Roe v. Wade overturned
On Friday, months after a leaked opinion draft signaled that the U.S. Supreme Court was considering overturning the decisions that legalized abortion in the United States, the Justices made it official, overturning both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. In Illinois, there will be little impact, as the Democratic super-majority took several steps in recent years to not only enshrine the ability to receive an abortion as a right in the state, but even further extreme measures including paying for the procedures with taxpayer funds. In fact, the majority party recently eliminated the requirement that parents be notified if their minor child receives an abortion, despite the fact that more than 70% of Illinoisans supported the requirement.
On Friday morning, Governor JB Pritzker held a press conference featuring Democratic leaders and other pro-abortion lawmakers, calling for a special session in July to pass further, and likely more-extreme pro-abortion legislation.
Senator Terri Bryant noted that in Illinois, people can currently obtain an abortion at any point during pregnancy, for any reason, regardless of the Supreme Court decision. She believes that the Governor and his legislative allies are trying to distract from the issues facing Illinois families today, including historic price spikes for gasoline, groceries, and electricity. Sen. Bryant believes that the General Assembly should be returning to the capitol, but to provide relief for Illinois families struggling to pay their bills, not to pass further extreme abortion-related bills.
Manteno Veterans’ Home experiences COVID outbreak
In the latest COVID-19 outbreak at an Illinois Veterans’ Home, 16 residents and six staff members at the Manteno Veterans’ Home recently tested positive for the virus, and one veteran died. The individual who passed away was receiving hospice care and was reported as “completely asymptomatic.” The resident died within hours of receiving a positive test.
Unlike the outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans’ Home when the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) took almost two weeks to arrive on site and 36 veterans died, IDPH officials were at the Manteno Veterans’ Home within hours of the tests coming back positive. According to IDPH, residents who tested positive were moved into an isolated area while symptoms were monitored. The State’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs said they are conducting daily screenings of residents and staff at the Manteno Home, and the highest safety protocols are in place.
The outbreak at Manteno comes just one month after the Pritzker Administration was criticized in an Illinois Auditor General report for its handling of the LaSalle outbreak in November of 2020, in which the Administration has yet to take responsibility.
Summer heat is here
Illinois was under a heat advisory much of last week and will continue to see those high temperatures continue.
The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is offering tips to help everyone stay safe when temperatures rise, including:
- Keep hydrated and avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and stay out of the sun when possible.
- Avoid strenuous activities.
- Check on your neighbors, particularly older residents, and make sure they are OK.
Additionally, there are currently six cooling centers open across Illinois that provide residents with a place to cool off. Check with your local municipalities for local ones in your area.
This heat wave comes as Ameren Illinois electric customers are already set to see increases in their utility bills. Not only will consumers likely see increases due to the heat and increased electric usage, but will also begin noticing increased rates, which took effect June 1. For more information on this rate increase and if it will impact you, click here.
Upcoming District Events
State Senator Terri Bryant is hosting a series of casual events throughout the 58th Senate District to allow constituent to directly speak to her about issues important to them.
This Wednesday, Sen. Bryant will be hosting a Coffee and Conversation event in Mt. Vernon.
