Senator Turner celebrates the start of underpass construction at Madison, Jefferson streets in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner joined Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Transportation and local officials in the announcement of a new $68.3 million underpass at Madison and Jefferson streets in Springfield. This is the latest landmark for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, which will separate railroad tracks from regular vehicle traffic to reduce congestion and delays, improve safety, provide better access for bikes and pedestrians, cut down on emergency response times and enhance local quality of life.

“Congestion in downtown Springfield can be hectic, especially when the train crosses right through town during peak traffic hours,” said Turner (D-Springfield), who helped make the Springfield Rail Improvements Project possible. “Emergency vehicles have been delayed getting to and from the medical district, increasing the wait time when residents need medical assistance. This investment not only uplifts the city, but also takes into account the safety, livability and development of Springfield for years to come.”

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Villanueva: We must protect patients from deceptive, misleading reproductive health care practices

SPRINGFIELD – Taking another leap toward enshrining safe and secure access to reproductive health care, State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a measure to end deceptive and misleading practices at crisis pregnancy centers.

“There is a war on people’s ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive health care,” said State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Workers at crisis pregnancy centers should not be able to deceptively mislead women into making decisions that aren’t the best for them or their futures. When you go to the doctor and someone appears to be medical staff, you trust they are medical staff. You trust your ability to make autonomous, informed, evidence-based decisions. Reproductive health care should be no different.”

Senate Bill 1909 prohibits the use of deceptive practices to interfere with an individual seeking to gain entry or access to the provider of an abortion or emergency contraceptives, induce an individual to enter a limited services pregnancy center, in advertising, soliciting, or otherwise offering pregnancy-related services, or in providing pregnancy-related services. Villanueva worked in tandem with Attorney General Kwame Y. Raoul to prevent such deceptive practices at crisis pregnancy centers.

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Senator Fine demands accountability from state-operated mental health facilities facing allegations of resident abuse or neglect

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Fine has passed legislation to ensure reports of abuse or neglect in state-operated developmental centers are thoroughly investigated and addressed. The legislation intends to address allegations of abuse at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna, Illinois, where certain staff members have been accused and charged with multiple accounts of abuse to patients.

“Vulnerable residents living in state-run facilities are entitled to the best care possible and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Fine (D-Glenview). “This initiative will ensure people who take advantage of people in our care will face consequences for their actions.”  

Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center serves patients struggling with mental and behavioral health concerns and/or developmental disabilities. Some employees of Choate have been charged with and found guilty of physically or emotionally abusing patients, as well as obstructing official probes and lying to investigators about wrongdoing. 

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Senate approves Feigenholtz legislation to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD – To begin the process of building out infrastructure for drivers and the growing electric vehicle industry in the years to come, State Senator Sara Feigenholtz is championing a measure that lays the groundwork to make EV charging available at residential buildings in Illinois.

“Electric vehicle adoption is growing dramatically, but many people don’t have access to charging stations at their home parking spaces, including the one-third of Illinoisans who live in multi-family housing,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “This bill establishes a path for new housing to be constructed with infrastructure for EV charging stations in mind, so more renters and condo owners have EV charging access in their homes.”

The bill would require new construction of single-family homes and multi-unit residential buildings to include basic infrastructure for electric vehicle charging in a certain number of parking spaces. It also lays out rights and obligations to allow flexibility for tenants and condominium unit owners seeking to install an EV charger on their own, while granting property owners the ability to recoup costs when an EV charging system is installed or removed at the request of a tenant or unit owner.

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