Sign up is underway for the Spring Yard Clean ups offered to Veterans by the Illinois Valley Fuller Center for Housing.

March 30 volunteers will be raking yards for a maximum of 2 hours. Volunteers are also needed to help with the raking.

If you are interested in signing up to volunteer or are a Veteran who is in need of your yard raked, call 309-363-3737.

PEORIA – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) agrees that more must be done to protect the environment from climate change after Gov. JB Pritzker today signed an executive order relating to the environment.

“If we don’t do anything to reduce our carbon emissions, we are eventually going reach the point of no return,” Koehler said. “Gov. Pritzker is right to continue this fight and I look forward to working with him to expand green energy production and green energy jobs in Illinois.”

Pritzker signed an executive order directing the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to monitor dangerous federal changes to environmental regulations to guarantee that Illinois residents remain safe. The executive order also brings Illinois into the U.S. Climate Alliance.

Koehler previously served as the chair of the Senate’s Environment and Conservation Committee before being promoted to Assistant Majority Leader this month.

FULTON COUNTY – A treacherous highway in Fulton County will be expanded to four lanes if state leaders, including State Senator Dave Koehler and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, have their way.

In a speech before the Senate Wednesday, Cullerton called for a capital bill to help rebuild the state’s infrastructure. He specifically highlighted the need to expand U.S. 24 to four lanes into Fulton County.

Koehler, a Peoria Democrat who represents northeastern Fulton County, said expanding the route will be one of his top priorities in the upcoming legislative session.

“It seems like every week we hear about another tragic accident on Route 24,” he said. “I plan on working with President Cullerton and other area legislators to secure funding in a capital bill to make that road safer and put people to work.”

Koehler was promoted this week to the Senate’s leadership team. He is now an assistant majority leader.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) was named an Assistant Majority Leader for the 101st General Assembly today.

Koehler, who represents Peoria, Fulton and Tazewell Counties, issued the following statement:

“As we move forward with rebuilding our state after the budget impasse, it is important that downstate Illinois has a voice at the table. It is my goal to articulate that voice to the rest of the Senate’s leadership team. I want to thank President Cullerton for this great opportunity.”