CHICAGO – State Senator Mike Simmons was recognized by Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs with the Illinois LGBTQ+ Leader Award during a celebration Wednesday commemorating LGBTQ+ History Month in Chicago.

“As the first openly gay senator in the state of Illinois and the third openly gay senator in the country, I bring my lived experiences as well as my constituents' with me every day,”said Simmons (D-Chicago). “Since taking office three years ago, I have fought to protect LGBTQ+ rights in Illinois through empowering organizations and taking legislative action to advance the rights of LGBTQ+ folks across the state.”

The event celebrated the societal impact and leadership of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people and their allies. Treasurer Frerichs presented awards to leaders in the military, medicine, education, advocacy and activism, government, athletics, and fine arts.

CHICAGO – State Senator Lakesia Collins joined Planned Parenthood of Illinois to receive the Richard J. Phelan Profile in Courage Award for her efforts to improve equity in reproductive care and maternal and infant health.

“It is a great honor to be among the fierce champions selected for this award, and I am proud to stand alongside Planned Parenthood as we champion reproductive freedom across Illinois,” said Collins (D-Chicago). “Being among such passionate advocates fighting for bodily autonomy is truly inspiring.”

The Richard J. Phelan Profile in Courage Award — named after the late Cook County Board president who restored abortion services at the county’s health system in 1992 — is presented to individuals who champion reproductive rights and freedoms through their public service.

WILL COUNTY – State Senators Meg Loughran Cappel and Rachel Ventura celebrated the governor’s announcement that a $93.5 million project to reconstruct a new interchange at Interstate 55 and Illinois 59 is nearing completion. Set to open for traffic in the coming months, the project represents the fruits of another major investment in Will County made possible by the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.

"Will County is growing, and with that growth, it demands a skilled labor force capable of not just meeting but exceeding the challenges of a dynamic marketplace," said Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood). "As we celebrate the I-55 at Illinois 59 Access Project, we have to acknowledge the work Will County has done to be a transportation hub in Illinois while bringing good-paying jobs with good benefits for local people and companies to our community."

Prior to rebuilding the interchange, only northbound I-55 could exit to northbound Illinois 59 and from southbound Illinois 59 to southbound I-55. With the ramps opening, both directions of I-55 can access both directions of Illinois 59 and vice versa.

ROCKFORD – Following Stellantis’ announcement of delaying their investment in the Belvidere Assembly Plant in his district, State Senator Steve Stadelman is urging the company to follow through on their 2023 commitment to invest nearly $5 billion to revive the plant.

“Delaying the revitalization of the plant jeopardizes the economic security of our community, as well as the trust between Stellantis and the United Auto Workers,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “The deal we reached last October is good for our community and all parties involved, and it needs to be honored by Stellantis.” 

Belvidere Assembly Plant has been producing cars since 1965. Initially owned by Chrysler, the plant was purchased by Stellantis, a company owning several car brands including Dodge and Ram. A year after the buyout, Stellantis announced the plant was going to be “indefinitely closed” starting in 2023.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus are honoring the rich history, significant contributions and lasting influence of the Latino community in Illinois and throughout the nation.

“I represent my heritage everyday by showing up for our Latino communities, whether that is through my advocacy in Springfield or support in the district,” said ILLC co-chair Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Representing my heritage means celebrating our culture and advocating for our community every day, not just during special months.”

Through their engagement with local Latino nonprofits and their commitment to mentorship, members articulate how they embody their cultural heritage in their daily lives. They also acknowledge the trailblazing pioneers who have paved the way for future generations. As they reflect on these achievements, they remain committed in their vision for positive changes that will uplift and empower the Latino community throughout Illinois.

This year, members of the Latino Caucus have shared how they embody their heritage year-round, expressing their pride in the diverse aspects of their communities and cultures. From rich culinary traditions to a robust entrepreneurial spirit, they articulate the vital role Latinos play in strengthening our state.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

SWANSEA – State Senator Christopher Belt is joining the Illinois State Board of Education in inviting residents to nominate a local school board member for the Thomas Lay Burroughs Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding member of an Illinois school board.

“I served four years on a local school board and know firsthand how important their duties are,” said Belt (D-Swansea). “School board members put care and quality into their districts to enhance the value of our students’ education. If you know a board member who has continued to make a positive impact on their school district, I urge you to nominate them for this respected award.”

The Thomas Lay Burroughs Award was created in 1991 in memory of late ISBE Chairman Tom Burroughs and is presented each November at a conference hosted jointly by the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.

PEORIA – Thanks to State Senator Dave Koehler’s support of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, a Peoria supermarket and 10 other stores across the state have received $8 million in combined funding to fight food insecurity.

“It has been difficult to fill the void of grocery stores that have been in our neighborhood for years and have suddenly closed—leaving people without a routine source for their essential food and goods,” said Koehler (D-Peoria). “This grant program will revitalize our community by making high-quality groceries more easily accessible.”

The New Stores in Food Deserts Program supports the establishment of new grocery stores in USDA-defined food deserts. These grants will fund construction and renovation costs for new stores, as well as many first-year operations costs, such as employee wages, utility costs, initial inventory of food and more.

Harvest Supermarket, based out of Peoria, was awarded $1,666,472 from the program for a full building renovation and new energy-efficient equipment. Supermarkets in Chicago, Rockford, and Carlinville also received funds from this program.

Holmes celebrates new CyrusOne data center in Aurora

AURORA — Alongside Governor JB Pritzker, the CyrusOne team and other local elected officials, State Senator Linda Holmes celebrated the groundbreaking of the new CyrusOne data center in Aurora last week.

“CyrusOne is a global leader in data center development and has once again chosen Aurora to be its home for this expansion project,” said Holmes (D-Aurora). “This new data center brings critical investments to our community, including hundreds of new jobs and millions in tax contributions over time."

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Feigenholtz honored with LGBTQ+ bar association award

CHICAGO — State Senator Sara Feigenholtz was recognized with the Advocate Award at LAGBAC’s Lawyers for Diversity celebration for her decades-long work in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The privilege I have of working alongside the LGBTQIA+ legal community cannot be understated,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Standing alongside the passionate, sharp minds of the legal community and the street fighters and activists who got us here has been nothing short of breathtaking.”

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New grocery stores coming to Illinois food deserts thanks to Belt's grocery initiative

PEORIA — The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity announced 11 awards totaling $7.9 million through the Illinois Grocery Initiative New Stores and Equipment Upgrades Grant Programs to address food deserts and prevent grocery store closures in Illinois.

“Ensuring all communities have access to fresh, quality food is not just a priority – it’s a necessity,” said State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Swansea). “This funding through the Illinois Grocery Initiative is a major step toward eliminating food deserts in the state so every family, regardless of where they live, has reliable access to healthy food.”

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Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization Project is a major success

ZION — State Senator Mary Edly-Allen alongside Governor JB Pritzker and elected local officials across the Lake County area came together last week to celebrate the milestone of the Illinois State Beach Park Shoreline Stabilization project’s completion with a ribbon cutting.

“This project was urgently needed and Illinois now stands as a leader in responsible shoreline stabilization,” said Edly-Allen (D-Libertyville). “This intervention was necessary to protect the last remaining natural shoreline in the state. I want to thank the governor and the General Assembly for this waterfront project that will help Lake County’s shoreline, native species, residents and visitors.”

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Senator Dave Koehler, Peoria: 'New chapter' for South Peoria beginning with government-backed grocery store | Journal Star

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