CHAMPAIGN – To spread some cheer in the midst of a pandemic, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) delivered 150 cards to the residents of the Clark-Lindsey Village retirement community in Champaign on Wednesday.

“This is an extremely difficult and lonely time for older adults living away from their families,” Bennett said. “The community’s response to this project has been overwhelming and uplifting. I’m grateful for their show of support to remind these folks that they are not alone.” 

Last month, Bennett launched the “Cards for Seniors” collection project, giving community members the opportunity to write an encouraging message or card to an older neighbor who may be separated from their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bennett’s office also partnered with the Panhellenic Council at the University of Illinois as part of the council’s work week virtual service event. The council used this project as a service event and as an opportunity to connect with others in the Champaign community in a safe, contactless manner.

“During this time of social distancing and staying home, it was encouraging to share these cards with the residents at Clark-Lindsey and put a smile on their face,” Bennett said.   

Caption information for attached photo: State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) delivers cards to residents at Clark-Lindsey Village in Champaign on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.

CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is strongly encouraging all Asian Americans to fill out the census before the deadline closes.

“We need to ensure Asian Americans have access to all of the same state services as other Illinois residents,” said Villivalam, the first Asian American elected to the Illinois Senate and the Co-Chair of the Illinois General Assembly’s Asian American Caucus. “I represent one of the most culturally diverse districts in the state. I am extremely grateful for the numerous contributions our Asian American neighbors, friends and family have brought to our community – everything from cultural to the culinary traditions.” 

CHICAGO HEIGHTS – To allow motorists to renew their driver’s licenses and purchase vehicle stickers without visiting a driver services facility, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) will host a free mobile unit event in partnership with the secretary of state’s office Tuesday, Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Chicago Heights Park District, located at 1400 Chicago Road.

“Because of the ongoing public health crisis, some drivers haven't been able to renew their driver’s licenses or vehicle registrations in person,” Joyce said. “Drivers will have a safe and convenient way to make those transactions without having to visit a DMV by attending the secretary of state’s mobile unit event.”  

The unit operates like a DMV office and offers driver’s license renewals, identification cards and license plate stickers. Attendees must wear face coverings, and social distancing rules must be followed.

Joyce is reminding residents that the deadline to obtain a REAL ID has been extended an additional year to Oct. 1, 2021, and REAL ID services will not be available at the mobile unit.

With questions or for additional information, contact Senator Joyce’s office at SenatorPatrickJoyce.com or call 708-756-0882.

EVANSTON – In celebration of the 35th anniversary of the International Coastal Cleanup, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and State Representative Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) are hosting an Adopt-a-Beach cleanup event in partnership with the Alliance for the Great Lakes this Saturday, Sept. 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Evanston South Boulevard Beach.

“Our gorgeous beaches provide a beautiful place to exercise, relax and spend time with friends and loved ones. It’s up to us to keep them healthy and clean,” said Fine. “This cleanup event is a great way to enjoy the scenery while making a difference for your community.”

The Alliance for the Great Lakes’ Adopt-a-Beach program mobilizes thousands of volunteers who give back to their local beaches each year. In 2019, Adopt-a-Beach volunteers cleaned up over 53,843 pounds of trash.

About 90% of litter picked up from Great Lakes beaches is plastic. Once in the water, plastic can break down into smaller pieces called microplastics, toxic particles which can be mistaken for food by small fish and wildlife and make their way into drinking water.

“I’m thrilled to be sponsoring this beach cleanup,” said Gabel. “It’s great to give citizens an opportunity to help clean up the environment and beautify the lakefront.”

Volunteers should meet at the South Beach entrance. To keep all team members safe, masks and social distancing will be required. Find more information and register to join the cleanup here.

MARYVILLE – As overdoses rise across the nation, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is grateful for $36.7 million in federal funds to fight back against the opioid crisis in Illinois.

“Swelled by the COVID-19 pandemic, the growing opioid epidemic continues to devastate families across Illinois,” Crowe said. “Putting funds directly into communities that have suffered so much as a result of opioid addiction will save lives and put us on a road to recovery.”

