Illinois quick hits: Energy omnibus bill advancing; ICE protesters indicted

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Energy omnibus bill advancing

A small business advocacy organization says the energy omnibus bill passed by the Illinois House last night is full of regulations and subsidies to channel ratepayer dollars to favored industries and contractors.

The National Federation of Independent Business opposes Senate Bill 25, but clean energy groups and solar developers support the legislation.

The Illinois Senate is expected to take up the matter Thursday, the last scheduled day of the fall veto session.

ICE protesters indicted

A federal grand jury has indicted six protesters accused of conspiring to impede and interfere with a U.S. law enforcement officer outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview last month.

According to the indictment, the six individuals banged aggressively on the government vehicle driven by the officer, pushed against the vehicle to impede its movement, etched a derogatory word into the vehicle’s body, and broke a rear windshield wiper and side mirror on the vehicle.

Halloween fire safety encouraged

The State Fire Marshal’s office is reminding Illinoisans to keep fire hazards in mind while celebrating Halloween-related festivities.

According to the National Fire Protection Association from 2019–2023, an average of 832 home structure fires began with decorations each year, causing an annual average of three deaths and $17 million in direct property damage.

Forty-seven percent of the blazes involved decorations being too close to a candle or other heat source.