CHICAGO – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) will be joined by employees from Southwest Airlines for a press conference Thursday to outline legislation allowing for those employees to use earned sick time to care for ill family members.

“When times are tough, it is best to be surrounded by family. That is why it is nonsensical for those who have worked hard, long hours to be unable to use earned sick time to care for family members,” Hastings said. “I look forward to having remarkable people by my side to share their stories.”

Hastings was inspired to lead the measure by two constituents, both who are flight attendants for Southwest Airlines. Corliss King’s husband was diagnosed with end-stage renal disease in 2017 and was hospitalized several times, receiving various surgeries that left him in need of care at home. Corliss was able to use her own accrued sick time to help care for her husband and children until 2017, when a law was passed that removed coverage for airline employees.

ELGIN – A new mass vaccination site offering hundreds of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine is coming to Elgin’s Eastside Recreation Center starting on April 7 thanks to efforts made by State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin).

“I’m so glad to see this vaccination site opening in the district I represent,” Castro said. “This site will provide vaccines to vulnerable communities in Cook and Kane Counties, especially those who have been disproportionately impacted by this awful pandemic.”

The new vaccination site is the result of a unique collaborative effort between the city of Elgin, Kane County and Cook County. It will bring 270 daily doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents in the area. As of April 12, everyone above the age of 16 will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

The vaccination site is located at the Elgin Eastside Recreation Center at 1080 E. Chicago Street. An appointment will be required for vaccinations at this location. Residents can get appointments by going to www.kanevax.org  or by calling 855-4-KaneVax (855-452-6382).

“As we look toward the future, getting vaccinated will be the best option for keeping you and your family safe,” Castro said. “In the meantime, as we work to move our state out of this pandemic, please remember to continue to wear a mask, wash your hands often and practice social distancing.”

Residents who don’t have access to or need assistance navigating online services can call the toll-free IDPH hotline at 833-621-1284 to book an appointment. The hotline is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to midnight with agents available to discuss options in English and Spanish.

State Senator Mike Simmons will speak Wednesday on one of his first pieces of legislation, Senate Bill 2132, which would institute a child credit for Illinois state income taxes. Simmons said the $600-per-child credit for those making up to the median salary in Illinois is intended to supplement the robust COVID-recovery efforts approved through the federal American Rescue Plan.

“Everyone has grappled with grief and hardship over the past year due to COVID, and I think we need to acknowledge that for parents it has meant even more anxieties, sacrifices and unforeseen expenses,” Simmons said. “We talk a lot about economic recovery in the wake of the pandemic. That recovery needs to include an investment in our families.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Frankfort) will join Circuit Court Clerk Iris Y. Martinez for a press conference Wednesday to discuss shared legislative efforts to restore public trust and increase transparency in Cook County government.

Legislation currently awaiting consideration in the Senate, Senate Bill 583, would include the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County under the Local Records Act, providing greater transparency to the public regarding how the clerk’s office uses its public funds. The Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is a non-judicial office of the judiciary, and not a local government or public body currently subject to FOIA.

“As elected officials, part of our duty should be providing access to public records indicating our actions are in the best interest of the public,” Hastings said. “Clerk Martinez knows this better than most, having led on this issue when she was in the Senate. It is my privilege to follow that lead and partner with her to give Cook County taxpayers the ability to know exactly how their hard-earned money is being used to make their lives better.”

GENEVA – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Monday that $7 million in local infrastructure funding will be distributed to local governments as part of the Rebuild Illinois Program, and State Senator Karina Villa (D-West Chicago) is pleased to announce that the Village of Geneva, partnering with the City of St. Charles, will receive a portion of the funds. 

“Upgrading our roads will help accommodate local truck traffic in Geneva and ensure a safer driving experience for residents and visitors,” Villa said. “This critical infrastructure project will give our community the resources it needs to attract business, manage growth and improve local quality of life.”

This grant is made possible through IDOT’s Truck Access Route Program, which allows counties, municipalities and townships to apply for assistance in upgrading roads to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks and become designated truck routes. IDOT will provide the Village of Geneva with $320,600, which will be used for connecting Illinois Route 38 truck routes. 

“Illinois is the country’s transportation hub, with freight activity a cornerstone of the state’s economy,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “At IDOT, we want our local partners to have the necessary tools to manage traffic safely and spur even more job creation and economic growth.”

A complete list of projects can be viewed here.

BRACEVILLE – To improve public infrastructure in the Village of Braceville, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) secured a $454,165 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to help the village make much-needed improvements to stormwater drainage systems.

The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced the Village of Braceville has been selected to receive CDBG funding for the east side of town storm water improvements. The grant is designed to assist low- to moderate-income communities with improvements that remove conditions detrimental to public health and safety.

“This grant helps the village continue to move forward with public infrastructure improvements,” Joyce said. “I applaud village officials on being proactive in applying for state funding opportunities, and I look forward to seeing this project develop.”

Throughout the grant application process, Joyce advocated on behalf of the village at the state level to help Braceville secure funding. Joyce believes this boost in funding will bring a welcome change to the community.

All grants this year are for water and sewer projects. To learn more about the CDBG program visit DCEO’s website.

CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced Monday that $7 million in local infrastructure funding will be distributed to local governments as part of the Rebuild Illinois program, and State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pleased to announce that Champaign County will receive a portion of those funds.

“Creating a designated truck route in Champaign County will not only help manage traffic, but will provide a safer driving experience,” Bennett said. “This funding will also boost jobs during these tough economic times and ensure our community has the necessary resources to attract business, regulate growth and improve local quality of life.”  

This grant is made possible through IDOT’s Truck Access Route Program, which allows counties, municipalities and townships to apply for assistance in upgrading roads to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks and become designated truck routes. IDOT will provide Champaign County with $900,000, which will be used for connecting U.S. 45 truck routes.

“Illinois is the country’s transportation hub, with freight activity a cornerstone of the state’s economy,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “At IDOT, we want our local partners to have the necessary tools to manage traffic safely and spur even more job creation and economic growth.”

The City of Danville also received $80,000 through the Rebuild Illinois program to fund the Fairchild Street project.

A complete list of projects can be viewed here.

ROMEOVILLE – State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) spoke at a press conference held by the Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project at the VNA Health Care Clinic on Monday morning alongside State Representative Dagmara Avelar, Congressman Bill Foster and Congresswoman Marie Newman to help bring attention to vaccination sites sponsored by the organization in Will County.

“The Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project has been working hard to expand vaccine accessibility here in Will County,” Connor said. “Their focus on our Black and Brown communities has been vital to ensuring vaccine equity in our district and I couldn’t be more grateful for their efforts to keep our community safe.”

The Southwest Suburban Immigrant Project was founded in 2010 and has grown into a well-known advocacy group for immigrant residents in Will and DuPage counties. The organization has been especially active during the COVID-19 pandemic by helping keep community members up to date on the latest information about the pandemic and fighting for vaccine access for communities of color.

“Members of the SSIP are doing the work that helps get us to the other side of this pandemic,” said Connor. “I am grateful we have their dedication as we all work to protect all members of our community.”

Those wishing to learn more about the SSIP and their vaccination sites can find them on Facebook or visit their site at www.ssipchicago.org.