House Bill 4897 gives brewers more freedom to sell, purchase, store beer and cider

NORMAL — Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation that makes it possible for Illinois brewers to serve a greater selection of beers at their own taprooms, giving smaller breweries new opportunities to expand their businesses without having to open new locations. The new law will also let brewers buy and sell ciders for the first time.

“This legislation removes antiquated regulatory barriers that have stifled the growth of smaller craft brewers and limited beverage choices for consumers who visit their taprooms,” Rauner said. “Craft beer production is a growth industry in our state and this will help ensure its continued success.”

Included in the legislation is an allowance for Illinois brewers to sell their own beer to other Illinois breweries, which will then be able to sell the purchased beer directly to customers in their taprooms, and to purchase cider for selling in their taprooms.

The Brewer Warehouse Permit created by HB 4897 will allow small and growing breweries to expand their operations by using warehousing and storage facilities instead of opening second locations or moving to larger spaces. The permit will allow for Class 1 and Class 2 Brewers to transfer and store, at an off-site warehouse within 80 miles, as much as 930,000 and 3.72 million gallons, respectively, of beer that the brewery manufactured.

Prior to this bill, brewers were restricted from any of the above by outdated regulations set forth by the Liquor Control Act of 1934. In addition to being unnecessary to ensure safe liquor consumption, the controls also created a barrier to market entry for small businesses and protected established businesses from competition.

“The craft brewing industry is growing every year across Illinois with wonderful, unique beers for consumers to enjoy in all regions of our state,” said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. “These changes help ensure everyone can continue to explore and learn about our local breweries and support our local small businesses.”

“This law is a step toward a stronger free market economy. It gives greater lift and encouragement to the entrepreneurs in our state,” said Sen. Barickman. “It makes it easier for Illinois’ craft brewers to market their products and do business in Illinois. Smaller and growing breweries will have a better chance at succeeding-knowing they can expand their operations and reach without as many limitations.”

“Today represents an important step toward strengthening and growing the Illinois craft beer industry,” said Danielle D’Alessandro, executive director for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. “HB 4897 not only enables our state’s taprooms to offer a more diverse selection of guest beer and cider, but it also eliminates product transfer and storage barriers that were cumbersome for our members. We’re grateful for the support of Governor Rauner and all those who made this legislation a priority.”

“There is a tremendous sense of community among Illinois craft breweries,” said Matt Potts, founder, CEO, and brewmaster at DESTIHL in Normal, Ill. “This law allows our breweries to tap into that community even more, promoting collaboration, selling one another’s craft beer, and giving our patrons more of what they want.”

The new law is effective immediately. Proponents of the legislation include the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, Illinois Restaurant Association, numerous craft brewers and the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois.

INA, Ill.  – Beginning this fall, Rend Lake College students enrolled in four popular programs will have a new opportunity to receive paid on-the-job training while completing their desired degree or certificate.

These apprenticeships, offered through the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Office of Apprenticeship, are geared toward students enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance Technology, Basic Machining Technology, Truck Driver Training, or Welding Technology programs, with additional program options in the works. Each apprentice will have the chance to team up with local industry businesses and mentors for the trainings.

Bruce A.L. Hallam, USDOL Apprenticeship & Training Representative, FOURTH FROM LEFT, visited RLC this week to meet with program faculty and administrators to discuss the new partnership between the college and USDOL. Also pictured is, FROM LEFT, Pete Wilce, RLC Welding Associate Professor; Joy Fitts, RLC Applied Science & Technology Administrative Assistant; Lori Ragland, RLC Vice President of Instruction; Hallam; Terry Wilkerson, RLC President; Gabriele Farner, RLC Dean of Applied Science & Technology Division; David Nordin, RLC Truck Driver Training Instructor; Mike Meinert, RLC Welding Instructor; and Chris Sink, RLC Computer Networking / Wireless Professor.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

The goal of the new apprenticeships is to meet student and industry needs for continuous training in high level skill jobs. Together with the USDOL, RLC has adopted apprenticeship standards for each of the four programs.

“It’s important to our business partners that our students and graduates are skilled professionals, but are also familiar with the everyday aspects of their job that may not be taught in the classroom, such as company and customer orientation and specific workplace safety,” said Gabriele Farner, RLC Dean of Applied Science & Technology.

Some other work processes covered in the apprenticeships include planning and organizing work, maintaining operating equipment, operability of technical systems, and quality control.

During the apprenticeship, RLC students will complete approximately 2,000 hours, depending on industry standards, of hands-on training while receiving related training instruction (RTI) at RLC. Apprentices are paid wages that will increase throughout the apprenticeship.

Farner said RLC students should look at the apprenticeships as opportunities to get a leg up in the local work force.

