Hastings unveils plan to expand sick leave for airline employees
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) partnered with Southwest Airlines employees to hold a press conference advocating for the expansion of sick leave for airline employees Wednesday.
“The fact that hardworking individuals are unable to use their earned sick time to care for their loved ones is unacceptable,” Hastings said. “Since this is an issue with federal law, we’re doing what we can at the state level to demonstrate that in Illinois, we put workers and their families first.”
Hastings was joined by Corliss King, a flight attendant for Southwest, who was affected by this in 2017 after her husband was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. He was hospitalized several times and received various surgeries that left him in need of care at home. Corliss was able to use her own accrued sick time to help care for her husband and children until 2017, when a law was passed that removed coverage for airline employees.
Read more: Hastings unveils plan to expand sick leave for airline employees
Glowiak Hilton passes plan to curb food waste
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SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) advanced a bill from the Senate Judiciary Committee that would allow state agencies that purchase food through a contract to donate leftovers.
“Millions of Americans struggle with hunger while billions of pounds of food are wasted,” Glowiak Hilton said. “The state needs to lead by example and do all it can to curb food waste and ensure that the most vulnerable of us are fed.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 30-40 percent of the total food supply is wasted each year. Most food waste occurs at the retail and consumer levels.
Murphy, Bertino-Tarrant propose grant programs to offset tuition
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SPRINGFIELD – Rising tuition costs have made higher education inaccessible to many Illinois students, but State Senators Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) hope to put college back within their reach by expanding grant programs for students in need.
“As high school students begin to explore options for higher education, many are turned off by the rising cost and lack of need-based assistance,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “It is imperative students who want to get an associate’s degree or certificate have the opportunity to do so without going into debt.”
Murphy and Bertino-Tarrant are sponsoring separate measures that would expand grant programs to students entering college.
Read more: Murphy, Bertino-Tarrant propose grant programs to offset tuition
Tom Cullerton: Accessible suicide hotlines could save lives
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SPRINGFIELD – To battle increasing suicide rates, State Senator Tom Cullerton advanced a measure to ensure suicide prevention information is readily available to college students.
Cullerton (D-Villa Park) advanced Senate Bill 2495, which requires state public universities and community colleges to publish numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card.
“Improving access to mental health resources is a simple step state universities and community colleges can take to save lives,” Cullerton said. “Students are constantly required to use their student ID card to access sporting events, dorm rooms or utilize their meal plan. Ensuring these lifesaving helplines are easily accessible can be the difference between life and death.”
Read more: Tom Cullerton: Accessible suicide hotlines could save lives
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Holmes’ new law gives family courts guidance to resolve pet custody when domestic partners split
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Linda Holmes remains steadfast in pursuing legislation to improve living conditions for animals, as her measure providing statutory guidance to Illinois courts when considering pet possession when unmarried couples break u... -
Porfirio resolution honors U.S. Marine Corps
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Mike Porfirio led a resolution to honor the U.S. Marine Corps through renaming a portion of Interstate Route 80. “Since its creation, the Marine Corps has played a key role in protecting and safeguarding the security and fr... -
Hastings: Freedom is never free
SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings supported a resolution to honor the United States Marine Corps through renaming a portion of Interstate Route 80. Hastings, who served as a U.S. Army officer during Operation Iraqi Freedom, rose in supp... -
Jones honors fallen state trooper with memorial highway
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Emil Jones III successfully led a resolution to rename a portion of I-55 in honor of late State Trooper Clay M. Carns. “Trooper Carns died doing the same thing he had done every day for 11 years – diligently and faithfully... -
Johnson declares Menopause Awareness Week
SPRINGFIELD – To bring awareness to a condition that will be faced by more than half of all Illinoisans, State Senator Adriane Johnson championed the effort to declare Oct. 11-17, 2026 Menopause Awareness Week. “Highlighting menopause is vital to gua...
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