CHICAGO—Members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus spoke out Wednesday on news that a grand jury failed to indict three Louisville officers, Brett Hankison, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, for killing Breonna Taylor in her sleep in March. Ex-police officer Brett Hankison was indicted on three counts of wanton endangerment, and the other officers face no charges.

State Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, ILBC Chair

“The charges are devastatingly unbefitting of Breonna Taylor’s tragic death. The sheer lack of accountability for the officers who killed Breonna is yet another clear example of how the justice system does not protect Black lives,” Lightford said. “We share the frustration and anger of our fellow community members and the activists who are tired of the rampant injustice in our justice system.

CHICAGO— Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) released the following statement after news Wednesday that a grand jury charged ex-police officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment and did not charge two Louisville police officers, Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove who also fired weapons in the shooting that killed Breonna Taylor:

“Today’s decision was disappointing to say the least. The charges fall incredibly short of holding these bad actors accountable and just add to the devastation felt by Breonna Taylor’s family and our communities.

“The fact that none of the officers was charged directly for Breonna’s death makes it clear that our justice system does not equally value Black life, and that has to change.

“We must not allow our anger and frustration to deter us from seeking justice and equity. It is vital that we remain peaceful to effect change and honor Breonna’s memory. I will continue to work with my colleagues and community leaders until our justice system provides justice to all people.”

BUNKER HILL – Local schools are set to receive nearly $2 million in grants to improve students’ access to remote learning technology, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced Wednesday.

“Many school districts have employed a remote or hybrid learning model to protect staff and students during the pandemic,” Manar said. “These funds can help provide every child with the resources they need to stay engaged in their education during this difficult time.”

Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools bridge the digital divide and offer students more reliable access to the technology they need to participate in e-learning. School districts can use the funds to expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets.

More than $80 million was awarded to 471 districts across the state, including 16 school districts in the 48^th State Senate District:

• Taylorville CUSD 3 - $159,778
• Pana CUSD 8 - $98,372
• South Fork SD 14 - $45,472
• Hillsboro CUSD 3 - $116,404
• Litchfield CUSD 12 - $102,887
• Nokomis CUSD 22 - $61,450
• Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education #39 - $66,840
• Decatur SD 61 - $496,087
• Regional Office of Education #40 - $32,269
• Carlinville CUSD 1 - $106,182
• Mount Olive CUSD 5 - $53,839
• Staunton CUSD 6 - $98,300
• Gillespie CUSD 7 - $96,810
• Bunker Hill CUSD 8 - $61,134
• Southwestern CUSD 9 - $104,973
• North Mac CUSD 34 - $97,941

Funding was distributed using a need-based formula. The full list of schools receiving funds is available on the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) issued the following statement Wednesday after a Jefferson County Grand Jury failed to indict any of the police officers on charges of murder for the March killing of Breonna Taylor: 

“Breonna Taylor should be alive right now. We keep seeing the same stories over and over again. It is exhausting and upsetting. 2020 has shown just how flawed our institutions are within a system stacked against us. Do not let anyone shut down the fight for a better world.”

CHICAGO – Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) issued the following statement in reaction to Detective Brett Hankinson being charged with three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree in the murder of Breonna Taylor in her Louisville apartment on March 13. No charges were brought against Jonathan Mattingly and Myles Cosgrove, the other two officers involved in the shooting.

“It is impossible to express the weight of the injustices and cruelty carried out against the Black community throughout the history of our country. When an officer can justify the murder of Breonna Taylor as legal, moral and ethical, then walk away with nothing more than a slap on the wrist, there can be no doubt that Black women do not matter in our country today.

JOLIET – To continue efforts to address structural racial inequality in Illinois, the Senate will hold a joint Education and Higher Education Committee tomorrow.

“As chair of the Higher Education Committee, I've learned that the foundation for successful post-secondary education is built early in one's life,” said Senate Higher Education Committee Chairman Pat McGuire (D-Crest Hill). “Tomorrow's hearing will explore how to provide that foundation for every Illinois child.”

The committee serves as another step in building the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda for the upcoming legislative session. Education is one of four major policy areas the ILBC is targeting this year, along with criminal justice, health care, and economic access.

State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) joined the governor and the state public health director to commemorate the state exceeding 5 million COVID-19 tests since the beginning of the pandemic.

“I was with the governor and Dr. Ezike when he signed legislation that the General Assembly had adopted to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs. That was the day of the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Illinois,” Manar said. “The state has gone from zero to now 50,000 tests. To be able to cross the thresholds that we have crossed as a state despite the challenges is because of the leadership of the governor, Dr. Ezike at the Illinois Department of Public Health, and everybody working together including the National Guard, the 97 local public health departments and our private health care partners throughout the state.”

CHAMPAIGN – School districts in the 52^nd Illinois State Senate District are set to receive nearly $1.5 million in funding to give students in Champaign and Vermilion Counties more reliable access to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic.

State Senator Scott Bennett is glad to see area schools receive this assistance to close the digital divide among students in downstate communities.

“During this awful pandemic, it is important that we work diligently to ensure our students are not falling behind academically because they don’t have the technology to actively participate in e-learning,” Bennett said. “As we continue to work to keep our children safe, we also need to ensure they are not missing out on vital learning opportunities.”

Bennett was pleased to see 11 school districts in the 52^nd State Senate District are set to receive support, including:

• Danville School District No. 118 – $322,268
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm CUSD #4 – $81,887
• Oakwood CUSD #76 – $83,123
• Rantoul City Schools School District 137 – $125,286
• Rantoul Township High School 193 – $72,907
• Thomasboro CCSD 130 – $37,607
• University of Illinois Laboratory School – $46,865
• Urbana School District #116 – $266,112
• Westville School District #2 – $100,904
• Safe School- Vermilion County Regional Office of Education – $31,303
• Safe School- Champaign/Ford County Regional Office of Education – $35,023

The Digital Equity Formula Grants, funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, are intended to help schools expand connectivity and provide students with devices like computers or tablets. Funding was distributed using a need-based formula.

For more information about COVID-19 and education, visit isbe.net/covid19.