This Easter, we celebrate the greatest moment in human history—the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope, renewal, and promise of new life that comes with it. But as we reflect on that truth, we also confront a sobering reality here at home. In just the past few weeks, our nation crossed an unthinkable threshold: $39 trillion in debt. That’s not just a number—it’s a warning. A warning that while we celebrate the victory of life over death, we are also witnessing a dangerous pattern of fiscal irresponsibility that threatens the future we are called to steward.
As you’ll see in this week’s featured video, this debt crisis doesn’t stay in Washington—it flows downhill to taxpayers in Illinois through inflation, higher costs, and fewer opportunities for the next generation. At the same time, policies here in Illinois continue to move us in the wrong direction. A new report ranks our state just 31st in energy affordability, driven by mandates that raise costs while ignoring basic realities about supply and reliability. And in Springfield, serious questions remain about government accountability, as a multi-million dollar “equity” commission struggles to justify its funding while failing to deliver meaningful results.
Even so, there are reasons for encouragement. This week, students from the Central A&M FFA Chapter visited the Capitol for Agriculture Legislative Day—an inspiring reminder that the next generation still believes in hard work, service, and the values that built our state. In a world filled with noise and distraction, that kind of grounded leadership gives real hope for the future.
Brad
Happy Easter:
He is risen! May your Easter be filled with the hope, joy, and promise of new life.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.” — Matthew 28:6
Easter in the United States not only celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, its history reflects the country’s blend of many religious traditions and ethnic influences.
This article contains a brief history of some of our beloved American Easter traditions:
Debt Crisis: From Washington to Illinois Taxpayers
America just crossed a staggering milestone: $39 trillion in national debt.
That is more than a number—it is a warning.
‘Ag Legislative Day’ At the Capitol
The Central A&M FFA Chapter is an organization dedicated to connecting youth with agriculture and community service in Central Illinois. It plays a vital role in preserving agricultural traditions while fostering new ones.
On Tuesday, March 24th, members of the Central A&M FFA Chapter traveled to the capitol in Springfield to participate in Agriculture Legislative Day. This day consists of delivering lunches and gift baskets full of agricultural items to various Illinois senators, representatives, and their secretaries and voicing the importance of agriculture education, FFA, and its funding.
The members that attended were: Adyson Lowrance, Brookelyn Jackson, Charleigh Minott, Izzy Martin, and Ty Bliss (pictured above with Illinois State Representative Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville).
To learn more about the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization, go to their national website here:
Are These People Contributing Anything Helpful?
Every protest ought to be an act of responsibility: when we protest, we must ask ourselves how we would do it and what we ourselves are actually willing to do. Otherwise, protesting becomes nothing more than the complaint of those who act wrongly in the face of those who are trying to do things as well as they can.
If a protest has no usefulness, it just constitutes more bad behavior.
What we have been witnessing in recent years is nothing more than fake, misplaced outrage that is highly orchestrated and oftentimes paid for. People with too much time on their hands, who are glued to social media, take to the streets for personal attention and the intent to agitate and disrespect others. There is nothing organic or productive about these ugly gatherings.
The ‘No Kings’ movement sweeping the country is essentially a highly organized Trump-bashing temper tantrum. While offering no solutions for a healthy country, their disruptive and rude behavior only illustrates that the participants in these antics are only interested in spewing vial rhetoric at people they don’t like.
The organizer of ‘No Kings’, Sarah Parker (pictured below) falsely claimed that the recent nationwide protests were an ‘organic, people-powered’ movement. In actuality, organizers were provided with a highly-structured document titled “March 28 Toolkit” instructing viewers on how to recruit their own speakers, delegate roles, register their event and use ‘No Kings’ media materials. The guide also laid out best practices for logistics as well as how to avoid permitting and insurance requirements for event-holders.
Because ‘No Kings’ is not a non-profit, a business, or a formal organization, its actual structure is a mystery and has little to no financial reporting requirements or easily identifiable leadership.
Illinois Energy Affordability Ranks 31st In The Nation
Once again, many of the states in the country are outperforming Illinois.
A new Energy Affordability Report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) cites burdensome mandates as a primary reason for making our state’s energy prices more expensive.
Laura Current, (ALEC’s senior manager of the Energy, Environment & Agriculture Task Force), says Illinois has severe policies that will increase costs. Additionally, Illinois is doubling down on wanting to shut down coal and natural gas plants to meet renewable portfolio standards.
“We can look at clean energy such as wind or solar as a great energy source, but is it going to produce enough to cover, let’s say, a shut down coal plant? Is it going to produce enough to cover all of this 54% of nuclear that Illinois currently produces? And that’s where the math just doesn’t work”, Current explained.
The ALEC report rankings are for the lowest average retail electricity prices in 2024.
You can get the report here:
What Is A ‘Diversity Commission’ Exactly?
Well, the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion doesn’t seem to know either, because they had trouble answering questions during a recent state senate hearing which asked why they need $5.6 million in funding for the next fiscal year.
The Center Square (Illinois) found through an investigation that seven of the commissioners in this FAILURE OF A COMMISSION (who are each paid about $150,000 annually) have relatively lax schedules, sometimes work paid side jobs and have overseen a computer software transition that has effectively blocked more than 2,000 businesses owned by women and racial minorities from better access to government contracts.
Deputy Director for the commission, LaTasha Binder (pictured below), told lawmakers that they have made ‘every progressive, supportive measure’ to remedy the situation (whatever that means).
The commission’s executive director, Alexandria Wilson (pictured below), insisted that, “While we take pride in the progress made since (the commission’s) inception, we remain dedicated to our pursuit of improvement.”
None of the senators spoke favorably of those efforts.
Logos Are Everywhere!
They are easily recognizable and represent hundreds of iconic American businesses. But do we know the real stories behind them and the sometimes-hidden tales they tell?
This article takes a fun dive into 12 of the American brand logos that we are all very familiar with: