Edly-Allen: Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization Project is a major success

ZION — State Senator Mary Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville) alongside Governor JB Pritzker and elected local officials across the Lake County area came together Monday to celebrate the milestone of the Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization project’s completion with a ribbon cutting.

Illinois Beach State Park required immediate intervention to restore the natural lakefront, which was eroding at more than 100 feet per year and putting rare habitat at risk. The $73 million investment by the Rebuild Illinois capital plan allowed for the necessary construction of new offshore stone breakwater structures to shelter the Lake Michigan shoreline from wave energy. The breakwaters assist in retaining the newly-placed sand, preserve the surrounding ecosystems, and enhance public access to the beach.

“This project was urgently needed and Illinois now stands as a leader in responsible shoreline stabilization,” said Edly-Allen. “This intervention was necessary to protect the last remaining natural shoreline in the state. I want to thank the governor and the General Assembly for this waterfront project that will help Lake County’s shoreline, native species, residents and visitors.”

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Holmes celebrates new CyrusOne data center in Aurora

AURORA – Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, the CyrusOne team and other local elected officials, State Senator Linda Holmes celebrated the groundbreaking of the new CyrusOne data center in Aurora on Wednesday.

“CyrusOne is a global leader in data center development and has once again chosen Aurora to be its home for this expansion project,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This new data center brings critical investments to our community, including hundreds of new jobs and millions in tax contributions over time.”

The new $350 million data center is CyrusOne’s second campus in Aurora. The expansion project includes the creation of two new buildings with a total of 446,000 square feet. The new data center will provide advanced digital infrastructure services to local communities and national networks.

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Simmons Attends White House States Convening on Child Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In conversation with legislators from across the country, State Senator Mike Simmons was proud to attend the White House States Convening on Child Care on Friday morning, where he highlighted his passage of Illinois’ first permanent child tax credit, advocated for more accessible child care, and discussed the importance of fair compensation for child care workers. 

“I am honored to have been invited back by the Biden-Harris Administration to participate in the White House Convening on Child Care on Friday morning. I was especially proud to share that since last year’s convening, I and my colleagues have passed the first permanent child tax credit in Illinois, legislation that was directly informed by 7th District single moms who participate in my People’s Legislative Council initiative,” said Simmons (D-Chicago). 

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Policy priorities and engagement take center stage at ‘Raices’ conference

The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus held an impactful "Raices" conference this year, where its Senate members engaged with community members and organizers. The mid-September event featured roundtable discussions that fostered dialogue around policies and priorities, allowing attendees to share their ideas and concerns. This collaborative environment not only facilitated networking but also aimed to shape the 2025 Raices policy priorities, ensuring that community voices are heard and represented in legislative efforts.

Several panels centered on equity, justice, and community development, offering Senate members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus profound insights into the needs and aspirations of community members. These discussions deepened their understanding of pressing issues, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing the challenges faced by the community.

Read more: Policy priorities and engagement take center stage at ‘Raices’ conference