CHICAGO – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is outraged after the Aldi in West Garfield Park abruptly closed in October, and is worried about resident’s wellbeing in lieu of the West Side becoming a food desert.

“This closure is devastating to the community because a lot of people depended on this Aldi for convenient and affordable food,” Van Pelt said. “In particular, many older residents got their groceries from here. This is not just an affordability issue, but a mobility issue as well.”

In Chicago, more than 500,000 residents – most who are African-American – live in food deserts, while an additional 400,000 live in neighborhoods with an abundance of fast food restaurants and no grocery stores nearby.

NAPERVILLE – In recognition of sacrifices made by brave Illinoisans who have served our country, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is inviting people to write friendly and encouraging letters to residents of veterans’ homes ahead of Veterans Day.

“Our veterans have made sacrifices for our community and our nation that we will never be able to repay,” Ellman said. “However, by taking the time to reach out with kind messages and words of encouragement, we can make them feel recognized and appreciated.”

Senators support new investment in communities hardest hit by gun violence in Illinois

CHICAGO – Senators in the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus support Governor JB Pritzker’s declaration of gun violence as a public health crisis and announcement of a $250 million investment over a three year period to implement the Reimagine Public Safety Plan, a data driven and community-based violence prevention initiative.

“This is a bipartisan investment in our communities to stem the surge in violence,” said Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “I’m proud of the work my colleagues did to put this vital initiative together so that we can make a difference.”

Anti-violence funding will support the enactment of the Reimagine Public Safety Act, which establishes the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention within the Illinois Department of Human Services to focus on reducing firearm deaths and injuries in communities with the most gun violence.

Read more.

Bennett: College-bound students can use Common App to apply to Illinois public universities

CHAMPAIGN – Prospective students applying to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities can now use the Common Application, and Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage.

Bennett worked with his colleagues in the General Assembly and the Illinois Board of Higher Education to obtain $1 million in funding to add all of the state’s public universities onto the Common App platform so that students in Illinois will consider continuing their educational journey at home.

Read more.

Turner and community leaders celebrate economic development expansion in Enos Park

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) held a press conference last week to celebrate the passage of a measure to extend the Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District for another 12 years.

“The Enos Park TIF has been instrumental in revitalizing a Springfield neighborhood and has been a great tool in the expansion of the Mid-Illinois Medical District,” Turner said “Neighborhoods that were once an eyesore and full of blight and despair are now home to young families and home rehabilitation success stories.”

Read more.

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LOCKPORT – In recognition of sacrifices made by brave Illinoisans who have served our country, State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) is inviting people to write friendly and encouraging letters to residents of veteran’s homes ahead of Veterans Day.

“Our veterans have all made tremendous sacrifices for us, and Operation Rising Spirit gives us an opportunity to honor those sacrifices,” Connor said. “In our community and across the state, our service members deserve to feel recognized and appreciated for their contributions.”

Operation Rising Spirit is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs that encourages communities to write letters to residents in the care of veterans’ homes in Illinois. At a time when isolation is at a record high, the letters are meant to extend friendly affirmation for the bravery and courage of veterans both throughout their service and the pandemic.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many residents of long-term care facilities have not been able to see friends or family for quite some time,” Connor said. “By taking the time to send kind messages and words of encouragement, we can help make our veterans across the state feel remembered and appreciated, and combat the loneliness they may be experiencing.”

The campaign will focus on veterans’ homes in Illinois, located in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy. To send a message to a veteran or a veteran home, visit Send-a-note. For people wanting to send physical letters, locations for each of the veterans’ homes can be found here.

PEORIA – In recognition of sacrifices made by brave Illinoisans who have served our country, State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria) is inviting people to write friendly and encouraging letters to residents of veteran’s homes ahead of Veterans Day.

“I am proud to represent a great deal of veterans across Central Illinois,” Koehler said. “Our communities benefit every day from the sacrifices they have made for us, and it is important that we show our appreciation and honor those sacrifices.”

Operation Rising Spirit is an initiative of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs that encourages communities to write letters to residents in the care of veterans’ homes in Illinois. At a time when isolation is at a record high, the letters are meant to extend friendly affirmation for the bravery and courage of veterans both throughout their service and the pandemic.

“Especially during this time of uncertainty and isolation for many people living in long-term care facilities, kind messages and words of encouragement are an easy way to make our veterans feel remembered and appreciated,” Koehler said. “I hope that members of our community will take the time to reach out and make a positive impact.”

The campaign will focus on veterans’ homes in Illinois, located in Anna, Chicago, LaSalle, Manteno, and Quincy. To send a message to a veteran or a veteran home, visit Send-a-note. For people wanting to send physical letters, locations for each of the veterans’ homes can be found here.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – First-year students applying to any of Illinois’ public universities will now only need to submit one form on Common App, and State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) applauded the step to increase accessibility to higher education opportunities.

“Applying to college can be tedious and expensive,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By using Common App, Illinois is simplifying the process and working to ensure individuals have access to higher education opportunities.”

This fall, all 12 public universities in Illinois will be available on the Common App platform, thanks to a $1 million state investment.

For families concerned about the cost of submitting college applications, waivers are available for low-income students. In addition, some colleges and universities either have no application fees or will waive fees if needed.

“Many applicants and their families are hesitant to start the college journey because of the associated costs,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Luckily, there are several aid options available to help reduce the financial burdens associated with applying for college.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Common App website for informational resources, including a first-year application guide, videos and a complete list of institutions that use the application.

MARYVILLE – To highlight an initiative to increase higher education accessibility, State Senator Rachelle Aud Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) announced first-year students applying to any of Illinois’ public universities, as well as several of the state’s private institutions, only need to submit one form on Common App.

“Applying to college can be confusing, tiresome and expensive,” Crowe said. “By using the Common App platform, Illinois is simplifying the process and working to ensure accessibility to higher education opportunities.”

This fall, all 12 public universities in Illinois will be available on the Common App platform, thanks to a $1 million state investment.

For families with financial concerns, waivers are available for low-income Common App applicants. In addition, some colleges and universities either have no application fees or will waive fees if needed.

“For many applicants and their families, a major concern for starting the college journey is the cost,” Crowe said. “There are several aid options available to help reduce the financial burdens associated with applying for college.”

Residents are encouraged to visit the Common App website for informational resources, including a first-year application guide, videos and a complete list of institutions that use the application.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage of Common App – a tool to apply for multiple Illinois colleges at once.

“Common App makes college more accessible by making the application process less tedious and stressful,” Turner said. “Illinois’ best and brightest now have a streamlined and simplified process to apply to all public universities in our great state, like the University of Illinois Springfield.”

Incoming students applying to college will now be able to submit applications to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities and dozens of private institutions using just one form on commonapp.org. Once a student makes a Common App account, they will be asked to confirm which schools they’d like to apply to and review the admission requirements for those schools. They’ll then submit their application on the website, where they’ll be able to track its status.

Low-income students and their families can apply for a waiver to help cover the application cost. Over the last two years, more than 470,000 students using Common App across the country were granted a fee waiver.