SPRINGFIELD – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) met with Joseph “Jo Jo” Awinongya, Jr. on Wednesday to present him with a certificate for his outstanding achievements in boxing.

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to meet Jo Jo and express to him how proud we all are of his achievements,” Connor said. “He’s an outstanding young man and an exceptional role model for so many young people in our community that you can do anything you set your mind to.”

Hailing from Joliet, Awinongya is a four-time national boxing champion in his age division, a Junior Olympic National Champion, and a recipient of the Silver Gloves National Championship. He trains with his father, Joseph Awinongya, Sr., who is referred to as “Ringmaster.”

“He’s got a whole community supporting him as he continues to follow his dreams,” Connor said. “With such an incredible work ethic and dedication to his sport, I know Jo Jo will keep doing big things.”

Awinongya was recently nominated for the Joliet Chamber Scholarship and was admitted to Joliet Junior College.

BOLINGBROOK – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) and State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) attended the ribbon cutting of Fountaindale Library’s new Bookmobile on Monday evening alongside State Representative Dagmara Avelar (D-Crest Hill), Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta of Bolingbrook, Fountaindale Library board members and many members of the community.

“The Fountaindale Library has been a cornerstone of our community for so long,” Loughran Cappel said. “For almost two decades, their Bookmobile has helped to get books into kids’ hands who otherwise wouldn’t have that access and opportunity.”

The new vehicle is a full-service mobile branch of the library that replaces the previous Bookmobile that had been in use since 2003. The Bookmobile provides scheduled stops around the community, visits Bolingbrook preschools, schools and senior facilities, and participates in many community events throughout the year. Members of the community can check out books, DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks from the Bookmobile, as well as apply for library cards and pick up holds.

SPRINGFIELD – A resolution from State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) asking the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board to consider standardizing property tax appeals passed out of the Senate.

“People across the state are struggling to appeal their property taxes, leaving them stuck with unnecessary costs and sometimes little help,” Connor said. “Different property tax appeals processes exist throughout Illinois, meaning some homeowners get different outcomes than others for the same issues.”

The resolution urges the Property Tax Appeal Board to deliver a report to the Illinois Senate on or before Oct. 1, 2021 that examines the feasibility and associated costs of implementing a centralized property tax appeal submission platform.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to the state budget passing the Senate, State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) released the following statement:

"As we turn the corner from the COVID-19 pandemic, this budget helps Illinois to move forward together. 

“The budget brings much-needed investment right to our back yards. We kept our promises to fully fund our public schools and to provide our local governments with the resources they need to support our communities.  We also invested a great deal in infrastructure across the state.

SPRINGFIELD – A measure sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) that would require the monitoring and reporting of racial bias in hiring processes that rely on Artificial Intelligence passed the Senate on Tuesday.

“It’s important to ensure that qualified applicants have the employment opportunities they deserve,” Connor said. “We wouldn’t stand for racial bias in intrapersonal hiring processes, why should we accept it in technological ones?”

An increasing number of large companies are using Artificial Intelligence in their hiring processes. Prospective employees use a web link to record themselves answering a series of designated questions either verbally or by typed response, and the company’s AI software then analyzes the video to assign scores to facial expressions, word choice, body language and vocal tone. Advancement of applicants is based on this assigned score.

House Bill 53 requires companies that rely on AI screenings to select candidates to document and report the race and ethnicity of all screened applicants, both those hired and those rejected. Under this legislation, these reports are to be sent to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, where the data would be analyzed and shared with the Governor and General Assembly.

The legislation passed the Senate with 43 votes.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) that extends homestead exemptions for individuals with disabilities and senior citizens without reapplication advanced out of the Senate Monday evening.

“I am always proud to step up and be a voice for populations in our state who may be most in need,” Connor said. “Providing an exemption for at-risk communities means keeping more Illinoisans safe from exposure to COVID-19 or other potentially dangerous illnesses.”

Homestead exemptions can be approved for people with disabilities, veterans with disabilities and older adults without new applications under House Bill 3289. Any property that was approved for the exemption in the 2019 taxable year will qualify, provided that the county the property is in declared a local disaster related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) that automatically extends homestead exemptions for civilians and veterans with disabilities, as well as senior citizens, advanced out of the Senate Revenue committee Wednesday evening.

“The past year has been challenging for all of us,” Connor said. “As we work to provide relief, we must lend a helping hand to people who were already struggling before the pandemic.”