SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield and Central Illinois African American History Museum and the City of Springfield are set to receive $662,545 and $355,400 respectively to make improvements and create new exhibits, thanks to support from State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

“Our city museums provide excellent educational opportunities and give people near and far the chance to learn about our history,” Turner said. “This initiative is making a significant investment to our local museums that will attract more visitors and educate our community for years to come.”

NAPERVILLE – Three local museums are set to receive more than $1.8 million in Public Museum Capital Grants, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) and State Representative Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) announced on Friday.

“Local museums and exhibits provide priceless, hands-on learning opportunities for families in our community,” Ellman said. “I’m pleased to see investment in these invaluable institutions right here in our back yards. These grants will create jobs and preserve our museums for future generations to enjoy.”

MADISON – With the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, State Senators Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) and Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) attended the race’s official name announcement, Enjoy Illinois 300, sponsored by the Illinois Office of Tourism.

“I am proud to represent the great city of Madison and the hardworking community that lives here,” Belt said. “This raceway has made essential investments over the years to become what it is today – a place that brings diversity, revenue and excitement together. The upcoming race will have an enormous economic boost for our community and the Metro East that will uplift local businesses, hotels, restaurants and more.”

BROOKFIELD – The Chicago Zoological Society is set to receive more than $650,000 to replace the roof on the Brookfield Zoo’s Seven Seas exhibit thanks to support from State Senator Steven Landek (D-Bridgeview).

“Brookfield Zoo provides excellent opportunities for education and gives folks near and far the opportunity to learn more about animals and nature,” Landek said.

SPRINGFIELD – To improve career readiness after high school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) supported a resolution in the Senate urging high school educators and counselors to promote career and technical education.

“When students and families are thinking about a post-high school education, trade schools are not always considered a viable option,” Loughran Cappel said. “It’s vital that we create opportunities for students to learn about additional career opportunities that they can succeed in.”

WEST CHICAGO - Thanks to the support of State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago), 57 businesses in the district she represents will receive almost $3 million in combined assistance to grow and restore their services that were hindered by the pandemic.

“Our businesses have worked exceptionally hard to remain open while keeping their employees and the community safe,” said Villa. ”Business owners are still trying to recover their lost resources from the pandemic.”

CHICAGO –Three local museums will receive more than $2 million in grants with support from State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago).

“Museums provide a sense of community and education for people wanting to explore and celebrate a collective history,” said Feigenholtz. “This grant program is making a significant investment in our local museums that will ultimately attract more tourism and funding and bring the importance of heritage and culture back to the district.”

SPRINGFIELD –In efforts to provide an additional level of protection to renters who pay for parking, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is sponsoring a new measure which would require property seeking to tow their vehicles provide a personal notice to residents before removing their vehicle.

“Towing a resident’s car without their knowledge creates many issues for the car owner—finding the money to get the car back, finding alternative transportation to work, running late for work and many other issues,” Murphy said. “We must ensure that car owners are receiving appropriate notice before their car is towed.”

Under current law, property owners are required to provide written instructions before towing vehicles. However, distributing only physical warnings causes many residents who may not be able to physically receive mail to miss the notice, leaving them to deal with the cost to get their car back.