DANVILLE – In an effort to support our troops overseas, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) has designated his district offices as drop off locations for the nonprofit Cell Phones for Soldiers organization.

“As Veterans Day is just around the corner, I can think of few better ways to honor our military veterans than by supporting those who serve to protect our freedoms today,” Bennett said. “This is a great program that allows our troops to stay connected to their families and is a way we can all support our troops.”

The national program collects new and gently used cell phones and tablets for soldiers and their families. Those with old cellphones, MP3 players or tablets laying around are encouraged to donate them to be refurbished or recycled. Proceeds from those sales are used to send prepaid international calling cards to our troops and to provide emergency funding to veterans. All cell phone donations are tax deductible.

To donate, stop by Bennett’s Danville office located in the County Board Building at 201 N. Vermilion St., Suite 323 or his Champaign office located in the Illinois Terminal Building at 45 E. University. Each office will accept donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The collection runs from Oct. 21 through Nov. 15.

Bennett urges residents with questions or concerns to contact his office at 217-442-5252 or visit www.CellPhonesForSoldiers.com.

DES PLAINES – Residents will be able to learn more about the property tax appeal process and how to lower their property tax bill at an upcoming workshop co-hosted by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines).

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi will lead the workshop, which will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28 at the Des Plaines Library, located at 1501 Ellinwood St.

“High property taxes are the number one issue I hear about from residents,” Murphy said. “We’re working on long-term property tax reforms in Springfield, but to provide some relief in the meantime, residents should consider appealing their property tax assessment to potentially lessen their tax burden.”

Residents are asked to bring their second installment property tax bill to the workshop, and to have their property index number on hand for reference.

Face masks will be required at the event, but an outdoor table will be set up for residents uncomfortable gathering indoors.

For more information about filing an appeal, including online appeal options and filing deadlines, residents can visit CookCountyBoardOfReview.com/Cabonargi.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate backed an effort co-sponsored by State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) to declare Oct. 28, 2021 as First Responders Day in Illinois.

“The first responders who serve Illinois deserve our endless gratitude, but declaring Oct. 28 as First Responders Day is a good start to celebrating our heroes,” Villa said. “These brave men and women wake up every day ready to put their lives on the line to save lives and make our communities safe.”

The proposal thanks 911 dispatchers, as well as firefighters, police offers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics for their commitment to public safety across Illinois.

“I’m pleased to see support from the Illinois Senate to honor and celebrate our brave first responders,” Villa said. “Let us take this First Responders Day to thank the hardworking heroes who serve our neighborhoods.”

Senate Resolution 534 was adopted with bipartisan support in the Senate on Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is celebrating Illinoisans of the Hindu religion with the passage of a measure to establish October 2021 as Hindu Heritage month.

“Illinois thrives because of its rich cultural history,” Murphy said. “Hindu people make up an important part of our society, and its important we learn and celebrate this culture.”

In Illinois alone there are over 250,000 followers of the Hindu religion. It is the world’s oldest and third largest religion. October is significant to the Hindu population because it is the birth month of Mahatma Gandhi, and it is also when Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is held.

“Dedicating a month to Hindu heritage provides an opportunity to focus on Hindu culture and its diverse spiritual traditions,” Murphy said. “It also serves as a way to thank and support the people who contribute to our state”

The Hindu community has established 38 temples in Illinois, with the largest being the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago. These temples not only serve as places of fellowship, but they also serve as spaces for cultural events. Senate Resolution 545 establishes October 2021 as Hindu Heritage month to observe and recognize these contributions.

By collectively honoring Hindu participation in the state, Illinois adds itself to the list of states that have dedicated the month of October to Hindu heritage.

Senate Resolution 545 was adopted by the Senate Wednesday.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) passed legislation in the Illinois Senate declaring October 2021 as Hindu Heritage Month in Illinois.

“Hindus have furthered our state’s cultural diversity and economic prosperity,” Villivalam said. “As the senator of one of the most diverse districts in the state and the first Hindu to serve in the Illinois state legislature, I am proud to be a chief co-sponsor of legislation to honor the contributions of Hindu communities across Illinois.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Celina Villanueva (D-Chicago), joined by advocacy group Parole Illinois, demonstrated strong support of Senate Bill 2333, a plan that seeks to reform the current parole system, in a press conference and rally, today.

“This is about giving people hope in what may seem to be a hopeless situation,” Villanueva said. “Our corrections system is meant to rehabilitate people. There are people who spend their time behind bars trying to better themselves, and the systems needs to recognize that.”

Senate Bill 2333 would give individuals who have been incarcerated for 20 years or more the opportunity to be reviewed for Earned Reentry. Providing a pathway to rejoin society offers an incentive to people with longer sentences to prepare for better futures.

SPRINGFIELD – To keep students safe in school, Senate Higher Education Chair Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) advanced a plan through the Senate Wednesday that would ensure students are protected from grooming and other sexual misconduct.

“Children should be able to turn to their teachers when there’s a problem, and to trust that their teacher is acting in their best interests,” Bennett said. “This legislation will better equip educators if an issue arises, as well as help put a stop to sexual abuse.”

Bennett’s legislation would make it mandatory for schools to develop a sexual misconduct code of conduct, review employment histories, and teach students about grooming and sexual misconduct in sex education. It would also allow for schools to set aside two days of in-service learning for teachers to train on identifying such behavior and publish a resource guide on sexual abuse for parents.

SPRINGFIELD – To adopt federal regulations for flying a flag at half-staff into the Illinois Code, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) advanced legislation out of the Senate Wednesday.

“As a symbol of respect or mourning, communities take notice of flags flown at half-staff,” Johnson said. “By adopting the federal law into our state code, we are working to ensure the process is unified and done appropriately.”

The initiative amends Illinois’ current Flag Display Act to outline the circumstances in which the United States flag should be flown at half-staff, the necessary procedures and time allotted. The Act states the flag could be lowered to half-staff to recognize Memorial Day, death of a government official, line-of-duty military deaths or other occurrences deemed honorary by the governor.