The State Opioid Response federal grant will be used to support the following initiatives:

• Expand access to Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) services for residents with opioid use disorders, including those in the criminal justice system;
• Hospital screenings and strengthening links to community treatment programs for patients;
• Supportive housing and digital resources for persons in recovery from opioid use disorder;
• Access to medication-assisted recovery for patients at federally qualified health centers;
• Recovery support services for pregnant and postpartum women with opioid use disorders;
• Mentoring and coaching for medical professionals prescribing medications for opioid use disorder;
• A toll-free Helpline for opioids and other substances;
• Expanded treatment for residents with stimulant use disorder, in response to rising rates of methamphetamine and cocaine use.

This grant was awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Anyone experiencing problems with substance use disorder can call the state’s Helpline for Opioids and other Substances at 1-833-234-6343, text “HELP” to 833234 or visit HelplineIL.org.

Black Caucus seeks to develop agenda to overcome centuries of oppression

CHICAGO — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus presented four pillars of policy through which they are building out an agenda for veto session to help Black communities in Illinois overcome centuries of oppression.

Recent events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and persistent police killings, have highlighted staggering disparities that have made it clear that comprehensive reform is crucial to end systemic racism.

ILBC Chairman Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) says the caucus seeks to bring justice to Black Illinoisans.

Read more.

Hunter applauds new IDOT diversity initiative

CHICAGO — After a Senate hearing Thursday about transparency and equity at the Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT and other members of the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Agencies voted to establish a diversity committee. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) praised the decision in the following statement:

“For years, we’ve heard serious complaints about acts of discrimination at IDOT. We gave Secretary Omer Osman the opportunity to respond to these allegations, and I’m happy to see that he’s taken them seriously."

Read more.

Crowe completes first round of small business tour in Metro East

MARYVILLE — To highlight individual social-distancing efforts and give business owners an opportunity to voice concerns, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) has completed the first round of her small business tour, visiting nine locally-owned businesses within the Metro East region.

“From visiting retail employees to optometrists, every business owner I had the pleasure of meeting with is taking the pandemic seriously and imposing mask requirements, social distancing and deep sanitizing,” Crowe said. “My goal with this tour was to highlight their efforts, while also offering a casual conversation in order to have a better understanding of the effects of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Read more.

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HOFFMAN ESTATES – To combat the nationwide shortage of donated blood and potentially help develop a treatment for COVID-19, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is hosting a blood drive Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Vernon A. Laubenstein Town Hall, located at 1 Illinois Blvd. in Hoffman Estates.

“When the pandemic began in March, blood donations dropped significantly, but the need persisted,” said Murphy. “Now, with researchers looking into plasma therapy as a potential COVID-19 treatment, donated blood is in especially high demand.”

All successful blood donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies. Researchers hope blood containing antibodies—also known as convalescent plasma—may help treat people with severe COVID-19 by boosting their ability to fight the virus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 17.2 million units of blood are used in transfusions every year for accident victims, cancer patients, hemophiliacs, surgery patients and more. In March, the CDC issued a statement encouraging healthy people to donate blood at blood centers that adhere to public health and safety guidelines.

Murphy has partnered with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois to host the event. To ensure the safety of all staff and donors, masks will be required.

Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins may be accommodated if there are open slots. To schedule an appointment to donate, visit http://bit.ly/BloodDrive-9-30.

PLAINFIELD – To keep people from crowding at local secretary of state’s offices, State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) is reminding people of the many extensions offered by the office, as well as what services can be completed online.

“COVID-19 has created greater risks for people to go out in public – especially older adults,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “I am pleased to see expiration dates have been extended so people can avoid going out and not have to rush to get them renewed.”

To ensure elderly drivers stay safe from both COVID-19 and heatstroke, drivers over the age of 75 received an automatic one-year extension on expired or expiring driver’s licenses and state IDs. Eligible drivers should soon receive a letter from the secretary of state as proof that they qualify for the extension.

Additionally, Bertino-Tarrant would like to remind other drivers that expiration dates for driver’s licenses and license plate stickers have been extended until Nov. 1. Expired documents will remain valid until that day, so customers under the age of 75 also do not need to head to a driver services facility immediately.

The secretary of state offers a variety of online services, including sticker renewals, to allow Illinoisans to steer clear of crowded facilities and long lines. For transactions that must be made in person, people can pre-register from their computer or smartphone to speed up the process.

Visit cyberdriveillinois.com for more information and to explore online service options.