In this issue:
- Smartphone sports wagers about to cost more
- How to keep your pets safe from the heat
- Fishing derby tomorrow morning
- Illinois headlines
Smartphone sports wagers about to cost more
The cost of placing a sports wager in Illinois from your smartphone is about to go up, reflecting the tax increase which was included in this year’s state budget. I voted No.
The additional fee, which was announced by sports wagering company FanDuel, will hit wagers placed by FanDuel users who are registered in Illinois and who place their bets here. The fee, which will not be charged to bettors in other states, comes in direct response to the tax increase which Democrats used to fund the most expensive spending bill in Illinois history.
The budget covers the fiscal year which begins on July 1. Taxes were raised by around $1 billion to pay for all the new spending, which includes pay raises for politicians and pork projects in Democrat-held House and Senate districts. There were many important and worthwhile projects funded in the budget as well, but in a year in which revenue was already tight, this additional wasteful spending did not seem like a good idea to me.
Now we are beginning to see the higher taxes which are a consequence of the extra spending.
How to keep your pets safe from the heat
This week has been brutally hot in Illinois, and we are still only at the beginning of summer.
Each year hundreds of people die from heat-related causes in the United States. The precautions are well known: stay hydrated, avoid being outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, and stay in air conditioning as much as possible. Check on elderly neighbors, or those who might be at higher risk of heat-related illnesses. You can also find information about cooling centers throughout the state by clicking here.
But don’t forget about your outdoor pets during these hottest months of the year. This week the Illinois State Fire Marshal is out with a list of tips for how to care for your pets when the temperature rises.
The first and most obvious tip is to never leave a pet inside a hot car.
The fire marshal’s office goes on to advise that Illinoisans provide plenty of shade and water for outdoor pets, be mindful of the humidity and limit pets’ exercise. They also remind us to be on the lookout for hot pavement, which can cause severe burns to our furry friends.
Here is more information from the National Weather Service about heat safety.
Fishing derby tomorrow morning
Tomorrow morning, Saturday June 28, I am joining Senator Chris Balkema to host a FREE fishing derby for local kids. All kids ages 12 and under are welcome.
The event will be at the Heidecke Lake fishing bank area, located at 6350 E. Collins Road in Morris from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. Registration starts at 9, with the Illinois Conservation Police conducting a water safety presentation at 9:10. Fishing will start at 9:30, with kids eligible to win prizes for the biggest fish, the most fish caught as well as a sportsman award.
This is a great opportunity to introduce kids to the joy of fishing and learn a thing or two about safety on the water. There will be a free rod/reel combo for the first 50 kids to arrive. Thanks to Grundy County Land Use, the Illinois Conservation Police and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,277,460,526. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $682 million in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Ceremony honors 2 Illinois State Police troopers who died in the line of duty
Determined athletes defy odds and break records at Illinois Summer Special Olympics
Illinois Army National Guard trains with Polish Territorial Defence Force
These are the 10 best-known Illinois public officials convicted of crimes
Illinois State Fair announces “Adventure Awaits”
Are fireflies going extinct? What to know about ‘lightning bugs’ in Illinois