DeKalb Times

Before ending his term in the Illinois Senate, Sen. Brian Stewart hosted mobile office hours.

“***ATTN SHANNON AREA RESIDENTS ***,” the Republican senator wrote on Facebook.

Two Illinoisans are competing for Stewart’s seat. Gerald Podraza is the Democratic candidate and Andrew Chesney is the Republican candidate.

The event was held from 10-11 a.m. at the Shannon Village Hall on 17 East Market St.

The Washington Post reported Chesney saw the uniqueness in former President Donald Trump's campaign in 2018.

He also said to the Post he had high hopes for the then-president, who bragged about grabbing women by their genitals on “Access Holywood,” saying he and other GOP members “were put under tremendous pressure from independents and Democrats to take down his signs and I guess abandon his campaign ... [People were] calling the headquarters, calling me personally ... I lost friends over it, unfortunately.”

In late August, Stewart shared information about the suspension of household hazardous waste collection events in the state.

Podraza wrote on his campaign website he’s looking to improve rail access between Dubuque to Chicago. bizTimes reported Illinois lawmakers approved approximately $275 million to bring back rail passenger services.

“Right now, we are estimating the number of passengers (on the Dubuque-to-Rockford route) would be 100,000 annually,” Chandra Ravada, director of transportation and planning for East Central Intergovernmental Association, said to bizTimes. “It will help with transportation for jobs, for tourism and for people who travel to and from the Chicago area during the winter time.”

Stewart also cheered students who took part in his summer reading challenge. 

“Reading can take us to many different places and opens doors for new ideas and activities,” Stewart wrote on Facebook. “We are very proud of these students for their commitment to reading this summer, which also helps them better prepare for the upcoming school year. We hope they enjoyed the exciting adventures they found in the books they read.”