NW Illinois News

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was killed last Wednesday during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University. Kirk, 31, was shot as he prepared to speak to a group of mostly college students. On Friday, September 12, the FBI announced that a suspect had been taken into custody.

The shooting comes during a period marked by increasing violence against political figures. In June, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were killed in their home. There have also been two recent assassination attempts against President Trump.

Illinois State Senator Andrew Chesney responded to the news by expressing his condolences and condemning political violence. “I am heartbroken and sickened to learn of the senseless shooting death of Charlie Kirk. Charlie was a bold voice for conservative values who always sought to engage in thoughtful, measured dialogue, even with those who disagreed with him. At this time of incredible shock and sorrow, my thoughts and fervent prayers are with Charlie’s wife and their young children.

“Such a cowardly and despicable act of deadly violence must be met with firm and decisive justice. Just as I said when a gunman tried to assassinate President Donald Trump, violence has no place in our political discourse. We must come together as a nation to condemn this brutal act and fully support law enforcement as they continue to investigate this horrific crime,” Chesney said.

In other developments last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security began Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago. This operation directs ICE officials to locate violent criminal illegal immigrants—such as gang members or individuals charged with serious crimes—who were released under Illinois’ sanctuary state policies supported by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Chesney criticized Governor Pritzker’s expansion of the TRUST Act in 2021, which limited cooperation between state or local governments and ICE except in rare cases. He stated that these actions endangered Illinois families: “Governor Pritzker’s actions have put Illinois families at risk time and time again.” Chesney voiced full support for Operation Midway Blitz.

On October 7, Galena City Hall will host an IPASS on Demand event from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM with representatives from the Illinois Tollway present to assist residents transitioning to new sticker technology for toll payments. Attendees are encouraged to bring their plastic transponders and note their license plate numbers for efficient service.

Last Friday, Senator Chesney joined other legislators on a tour of Arrow Farm Meats in Rock City—a family-run USDA-inspected meat processing facility owned by Justin and Laura Earlywine—to discuss industry issues alongside colleagues including Tom Eickman (Eickman’s Processing Company), Matt King (Main Street Meat Company), Senator Craig Wilcox, and House Republican Leader Tony McCombie.

Chesney is a Republican who was elected in 2023 to represent Illinois’ 45th Senate District after Brian Stewart retired from the seat.