WOOD RIVER – Following weeks of stricter COVID-19 guidelines in an effort to mitigate the virus in the Metro East, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is pleased local restaurants will be able to return to normal rules under Stage 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan.

“Our small businesses were the hit the hardest by this mitigation plan,” Crowe said. “Because of the commitment by the people of the Metro East to mask up and practice social distancing, these businesses will be able to return to operating how they were before the spike in cases.”

According to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Region Four has continued to move in the right direction – resulting in a positivity rate below 6.5% for three days. The benchmark hit Friday allows the region to remove its additional mitigation rules at 5 p.m.

“I want to thank every community member who helped us get to this point,” Crowe said. “But, remember, it’s still important to continue to mask up. Though we all wish it was, the COVID-19 outbreak is not over yet.”

EAST ST. LOUIS – With deer mating season comes an increased risk of deer-vehicle collisions, and State Senators Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) remind Madison County motorists to stay alert while driving this fall. 

“It’s imperative for motorists to stay attentive this fall season, as deer are more active during autumn weather,” Belt said. “IDOT and the Department of Natural Resources provide helpful tips on how to prevent accidents involving deer, and I encourage Madison County residents to follow their advice.”

Madison County had 434 car crashes involving deer in 2019 – the second-highest of any Illinois county that year. In total, there were 16,213 deer-vehicle collisions throughout Illinois. Of these, 15,605 resulted in damage to property or vehicles, and 604 caused personal injuries. Four of the crashes were fatal. 

“As residents prepare for the upcoming hunting season, drivers must also pay special attention to the roadways for unexpected deer crossings,” Crowe said. “To make sure you’re ready to respond safely in the event of an encounter, I urge motorists to review and share IDNR’s precautions with their friends and family members.”

The Illinois Departments of Transportation and Natural Resources offer the following tips to help drivers avoid deer-related accidents this fall:

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in areas with deer crossing signs.
• Scan the sides of the road for eye shine – the reflection of headlights in their eyes.
• Slow down if you see a deer. They travel in groups, so more are likely nearby.
• Prepare for the unexpected. Deer may stop in the middle of the road or double back.
• Deer are adaptable and can flourish in rural, suburban and urban environments.
• If a collision is inevitable, try to glance your vehicle off the deer and avoid swerving into opposite lanes of traffic.

If you hit a deer, pull off to the shoulder, turn on your hazard lights and call 911 to report the accident. Do not exit the vehicle to check on an injured deer or pull it from the road.

For other information on wildlife and recreational safety education, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 

New tracking system will support, protect and empower sexual assault survivors throughout evidence collection and processing

MARYVILLE - As a former prosecutor with experience working with survivors of sexual assault, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is gratified to announce the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services has launched a new electronic system to allow survivors to track their sexual assault kits.

“From my past professional experience as a prosecutor, I can attest to the importance of survivors having access to their case’s progress,” Crowe said. “Sexual assault cases are time-sensitive, complicated and emotional, and this new system will support survivors through the grueling process.”

Crowe sponsored Public Act 101-0377, formerly known as Senate Bill 1411, to require ISP to establish a secure, effective sexual assault evidence tracking system. The measure was signed into law in August of 2019.

Drawing on recommendations made by the 2018 Sexual Assault Evidence Tracking and Reporting Commission, the system will allow survivors of sexual assault to monitor the status of their evidence throughout the entire collection and analysis process.

 To ensure privacy, the system will use unique case numbers and passwords to limit access to survivors and law enforcement.

“With this new system, sexual assault survivors will have the ability to check the status of their evidence as it transitions from collection at the hospital, through the forensic lab and ultimately to the final results from their local state’s attorney’s office,” Crowe said. “This program will allow secure conversations for survivors to speak with law enforcement throughout the complex process, and it’s one more way we can empower survivors.”

The system can be found on the Illinois State Police website at https://paets.isp.illinois.gov/. 

MARYVILLE – To help provide much-needed resources to students learning remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, school districts in the 56th Illinois Senate District are set to receive more than $1.1 million in government funding to improve students’ access to e-learning technology.

“As teachers and students adjust to e-learning, many school districts are struggling with the cost of ensuring all students have access to a computer and an internet connection,” Crowe said. “I’m pleased to see the state is committed to relieving taxpayers of these additional costs.”

The Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools bridge the digital divide. School districts can use the funds to expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets.

