Illinois news in brief: Ammons House investigation hearing set; IDOT requests public feedback; Duckworth reacts to service member’s death

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Ammons House investigation hearing set

The Illinois House Special Investigative Committee appointed to look into alleged wrongdoings by Rep. Carol Ammons, D-Urbana, is set to convene for its first hearing on Thursday, Aug. 6. at the State Capitol. Asked if the representative would seek to use her right to representation and attendance at the committee’s coming hearings last week, Mutaquee Akbar, a lawyer representing Ammons, said the team wants the legislature to postpone the committee’s investigation during the federal case. Rules relating to the committee don’t specifically provide a way for Ammons to delay the investigation, though the bipartisan committee could choose to put off additional meetings on the grounds presented by Ammons’ lawyers.

Duckworth reacts to service member’s death

Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth says the death of a U.S. service member in northern Iraq on Saturday is a devastating reminder of the true cost of war. U.S. Central Command said one service member was killed and another wounded during detonation of unexploded ordnance from a downed Iranian one-way attack drone. Duckworth’s comments came in a social media post on Monday.

Illinois is not one of four states warned about voter rolls

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned four states about noncitizens allegedly being on their voter rolls, but Illinois is not one of them. Mullins sent the letters to secretaries of state in California, New Jersey, Nevada and Pennsylvania, saying DHS identified over 250,000 potential non-citizens illegally registered to vote.

IDOT requests public feedback

The Illinois Department of Transportation is asking the public for feedback on the state’s transportation system and the agency’s performance through the annual Traveler Opinion Survey. The survey conducted in partnership with the University of Illinois Springfield is available online through August 11.