COLLINSVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) welcomed Gov. JB Pritzker and other area legislators to the 56th District to celebrate a list of accomplishments this past session.

“The state was able to make some much needed updates to current laws that are felt throughout the Metro East,” Crowe said. “Today was about showcasing those ideas and meeting with the people our legislation will affect.”

Crowe was joined by Gov. JB Pritzker, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Cahokia), state Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), state Rep. Monica Bristow (D-Alton) and state Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) and state Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) at the Fairmount Park Race Track in Collinsville to applaud Illinois’ expansion of sports betting allowing racetracks to benefit from revenue by gaming machines.

Next, officials traveled to Southern Illinois University’s campus in Edwardsville for the governor to sign House Bill 2239 into law, allowing both student trustees to be voting members of the Southern Illinois University Board. This measure aims to give both the Edwardsville campus as well as the Carbondale campus a voice in decision-making.

“Student voices matter. That, at its core, is why we’re amplifying the student voice on the Board of Trustees, offering each major campus equal say in board affairs no matter the date or time of year,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.

Finally, members of the group met at a ribbon cutting for Alton Works, taking the first step in a revitalization initiative to attract business and economic development to downtown Alton.

”I want to thank the governor for spending the day with us in the district, making a priority of the Metro East and downstate Illinois,” Crowe said. “We are proud of our area and can’t wait to see how we will improve it in the future.”