With an aim to be the first Indian American representative in Naperville’s city council, entrepreneur and community leader, Meghna Bansal officially launched her campaign on February 4, 2023.

The event was attended by over 200 people including former Illinois Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, Kevin Coyne, former Councilman, and chairman of Safe Suburbs, several prominent members of the Indian American community and members of the media.

A resident of the city for 18 years, Bansal created history by being the first Asian elected to serve as the trustee of Wheatland Township in 2022. As trustee, she was actively involved in the decisions about budget, roads, bridges, and facilities for the residents. Her efforts led to the first Diwali celebration at the Township Headquarters in 2022. Additionally, she has experience serving as the board member of White Eagle Homeowner Association and as chair of the Indian Community Outreach group.

Speaking on the occasion Bansal said, “In recent years, we have seen Naperville changing – in the wrong direction. As a mother of two, I am very concerned about safety and losing family values. As a finance professional, I am concerned about high budgets and spending. As someone from a diverse background, I am concerned about our shared values not represented. We all agree something needs to be done and soon!!!”

Bansal emphasized that her priorities as a councilmember will be to examine the city budget of $603M and finds ways to cut costs which can be invested in development projects for the community, work towards public safety and wellness, and promote economic growth, diversity, inclusion, and sustainability.

“My strong finance, business and educational background, leadership experience as an elected official, having raised my daughters here and diverse perspective not only motivates me but qualifies me to be the best candidate for this job. With my experience and commitment, I will be ready Day 1 on the Job”, the mother of two said amid applause.

Dignitaries present on the occasion also took the stage to endorse Bansal. As Naperville has a strong Indian American presence,  Councilman Paul Leong emphasized the need of having an Indian American voice on the council.

Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, who could not attend the event in person, in his endorsement said, "Meghna is the type of leader who will have a very balanced and measured approach to making important decisions for our city. She is thoughtful and intentional, but just as important, Meghna is a great listener. Meghna will listen with an open mind and will make intelligent, nonpartisan decisions to give Naperville the type of leadership it deserves. I think Meghna will add tremendous value to the Naperville City Council, so she has my support.”

Indian Community Leader and Media Personality, Vandana Jhingan praised the contributions of Meghna and the Bansal family towards the Indian community. Meanwhile, Meghna’s husband Krishna Bansal, a successful businessman and community leader, thanked everyone for extending their support to his wife, whom he introduced as the next council women of Naperville.

The first glimmers toward ending a near-record long federal government shutdown were seen in the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 3, as leading Senate Republicans and Democrats talked of a possible "off-ramp" to the disruption.

For 34 days, a standoff between Congress and President Donald Trump has shuttered a range of federal programs including those that provide aid for low-income Americans, U.S. soldiers' paychecks and airport operations.

A new fiscal year began on Oct. 1 with no legislation enacted to fund these activities. Thousands of federal workers have now been furloughed, and the battle has hung up around $1.7 trillion in discretionary funds that account for about one-third of total U.S. spending annually.

ALSO READ: 42 million Americans will lose food assistance in November amid government shutdown

"I’m optimistic," Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, told reporters when asked about prospects for ending the government shutdown that has many federal employees performing their jobs without paychecks.

Asked if he was confident of ending the shutdown, Thune, of South Dakota, hedged, saying: "Don’t push it."

The comment was a small but significant change in tone. Democrats have linked government funding to extending a U.S. health insurance subsidy that is on the verge of expiring.

Low-income families are seeing their food stamp benefits expire or only partially funded.

"Based on, sort of, my gut of how these things operate, I think we're getting close to an off-ramp here," Thune said.

The No. 2 Senate Democrat, Dick Durbin of Illinois said, "I sense that, too." But he quickly added: "We're still stuck with this premise of what we're going to do about healthcare costs."

Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins of Maine told reporters that progress was made with Democrats offering specific language to break the impasse and staffs from both parties laboring over the weekend. "It just feels better this week," she said.

Nonetheless, Collins admonished: "It could all fall apart again. And I don't mean to imply there's an agreement." 

Meanwhile, a bipartisan handful of House of Representatives moderates floated a compromise plan.

Axios reported a group of four House centrists, three Republicans and one Democrat, offered a plan to extend the expanded Affordable Care Act tax credit for two years, but with new caps on people whose income is at the upper end of qualifying.

Since Oct. 1, groups of Senate Republicans and Democrats have held sporadic private meetings to look at ways to resolve the gridlock that has consumed Washington but so far have been unable to get to the finish line.