“The apprenticeship is a practical, cost-effective way to expose our students to the industries where they are interested in working,” said Farner. “It’s a win for everyone involved. Students receive hands-on training from skilled mentors while earning incomes above minimum wage, local businesses get to work directly with new professionals, and RLC continues to lead students and graduates down a path they desire to walk.”

Students successfully completing the required RTI and on-the-job learning will receive the national occupational credential in their related field from the USDOL. According to the USDOL, receipt of this credential indicates the employer is certifying the apprentice to be fully skilled in their respective occupation.

To learn more about these apprenticeship programs, contact RLC’s Applied Science & Technology Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1261 or AppliedScience@rlc.edu.

INA, Ill. – Cross everything off your “to-do” list for the Fall 2018 semester during extended hours and Super Saturday at Rend Lake College in the following weeks. Students will be able to register for classes, pick up textbooks, take a photo for their Student ID, and much more.

For students needing to visit campus on the weekend, staff will be on-hand during Super Saturday from noon – 2 p.m. Aug. 18. Placement testing will be offered on Super Saturday, and those interested in testing should arrive in the Academic Advisement Center by noon.

RLC will continue to offer 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. extended hours Monday-Thursday next week and the first week of classes: Aug. 13-16 and Aug. 20-23 respectively. The college will also be open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Fridays, Aug. 17 and Aug. 24. Classes begin Monday, Aug. 20.

Henry “Buster” Leeck, RLC Dean of Liberal Arts, LEFT, leads a group of incoming students on a tour of campus last week. Students have extended office hours and Super Saturday to enroll before the Fall 2018 semester.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Staff in the Academic Advisement Center, Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Student Records, and RLC Bookstore will stay open late to accommodate all students. The offices are located in the Administration Building on the Ina campus and the Bookstore is on the first floor of the Academic Building.

Students will need to make sure they have financial aid for the fall semester before registering for classes. Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Those who do not have financial aid will need to make a payment the same day they register to remain enrolled.

No appointments are necessary for Super Saturday or during extended hours. Walk-in students will be assisted on a first come, first serve basis. Additional information is available by contacting the RLC Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266, or by sending an e-mail to advising@rlc.edu. Students can also visit www.rlc.edu to see the fall course schedule.

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner blamed Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday for the city’s gun violence, saying the mayor has “failed horribly” on public safety after gunfire last weekend injured more than 70 people and killed at least 11.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

Governor signs House Bill 4295, refocuses state workforce near capital city

SPRINGFIELD — Today Gov. Bruce Rauner followed through with his promise to bring state jobs back to the capital city with the signing of House Bill 4295. The legislation moves hundreds of state jobs to Springfield.

“It is a matter of state pride,” Rauner said. “This bill preserves the heritage of Springfield as Illinois’ capital city while boosting our local economy. It promotes Lincoln’s hometown and his vision as one of the original lawmakers who advocated for making Springfield the capital of Illinois.”

The bill codifies into law that Sangamon County is the default location for most state jobs, unless there is a specific reason the job needs to be in a different location.

“For all of my time as state representative, I have made it a priority to push state agencies to identify positions within state government that can and should be located in Sangamon County,” said Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, the legislation’s chief sponsor. “A recent report identified nearly 400 jobs that could potentially be relocated to the capital city. By making Sangamon County the default location for state jobs in state law, it sends a clear signal that state jobs should be in the capital city, unless they need to be located somewhere else in the state to best serve our residents.”

 The bill requires the director of Central Management Services (CMS) to work with other agency directors to relocate all state positions under the Personnel Code to Sangamon County — with some exceptions. It also requires that all new positions be in the Springfield unless there is a valid, constituent-based reason for the position to be elsewhere. The director of CMS will specify the geographic location for each job and, when a job is located outside of Sangamon County, the CMS director will provide the reason for the exception.

“I want to thank Gov. Rauner for signing this important measure, and I want to commend Rep. Sara Jimenez for her steadfast leadership in bringing this measure forward and for shepherding it through the General Assembly,” said Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady of Bloomington, who sponsored HB 4295 in the Senate.

“Returning state positions to the state capital is not only about jobs here in Sangamon County, but also about improving efficiency and generating cost savings for taxpayers statewide,” said Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield. “It’s a common-sense change, and I was proud to sponsor it in the House.”

Abraham Lincoln, along with eight other lawmakers from the Sangamon area, originally promoted Springfield to be the new state capital city after Vandalia. The state capitol was moved to Springfield in 1837.

 The new law is consistent with the plan to sell the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago, which houses many current state employees.

The bill, effective immediately, applies to newly created or newly filled positions, and specifies that collective bargaining rights shall not be affected.

A Mount Vernon man has been accused this week of sexually assaulting a relative younger than 13 in May.

Here’s a link to the story at Belleville News-Democrat.

Illinois legislation designed to ensure ride-share drivers undergo adequate background checks is now law

Here’s a link to the story a the Southern Illinoisan.

MARION — This year’s Coal & Mining Expo opened Wednesday at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.