Recently, Senator Fowler brought over 100 members of Southern Illinois' agricultural community together for his annual Ag Advisory. This year's meeting was all about how best to combat the growing deer population in the region and other challenges facing Southern Illinois farmers.

This year, Illinois has experienced more than 100 tornado incidents, doubling the state’s typical annual average.

The recent outbreak underscores escalating weather volatility in the region. Notably, earlier this month, the National Weather Service in Chicago issued 16 tornado warnings in a single day, the highest number since 2004.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) warns residents that severe weather can occur at any time of the year. They emphasize that preparing for floods, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms before they strike is important for safety.

Senate Republicans are urging Illinois residents to be prepared for severe weather. For more information on how to prepare for all hazards, visit the IEMA website for resources and guidelines

Senator Fowler joined members of the community to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the Southern Illinois Resource and Advocacy Center. Their mission is to create positive change and compassionately respond to the needs of under-resourced and vulnerable individuals and families across Southern Illinois. 

Recently, SI Now hosted its 2nd Annual Economic Development Day at Mountain Dew Park. Over 100 people, representing ALL 17 counties in Southern Illinois came together to network, collaborate, and learn about some of the exciting progress and opportunities in the region. SI Now serves as a regional economic development hub and works to support Southern Illinois in becoming a thriving, economically diverse environment for business and industry.