On March 18, 2026, Awake Illinois hosted an informative livestream where Law Enforcement Fellow Retired Chief Tom Weitzel released the brand-new 2026 Public Safety Legislative Report . Following that, founder Shannon Adcock was joined by Mel Gurel of Vernon GOP where they delivered a no-nonsense briefing on the March 17 Illinois primary results. The full recording is available on YouTube , X/Twitter, and Facebook . If you care about public safety, crime, and stopping radica

Education Freedom: It's Time to End the Teachers' Union Stranglehold - And the Data Proves It Works By Shannon Adcock for Illinois Review In America today, millions of parents feel trapped. Their children's futures are dictated by zip codes, failing public schools, and a system that prioritizes adult jobs and union interests over student success. Chicago Public Schools exemplify this crisis:  staffing has surged 20% since 2019  while enrollment dropped 10%, turning the system

Today marks a historic victory for parental rights across America. In a 6-3 per curiam decision issued on March 2, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court in Mirabelli v. Bonta reinstated a class-wide injunction against California's policies that allowed schools to secretly facilitate children's social gender transitions—using different names and pronouns without parental knowledge or consent, and often actively concealing information from parents. The Court held that these policies li

We sounded the alarm over the years on the agenda behind "mental health screenings" and Governor Pritzker's "Blueprint for Transformation". Now we see K-12 schools have CONTRACTS with ariticial intelligence companies that are data mining children and screening kids via loopholes--all actions to which parents DO NOT NEED TO CONSENT. Mom and advocate Jacqueline Garretson joins Shannon Adcock to breakdown how this was implemented, what is in at least one K-12 school district

As the founder of Awake Illinois, I've spent years scrutinizing how Illinois school districts prioritize ideology over education, often at the expense of taxpayers and students. The latest fiasco in Naperville Community Unit School District 203 (D203) is a textbook example: facing a projected $12.4 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year, the district is now dangling retirement incentives to push out veteran teachers . This move, approved by a 5-1 board vote on Fe

By Chief Tom Weitzel (Ret.) Law Enforcement Fellow, Awake Illinois There are moments in law enforcement when a decision transcends routine discipline—it becomes a declaration of what leadership truly values. This is one of those moments. Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison initially announced his intent  to terminate two officers for contacting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during separate traffic stops. Let that sink in: officers reached out to a legitimate federal

Hello, Awake IL members and followers! Our mission at Awake Illinois has always been clear: stay AWAKE (not woke) and empower everyday Illinoisans to stand up for common-sense policies, public safety, parental rights, education freedom, and the American way of life. That's exactly what our dedicated FIGHT! page  is all about: Serving as your frontline resource for taking direct action against harmful, radical bills being pushed through Springfield. When we first posted Tuesda

The Illinois Clean Slate Act: Politics Over Victims, Law, and Public Safety — And It's Unconstitutional By Retired Chief Tom Weitzel I believe in second chances and rehabilitation. What I do not believe in is hiding the truth, undermining public safety, and labeling it "reform." That is exactly what the Illinois Clean Slate Act does. This law is not justice —it is politics. Governor Pritkzer signs the Clean Act. January 16, 2026 | Image via Facebook Reel It is no

Exposing the repeating cycle of double standards—judges ousted for conservative views, teachers celebrating conservative deaths with no consequences. Will Illinois see its shadow again? Shannon Adcock ( Awake IL founder), Marsha McClary ( Moms for Liberty Lake County ), and Alvin Lui ( Courage Is A Habit ) break down the latest hypocrisy of the left and how YOU can break the groundhog day cycle in Illinois. ICE protests at K-12 schools? Courage Is A Habit has the tool to sta