South West Illinois News

As November approaches, residents of Illinois are preparing for the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) this weekend. On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2 a.m., clocks will be set back one hour to mark the return to Standard Time. This change provides an extra hour of sleep but also results in earlier sunsets and longer nights.

The shift is an annual reminder that winter is near. In Illinois, daylight hours will decrease significantly, with sunset occurring around 4:41 p.m. following the time change.

Daylight Saving Time was introduced during World War I as part of efforts by the United States to conserve fuel and energy. The idea was that shifting an hour of daylight from morning to evening would reduce household energy use for lighting and heating in the evenings.

This temporary measure was revisited during World War II and later standardized by Congress with the Uniform Time Act of 1966. However, not all U.S. regions participate in this clock change. States like Arizona and Hawaii, along with some U.S. territories, remain on standard time year-round.

In recent years, discussions about eliminating time changes have gained momentum. "The Sunshine Protection Act," a bill aimed at making Daylight Saving Time permanent, has been introduced several times in Congress. If passed, it would eliminate the need to adjust clocks twice a year. Despite widespread public support, the legislation has not advanced beyond committee discussions.

In Illinois, various efforts have been made to eliminate biannual time shifts. State lawmakers have proposed several bills over the years to either adopt permanent DST or eliminate it altogether. However, no permanent solution has been reached at either state or federal levels so far.

Daylight Saving Time will return on March 9, 2025, when clocks will "spring forward" by one hour again. As people prepare to "fall back," they are reminded to enjoy the extra hour of sleep and adjust their routines for earlier daylight in the mornings.