The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal is raising awareness about the seriousness of the crime of arson during this 30th annual Arson Awareness Week. The National Fire Protection Association reports municipal fire departments in the U.S. responded to an estimated annual average of over 52,000 intentionally set structure fires in the five-year period from 2014 to 2018. Officials said to report suspicious activity near houses or other buildings to the local police. U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who has served the 9th Congressional District in Illinois since 1999, announced Monday she will not seek reelection to a 15th term next year. The 80-year-old’s announcement is expected to kick off a crowded Democratic primary for the seat, which stretches from northern Chicago to Algonquin. The primary election is less than a year away, scheduled for next March 16. The Illinois Department of Agriculture encourages farmers and agrichemical facilities to take part in a free agrichemical container recycling program. Beginning in the middle of July and continuing into August, sites throughout the state will collect containers that are recycled to make shipping pallets. Metal and household pesticide containers are not eligible for the recycling program. Permanent collection sites are located in Pike, Lawrence and White counties, with single day collection sites taking place around the state.
CONTINUE READING
