McLean County Times

As November arrives, Representative Bunting's office is spearheading a community drive to support local food pantries. Donations of non-perishable food items, as well as new or gently used hats and gloves, are being collected at two district offices located in Watseka and Dwight. The representative expressed gratitude for the generosity shown by community members.

With Election Day approaching on November 5, many Illinois residents have questions about voting procedures. Mail-in and absentee voting has been ongoing, with polling stations set to operate from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. Residents with inquiries are encouraged to contact their respective county clerk’s office for assistance.

The state's Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) face significant budget cuts this year, amounting to $4 million—a nearly 50% reduction that could also jeopardize up to $50 million in federal funds. These districts play a crucial role in environmental management and land conservation across Illinois. Representative Bunting is co-sponsoring legislation (HB 5876) aimed at restoring these funds and urges constituents to support a petition advocating for this cause.

In addition, residents are reminded that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend; clocks should be set back an hour on Saturday night.

Illinois currently has an outstanding bill backlog totaling $1,918,611,816 awaiting processing by the Comptroller's Office—an increase from last year's figure of $1.4 billion at this time.

For more information on voting registration or other state-related issues such as the McLean County State’s Attorney office scam warning or the Secretary of State's John Lewis Youth Leadership Award applications, residents can refer to various state announcements circulating through local media outlets.