Fishing buddies honored for river rescue of capsized kayaker

State Senator Steve Stadelman presented Certificates of Recognition from the Illinois Senate to Jake Kaltved and Logan Bohnenkamp for their heroic efforts last month that saved a kayaker who had tipped over and become trapped in the current below the Fordam Dam on the Rock River.

Kaltved and Bohnenkamp explained to Stadelman how they spotted the distressed kayaker while fishing during their lunch break from their metal fabricating jobs, hurried to the other side of the river and dropped a chain to the kayaker until a rescue squad arrived. The coworkers were able to point to the scene from the windows of Stadelman's office in the nearby Zeke Giorgi Center.

"Listening to what they went through and how they acted so quickly is amazing," Stadelman said. "They saved a life."

•    WIFR-23 News Report on Stadelman's presentation

 
Stadelman backs rebooted automatic voter registration bill

Senator Steve Stadelman continues to push to bring automatic voter registration to Illinois.

Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed legislation last year despite bipartisan support in the House and Senate.

Under the latest proposal, which Stadelman supports, qualified voters would be automatically registered to vote when they visit driver services facilities or other state agencies for services. Voters could opt out of the system, and a series of checks would ensure no one is registered to vote who should not be.

Stadelman said the new legislation addresses concerns the governor cited in his veto message last year.

Seniors full of questions during legislative update

Senator Steve Stadelman offered a legislative update this week to residents of Spring Ridge Senior Housing and answered questions on topics ranging from presidential politics to local development proposals.