of Illinois and the people of Willowbrook will have new tools in the fight to stop ethylene oxide emissions and keep the seal order in place at Sterigenics, due to legislation sponsored by State Senator John Curran (R-Downers Grove) that was signed into law by Governor Pritzker...

Both chambers of the Illinois legislature have now approved legislation filed by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) that will create stringent rules for ethylene oxide use and emissions, and shut down failing facilities. “This bill strengthens the Illinois EPA seal order that sealed Sterigenics’ ethylene oxide chambers, and it creates the strongest ethylene oxide sterilization regulations in the nation..

State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) released the following statement after the Illinois House passed SB1852: “I’d like to commend Leader Durkin on his efforts in passing this important legislation that we have put so much work into. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass it in the Senate and get it to the Governor for his signature...

Illinois park Districts would have new flexibility in how they handle land leases under legislation sponsored by State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) that passed the Illinois Senate on May 21. “This is a common sense change in law that our park districts have asked for, to help them generate revenue on leased properties...