SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus eagerly welcomed associates of the WNBA champion Chicago Sky to the state capitol Tuesday morning.

Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) and Senators Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake), Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), Robert Peters (D-Chicago) and Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) posed with the championship trophy and spoke with Chicago Sky guard Dana Evans, owner John Rogers, head coach James Wade and Chief of Staff Victoria Watkins.

NAPERVILLE – Residents will have the opportunity to tour the Mobile Museum of Tolerance when it makes a stop in Naperville at the beginning of November.

State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) and State Representative Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) have teamed up to host the museum Nov. 1 - 3 at the 95^th Street Library, located at 3015 Cedar Glade Drive in Naperville. The museum will be open to the public noon to 6 p.m. all three days.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) congratulated local businesses struggling from the pandemic that were awarded grants from the latest round of the Back to Business program awards.

“This is a much-needed award for businesses in Champaign and Vermilion Counties,” Bennett said. “These grants are important because they will help equip our businesses with valuable resources during this time of uncertainty.”

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Each business received between $5,000 to $150,000 to be used to cover a wide range of operations such as staff and overhead costs.

34 businesses in the district Bennett represents received a combined $2.5 million through the program. Businesses include restaurants, bars, hotels, retailers, arts, barbershops and salons, museums and theaters, and fitness centers, demonstrating the diversity of the local small business community and how many different kinds of businesses are eligible for grants.

“I’m pleased to see so many local businesses receiving aid from the B2B program to help them get through this tough time,” Bennett said. “Now more than ever, we must continue to do everything we can to support our small business community.”

For a complete list of grant recipients, click here.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois first responders will now be honored on Oct. 28, thanks to the help of State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel.

Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) championed a measure that declares Oct. 28, 2021 First Responders Day in Illinois.

OAKBROOK TERRACE – To recognize the efforts of small businesses, State Senator Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) is highlighting recipients of Back to Business grants and encouraging residents to shop local as the holiday season approaches.

“To receive operating assistance from the state, nine locally-owned businesses were able to demonstrate financial loss from the pandemic,” Glowiak Hilton said. “By offering support to small businesses, Illinois is working to strengthen our communities.”

Awarded a combined $550,000, B2B grant recipients in the 24th Senate District include:

• Davanti Enoteca in Western Springs;
• Gia Mia in Elmhurst;
• Subway in Westmont;
• Maize + Mash in Glen Ellyn;
• CluedIn Escape Rooms in Glen Ellyn;
• Budget Inn and Suites in Glen Ellyn;
• Holiday Inn Express in Downers Grove;
• Jumpcut Pictures in Glen Ellyn; and
• Subway in Lombard.

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses hurt financially by the pandemic. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000 and could be used to cover a wide range of operations, such as staff and overhead costs.

“Shopping local can make a difference in our communities this holiday season,” Glowiak Hilton said. “Buying gift cards, recommending a local service or simply interacting on social media can offer support to our small business community.”

A full list of B2B grant awardees can be found on DCEO’s website.

NEW LENOX – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is inviting New Lenox residents to attend his November Coffee, Conversation and Constituent Services event on Saturday, Nov. 20.

“These casual conversations provide the perfect opportunity for folks to chat with their state senator,” Joyce said. “The goal of this event is to ensure we are accessible and available to residents so they have the opportunity to discuss their issues and ideas in a comfortable setting.”

The event will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at Gost Coffee Roasters located at 1333 S. Schoolhouse Rd. in New Lenox.

This is the third Coffee, Conversation and Constituent Services event Joyce has hosted. This is another effort from Joyce’s office to increase government accountability and accessibility by hosting this traveling event at different times, locations and days of the week in hopes of reaching working families across Will, Cook, Kankakee and Grundy Counties.

“I look forward to talking with everyone over a cup of coffee and hearing about the issues that are important to them,” Joyce said.

This event is free and open to area residents. Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Joyce’s office at 708-756-0882 or visit his website at SenatorPatrickJoyce.com.

EAST ST. LOUIS – State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea) congratulated local businesses struggling from the pandemic that were awarded grants from the latest round of the Back to Business program awards.

The B2B program allocated $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses negatively affected by the pandemic. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used to cover a wide range of operations such as staff and overhead costs.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and have been hard hit during the pandemic,” Belt said. “As the holiday season approaches, I encourage residents to shop local and support businesses that continue to recover.”

Five businesses in the district Belt represents have already received $160,000 in grants:

• Fairbridge Inn, $20,000
• Motel 6, $40,000
• Indian Mound Motel, $10,000
• Denese’s Place, $10,000
• New York Cleaners, Inc., $80,000

For a full list of businesses that have received Back to Business grants, visit the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awards list at illinois.gov/B2BAwards.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) will lead a hearing Tuesday to further dive into a recent audit that found the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was not respecting the needs of LGBTQ youth in care.

“LGBTQ youth in care are disproportionately likely to become homeless and deal with mental health struggles,” Morrison said. “We must ensure all children are placed in understanding environments that accept them and support their authentic selves.”