School districts in the 56th District receiving funds include:

• Bethalto CUSD #8 - $165,087
• Collinsville CUSD #10 - $378,231
• Alton CUSD #11 - $368,590
• East Alton Sd #13 - $67,916
• East Alton-Wood River CHSD #14 - $61,869
• Wood River-Hartford ESD #15 - $65,436

Funding was allocated using a need-based formula. The full list of school grantees can be found on the Illinois State Board of Education website.

GODFREY – To support organizations working on the front lines against the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) donated 5,000 disposable masks to nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the Metro East.

“The safety of older residents and their caretakers is one of the utmost concerns nationally amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” Crowe said. “As I considered how best to distribute masks, it was important for me to give priority to individuals at the highest risk for infection.”

All nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the 56th District were sent a letter from Sen. Crowe’s office encouraging requests, and the first eight facilities to respond received 625 masks each. The list of facilities includes:

• Burt’s Shelter Care Home in Alton,
• Evergreen Place in Alton,
• Caseyville Nursing in Caseyville,
• Stillwater Senior Living in Edwardsville,
• Asbury Village in Godfrey,
• Morningside of Godfrey,
• Integrity Health Care in Godfrey and
• Fountain View Memory Care in Granite City.

The mask distribution was made possible by Friends of Taiwan and TECO of Chicago.

“Thank you to Friends of Taiwan for the gracious donation and TECO of Chicago for facilitating, as the masks will benefit some of our most vulnerable in Madison County,” Crowe said.

Pictured from left to right: Administrator of Asbury Village Anita Martinez, Sen. Crowe’s grandmother and Asbury resident Eilene Taylor, and State Senator Rachelle Crowe.

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) applauded the state’s COVID-19 response employment opportunities, which aim to connect residents who are out of work with new job options.

“These positions put food on the table of working families and give those who are hired the opportunity to join the fight against the pandemic here in Illinois,” Crowe said. “I strongly encourage qualified residents to apply.”

Among the statewide awardees distributed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is St. Clair County Southwest with a Disaster Recovery Grant totaling $225,200 and Madison County Southwest with an Economic Recovery Grant totaling $1,467,594.

The grants will provide out-of-work Illinoisans with training and employment in jobs that assist local disaster relief programs and industries in high demand amidst the pandemic.

Positions include COVID-19 recovery-related temporary jobs to help mitigate COVID-19 in communities, such as contact tracers, COVID-19 protocol workers, building sanitization workers, temperature screeners, and food preparation and distribution workers identified by local communities.

A full list of COVID-19 workforce training grantees as well as their program offerings is available on the DCEO website.

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is encouraging residents to take advantage of two new mobile testing sites in Madison County this weekend.

“In order to defeat COVID-19, we need to make testing available to everyone who needs it,” Crowe said. “I’m pleased to see two mobile testing sites open in Madison County that will help protect our neighbors and loved ones while we fight to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

A testing site will open Saturday, Sept. 12 at Monroe Memorial Church, located at 1901 Belle St. in Alton, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition, testing will be available Sunday, Sept. 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, located at 74 Circle Drive in Edwardsville.

All residents of Madison County, with or without symptoms, can be tested for free. Face masks will be required, but no appointment is needed to be tested. Tests will be administered via nasal swab, and patients will receive a call with their results within a few days.

These testing sites are sponsored by the Madison County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health and are available this weekend only. For more information and to stay up to date on COVID-19, visit the Madison County Health Department’s website.

MARYVILLE – As overdoses rise across the nation, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is grateful for $36.7 million in federal funds to fight back against the opioid crisis in Illinois.

“Swelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing opioid epidemic continues to devastate families across Illinois,” Crowe said. “Putting funds directly into communities that have suffered so much as a result of opioid addiction will save lives and put us on a road to recovery.”

The State Opioid Response federal grant will be used to support the following initiatives:

• Expand access to Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) services for residents with opioid use disorders, including those in the criminal justice system;
• Hospital screenings and strengthening links to community treatment programs for patients;
• Supportive housing and digital resources for persons in recovery from opioid use disorder;
• Access to medication-assisted recovery for patients at federally qualified health centers;
• Recovery support services for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorders;
• Mentoring and coaching for medical professionals prescribing medications for opioid use disorder;
• A toll-free Helpline for opioids and other substances;
• Expanded treatment for residents with stimulant use disorder, in response to rising rates of methamphetamine and cocaine use.

This grant was awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Anyone experiencing problems with substance use disorder can call the state’s Helpline for Opioids and other Substances at 1-833-234-6343, text “HELP” to 833234 or visit HelplineIL.org.