SPRINGFIELD – Jurors in Lake County will continue to have the option to donate their compensation to the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), under a bill co-sponsored by State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

A pilot program that currently allows Lake County jurors to donate their wages to the CAC is set to expire at the end of the year. The CAC has requested the program be extended until Jan. 1, 2022, because it has increased revenue and public awareness of children’s advocacy issues. In 2019, jurors contributed nearly $1000 to the Children’s Advocacy Center.

“The Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center helps child abuse victims find their voice and brings offenders to justice,” said Bush. “We should continue to aid their efforts by allowing jurors the option to donate their compensation.”

GRAYSLAKE – Zion Benton received approval to be an Enterprise Zone, thanks to efforts by State Senator Melinda Bush.

“It’s been decades since the Zion Nuclear Power Station shut down and the community is still reeling from loss of jobs and tax revenue ,” Bush (D-Grayslake) said. “An Enterprise Zone in Zion is crucial to create jobs, recruit new businesses and boost the local economy.”

The Illinois Enterprise Zone granted Zion Benton designation to help encourage job growth and investment in the area. Enterprise Zones are a locally driven tool that provide financial incentives for companies and organizations seeking to develop or create new jobs in the Enterprise Zone. This can include property tax reductions, sales tax exemptions on qualifying building materials, investment tax credits and utility tax exemptions, among other local incentives.

SPRINGFIELD – Single-occupancy public restrooms in Illinois will soon be identified as all-gender thanks to a measure from State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) that was signed into law today.

“Making single-occupancy restrooms gender neutral is inclusive, but it also just makes sense,” Bush said. “It's a small change that will make a big impact for thousands of Illinoisans.”

Senate Bill 556 requires any single-occupancy public restroom to be identified as all-gender and requires exterior signage that marks the restroom as such.

State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) held her 6th Annual Round Lake Area Job Fair at Magee Middle School in Round Lake.

The more than 100 jobseekers who attended had the opportunity to meet with 50+ employers from diverse industries, including Amazon, College of Lake County, United States Postal Service, Pharma Logistics, Illinois State Police, Marriott Hotels, Six Flags, and many more.

Individuals who are looking for a job but weren’t able to make this week’s job fair are invited to attend Senator Bush’s 7th Annual Zion Job Fair on Wednesday, August 21. Click here to register for the Zion Job Fair.