SPRINGFIELD – To curb the devastating economic effects brought on by COVID-19, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is encouraging small business owners to apply for the second round of Business Interruption Grants, a key piece of the State of Illinois’ pandemic response effort.

Manar, the Senate Appropriations II Committee Chair, fought to ensure necessary funding for this program during last spring’s budget negotiations.

CHICAGO—Illinois lawmakers from both chambers will come together to discuss the current condition of sentencing reform on Tuesday.

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

KANKAKEE – State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) is encouraging Kankakee County residents to dispose of their household hazardous waste at a collection event on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

“This event provides residents of Kankakee County and surrounding areas the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other hazardous products,” Joyce said. “This event will lead to safer homes and a cleaner environment for our community.”

The free event is sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and will take place at Kankakee Community College, located at 100 College Drive in Kankakee, allowing residents to dispose of unused or leftover household products commonly found in homes at no cost.

Residents are encouraged to bring chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides and pesticides, old or outdated medication, and similar hazardous household products. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collection event.

For safe transport of household hazardous waste, residents are asked to:

• Pack household hazardous waste items in a disposable box to avoid spilling during transport.
• Keep like chemicals together and separate unlike chemicals.
• Secure lids and make sure containers are not leaking.
• Place box(es) of household hazardous waste in the empty trunk of the vehicle, away from passengers, during transport.
• Remain in the vehicle at collection site. On-site personnel will remove the household hazardous waste from the trunk of the vehicle.

The following items cannot be disposed of during the event: latex paint, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, agricultural chemicals and business wastes. A complete list of household hazardous wastes that are and are not accepted is available online here. 

The collection event is open to all Illinois residents. For questions or additional information, please contact the Waste Reduction Unit of the Illinois EPA at 217-524-3300.

CHICAGO – Now that the Illinois Department of Transportation has begun accepting applications, Senate Transportation Chair Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) is encouraging qualified individuals to apply for seasonal snow-and ice removal positions. 

“Snowplow driving is an essential service that keeps our roads clear and our drivers safe,” Villivalam said. “This is a good employment opportunity for people who have struggled to find work.” 

Temporary snowplow drivers are hired every year on a full-time and on-call basis through IDOT’s “snowbird” program. To be considered, applicants must have a commercial driver’s license. Any potential employee must undergo a physical, vision test, and drug and alcohol screening. 

Applicants are selected based on their availability, job-related experience, and qualifications. Veterans are also strongly encouraged to apply. 

“With so many people currently unemployed, I hope they will take advantage of this opportunity to apply for a stable job heading into the winter,” Villivalam said. 

More information about the application process in specific districts, available positions, potential benefits, and salary can be found on IDOT’s website. 

DEERFIELD – During a Senate Human Services Committee Monday, Chairman Julie Morrison called on the Department of Children and Family Services for greater transparency relating to child deaths and injuries that happen under the agency’s watch.  

“Every member of the General Assembly should receive the Death or Serious Life-Threatening Injury Report each month so we can all be aware of these tragedies,” Morrison (D-Lake Forest) said. “We need to know about those children, their cause of death and the circumstances.” 

MARYVILLE – State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) applauded the state’s COVID-19 response employment opportunities, which aim to connect residents who are out of work with new job options.

“These positions put food on the table of working families and give those who are hired the opportunity to join the fight against the pandemic here in Illinois,” Crowe said. “I strongly encourage qualified residents to apply.”

Among the statewide awardees distributed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is St. Clair County Southwest with a Disaster Recovery Grant totaling $225,200 and Madison County Southwest with an Economic Recovery Grant totaling $1,467,594.

The grants will provide out-of-work Illinoisans with training and employment in jobs that assist local disaster relief programs and industries in high demand amidst the pandemic.

Positions include COVID-19 recovery-related temporary jobs to help mitigate COVID-19 in communities, such as contact tracers, COVID-19 protocol workers, building sanitization workers, temperature screeners, and food preparation and distribution workers identified by local communities.

A full list of COVID-19 workforce training grantees as well as their program offerings is available on the DCEO website.

Stadelman joined by governor, local leaders to announce job training program funding

ROCKFORD — With Illinois continuing to face an unprecedented public health emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was joined by Governor JB Pritzker, Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara and Dr. Lisa M. Bly-Jones, executive director of Workforce Connection last week to discuss investments to expand job opportunities in the City of Rockford.

"The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting jobs and changing the skills employees need to do them,” Stadelman said. “To meet this challenge, state government and its partners need to step up to help ensure workers are equipped with the skills critical to our economic recovery.”

Read more.

Villivalam: Completing the census crucial for Illinois' fastest growing demographic

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 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.”

Read more.

Bush: $36 million to tackle opioid crisis is a great step, but more work needs to be done

GRAYSLAKE — As a steadfast advocate for addressing the state’s growing opioid crisis and creator of the Prescription Drug Task Force, State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is pleased to learn the state has been given $36 million to continue to fight the epidemic.

“The opioid epidemic is a serious and complicated issue that only continues to get worse,” Bush said. “These funds are a great step toward fighting the crisis, but there’s so much more work that needs to be done."

Read more.

September is National Preparedness Month

Whether it be fire, floods or severe weather conditions, make sure you have a plan of action in your home, business, school and community for when natural or man-made disasters strike.

The initiative aims to encourage individuals to take important steps like getting an emergency supply kit (including water, food, and medical necessities), making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts.

Read more.

In case you missed it

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

State Senator Scott Bennett, Champaign: Sen. Bennett addresses blood shortage | ABC News Channel 20

State Senator Andy Manar, Bunker Hill: 21 days remain to complete 2020 U.S. Census | WAND NBC 17

State Senator Julie Morrison, Lake Forest: Morrison touts need for better education on e-cigarettes | Daily Herald

State Senator Laura Murphy, Des Plaines: Murphy offers free COVID-19 antibody testing at upcoming blood drive | Daily Herald

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NAPERVILLE –  State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is urging residents to participate in the 2020 Census before the Sept. 30 deadline.

DuPage County is slightly above its 2010 response rate, but until there’s a 100% response rate, schools, roads, hospitals and other critical community services could be negatively affected.

“Our community is doing a wonderful job responding to the census, but our goal should always be a 100 percent response rate,” Ellman said. “Tell your friends and family that we can’t be complacent. This is one of the most patriotic things you can do right now, and it’s never been easier.”

The census is now safer, more secure, and just as confidential. Filling out the form is crucial as 2020 brings new congressional district maps, helps determine how federal funds flow into states and provides information that will affect communities across Illinois for the next 10 years.

Currently, 83.6% of Naperville residents, 83.7% of Wheaton residents and 85.3% of Winfield residents have filled out the form this year. This still leaves nearly one in every six residents who have not filled yet filled it out. Ellman is reminding residents that although many of the communities in the 21st Illinois Senate District have a high response rate, it’s still imperative to fill out your census.

“When it comes to getting our rightful share of tax dollars, there is always room to improve," said Ellman. "If you've already taken the census, remind others who haven't."

Residents can complete the census for their household at https://my2020census.gov, or by calling 844-330-2020.