SPRINGFIELD – State Senators Pat McGuire and Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant will host a subject matter hearing on graduation requirements and mental health resources and recovery Wednesday, continuing efforts by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to build an agenda ahead of the upcoming fall legislative session.

The joint hearing of the Senate Higher Education and Senate Education Committees is prompted by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus on education reform, which is one of four pillars guiding their legislative agenda to eliminate systemic racism. The pillars include:

1. Criminal justice reform, violence reduction and police accountability
2. Education and workforce development
3. Economic access, equity and opportunity
4. Health care and human services

Those who wish to submit written testimony to the hearing can do so online at www.ilga.gov.

To watch the virtual committee, visit https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp and click "Watch Live Virtual Committee Video." The link will be available at 12 p.m.

WHO: Joint Senate Education Committee and Higher Education Committee

WHAT: Subject matter hearing on graduation requirements and mental health resources and recovery

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 12 p.m.

WHERE: Conducted remotely via Zoom and broadcast live on https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp or on Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service.

DEERFIELD – To make it easier for people to report child abuse and neglect, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services enhanced its online reporting system. State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) is encouraging the public and mandatory reporters to use the website to report issues at a faster pace.

“Oftentimes, both children and adults find themselves in vulnerable situations where they don’t feel comfortable picking up the phone to make a report or can’t do so immediately,” Morrison said. “Not only does this make the reporting process easier, it expedites the case management process and lessens the number of return calls needed during times of high call volume.”

DCFS last month upgraded its online reporting system, with improved entry fields, clearer instructions and fewer necessary clicks, reducing the time required to make reports.

CHICAGO – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Chicago, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is urging residents to utilize free permanent and temporary COVID-19 testing sites. 

“We need to continue our strong testing operations to stay ahead of the virus and keep our positivity rates down,” Villivalam said. “It’s vital to get tested even if you don’t feel sick, because asymptomatic people are still capable of passing the virus on to others. Testing and contact tracing are keys to being able to continue to safely reopen our state and economy.” 

Individuals who believe they may have been exposed to the virus should get tested 5-7 days after exposure – even if they don’t feel sick. Those with symptoms resembling COVID-19 should also get tested even if they deem medical care unnecessary. 

“We have to stay vigilant,” Villivalam said. “Getting a test that is quick and safe will allow anyone who needs to travel, work away from home, or care for children or older adults to make sure they don’t have COVID-19.” 

There are currently nearly 300 testing sites across the state, including 11 state-operated community-based testing sites and 12 mobile testing teams. All state operated testing facilities are free. 

Senator Villivalam also took an active role in coordinating the placement of two free mobile testing centers in West Rogers Park and Morton Grove during the month of August. 

More information about testing locations, times, and requirements can be found at www.dph.illinois.gov/testing. 

CHICAGO—State lawmakers from both chambers will discuss prison reform during a joint Senate committee hearing on Tuesday.

Senate Criminal Law Chair State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) and Senate Public Safety Special Committee Chair State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) will co-chair the joint hearing. State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) of the House Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee and other members of the committees will participate as guests.

This is the fifth hearing that the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus has called on criminal justice reform, which is one of four pillars the caucus is using as the foundation for their agenda to rid the state’s institutions of racism. The pillars include:

1. Criminal justice reform, violence reduction and police accountability
2. Education and workforce development
3. Economic access, equity and opportunity
4. Health care and human services

The joint Senate hearing will focus specifically on diversion and re-entry programs, prison conditions, prison gerrymandering and mandatory supervised release reform.

Who: Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety

What: Joint hearing on prison reform

When: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13

Where: Virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#

            Blue Room Stream will also stream the hearing at https://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/9326370.

CHICAGO – As the global pandemic continues to reveal racial disparities in the health care system, State Senators Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) called for massive reforms as part of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC)’s fourth pillar agenda.

“In order to truly fix the issues of health disparities amongst African Americans, it is important that we examine the root causes,” Hunter said. “For centuries, Black people have been disrespected, abused and misused in the name of health care. Though we cannot solve these issues overnight, we can start by addressing our afflictions piece by piece.”

CENTREVILLE — The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus unveiled the fourth and final pillar guiding its agenda to eliminate systemic racism Friday during a press conference at Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville.

The Black Caucus will focus their efforts on ending disparities in health care and human services, ILBC Chairman Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) announced.

Lightford said racism remains a major factor in the health of African Americans and their access to quality, affordable care.

“Discrimination within our institutions is killing Black people in Illinois,” Lightford said. “The vast disparities in medical care and other vital services in the Black communities have never been more apparent than they are right now, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. African Americans have been infected at disproportionately higher rates because systemic racism has left us in the worst position to respond, lacking proper health care, income and housing, among other factors. The Black Caucus will not stop fighting until our government not only supports Black life, but provides an environment for Black Illinoisans to thrive in society.”

SPRINGFIELD – In honor of National Farmers Day on October 12, Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) and State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) are celebrating the hard work and dedication of local farmers and agricultural workers.

“Farmers are passionate about the work they do, and this day is an opportunity to acknowledge the work of the men and women devoted to feeding our community,” said Bennett, who spends the harvest season helping out on his family's farm in Gibson City. “This is the perfect time to thank farmers young and old, past and present."

On this day, Bennett and Joyce are encouraging people to show gratitude to farmers by supporting local farmers’ markets or making charitable donations to area farms.

MARYVILLE – With the $67 million reconstruction project on Interstate 255 nearing completion, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) are alerting residents of a new road project slated to begin early next year in the Metro East.

“By investing in our local infrastructure, our state is committing to the transportation needs of Metro East residents,” Crowe said. “Ensuring reliable transportation for seniors, working families and students, all while creating construction jobs, is a start to getting our local economies back on track.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has released plans to resurface Illinois Route 157 starting on State Street in East St. Louis and ending on Petroff Drive in Caseyville.