Sangamon Sun

State Senator Sally Turner is once again bringing joy to local senior citizens through her annual "Valentines for Seniors" card drive. The program encourages students, scout groups, churches, and other organizations to create homemade cards that will be delivered to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in the 44th Senate District.

Cards can be mailed or dropped off at Senator Turner's district office in Lincoln until February 5th. For in-person deliveries, a marked mailbox is available in the hallway during normal business hours.

In other news, the deadline for Illinois firearm owners to register their banned firearms has passed. The state's assault weapon ban has been met with controversy and confusion, but according to the Illinois State Police, 29,357 people registered their assault weapons before the January 1st deadline. The registration of 68,992 firearms and 42,830 attachments was also submitted. However, ongoing court cases challenging the ban's constitutionality, including two cases in the United States Supreme Court, highlight the contentious nature of the issue.

The migrant crisis continues to be a pressing concern in the state. Over 28,000 noncitizens have been sent to Chicago from the U.S. border since August 2022. The overflow of migrants from Chicago to surrounding communities has prompted new rules and regulations from the Chicago City Council. However, some buses have been dropping off noncitizen passengers in suburbs without notice, leading to concerns from local officials about resource availability. Senator Turner expresses worry about the financial implications of the crisis, as Illinois has already seen a significant increase in spending on programs dedicated to noncitizens.

In a recent development, former Chicago Alderman Ed Burke has been found guilty on multiple corruption charges. Burke, who faced 14 counts including racketeering, bribery, and attempted extortion, used his public position for personal gain. His sentencing is scheduled for June 19, and he could face up to 20 years in prison. This conviction adds to a long list of corruption cases involving public officials in Illinois. Senator Turner has been a vocal advocate for stronger ethics laws to address this issue.

As the news unfolds, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan had his first court appearance after being indicted on corruption charges. His motion to delay his federal bribery trial was granted, and the trial is now set to begin on October 8, 2024.

Senator Turner's efforts to uplift senior citizens through the Valentines for Seniors program, along with her advocacy for stronger ethics laws, demonstrate her commitment to serving the community and addressing the challenges faced by the state of Illinois.

For additional details, please follow this link: https://senatorsallyturner.com/2024/01/10/update-from-senator-turner-january-10-2024/