Lightford: Breonna Taylor deserved to live

CHICAGO – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) issued the following statement in reaction to Detective Brett Hankinson being charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree in the murder of Breonna Taylor in her Louisville apartment on March 13. No charges were brought against Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, the other two officers involved in the shooting.

“It is impossible to express the weight of the injustices and cruelty carried out against the Black community throughout the history of our country. When an officer can justify the murder of Breonna Taylor as legal, moral and ethical, then walk away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, there can be no doubt that Black women do not matter in our country today.

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Senate committee hearing to focus on Black Caucus’ education agenda

JOLIET – To continue efforts to address structural racial inequality in Illinois, the Senate will hold a joint Education and Higher Education Committee tomorrow.

“As chair of the Higher Education Committee, I've learned that the foundation for successful post-secondary education is built early in one's life,” said Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Pat McGuire (D-Crest Hill). “Tomorrow's hearing will explore how to provide that foundation for every Illinois child.”

The committee serves as another step in building the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Education is one of four major policy areas the ILBC is targeting this year, along with criminal justice, health care, and economic access.

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Twenty-two senators honored for pro-environment voting records

CHICAGO – The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) released its first ever Lifetime Environmental Scorecard Monday, chronicling the average score of all votes cast on bills affecting the environment by each sitting legislator over the course of their entire legislative career. Several members of the Senate Democratic Caucus are honorees.

Legislators in their first term were only scored on their votes in 2019, the first and only year they were able to vote on bills impacting the environment due to the disruption of the 2020 regular legislative session by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Democrats receiving a 90%+ lifetime score were: Cristina Castro, Laura M. Murphy, Steve Stadelman, Michael E. Hastings, Robert F. Martwick, Melinda Bush, Laura Fine, Elgie R. Sims, Jr., Bill Cunningham, Linda Holmes, Pat McGuire, Heather A. Steans, Mattie Hunter, Iris Y. Martinez, Don Harmon, Jacqueline Y. Collins and Sara Feigenholtz.

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Koehler: Local schools to get nearly $2 million for digital upgrades

PEORIA – School districts in the 46^th Illinois Senate District are set to receive nearly $2 million in government funding to improve students’ access to digital technology, including more than $700,000 for Peoria School District 150.

“E-learning is playing such an important role as we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). “I know our local school districts will use these funds to help ensure every student has access to the technology they need to continue their education during this difficult time.”

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