EAST ST. LOUIS – As the country faces a critical shortage of blood donations, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) asks African Americans to donate blood to aid patients with sickle cell disease.

“Donating blood could save someone’s life, which is why I am using my platform to bring awareness to this donation shortage,” Belt said. “African Americans are primarily affected by sickle cell disease, so it is of utmost importance that African Americans donate blood that can be used by sickle cell patients for transfusions.”

African American blood donors play an important role in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Patients with the disease depend on transfusions from donors with closely matched blood—beyond just blood type—to reduce the risk of complications.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross says donations by African Americans have dropped by more than half. As sickle cell patients are at high risk of severe complications from COVID-19 infection, donations are especially important at this time.

The Red Cross assures donors that each donation center must follow the highest standards of safety and infection control. Additional precautions, including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff, have been implemented to ensure the health of everyone in attendance.

Many blood centers throughout the state have extended their operating hours to meet the critical need for donations.

To make an appointment to donate blood with the Red Cross, residents can visit www.RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

CHICAGO – Blood drives across the state have been cancelled to prevent the spread of COVID-19, prompting State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) to put out a call for African American blood donations to help treat sickle cell patients.

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s blood supply has gotten dangerously low, which means sickle cell patients may not be able to get life-saving transfusions,” Jones said. “African American communities have already been suffering from limited resources during the pandemic—they need support from their neighbors now more than ever. I encourage everyone to lend a hand to address this shortage.”

African American blood donors play an important role in the treatment of sickle cell disease. Patients with the disease depend on transfusions from donors with closely matched blood—beyond just blood type—to reduce the risk of complications.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the American Red Cross says donations by African Americans have dropped by more than half. As sickle cell patients are at high risk of severe complications from COVID-19 infection, donations are especially important at this time.

The Red Cross assures donors that each donation center must follow the highest standards of safety and infection control. Additional precautions, including social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff, have been implemented to ensure the health of everyone in attendance.

Many blood centers throughout the state have extended their operating hours to meet the critical need for donations.

To make an appointment to donate blood with the Red Cross, residents can visit www.RedCrossBlood.org or call 800-733-2767.

CHICAGO – Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) urged voters to practice social distancing measures while casting their ballot this fall under an expansion of Illinois' vote by mail program signed into law today by Governor JB Pritzker.

“In the midst of the pandemic, we wanted to make sure everyone had the option the vote safely,” Van Pelt said. “Voting is crucial to maintaining a functional democracy, and we can’t allow this pandemic to disrupt our self-governance.”

Senate Bill 1863 ensures that every Illinoisan who has voted within the last two years will be sent a vote by mail application for the 2020 election. Under this legislation, voters may register online to automatically request a vote by mail ballot, rather than having to apply.

Furthermore, early voting and Election Day hours will be extended. Election authorities will be required to expedite ballots, so that voters are guaranteed enough time to vote.

In addition, Election Day 2020 will become a state holiday, helping ensure that every voter has the opportunity to cast their vote.

“This election will be the most important of our lifetime,” Van Pelt said. “With these new measures, I am hopeful that Illinois will see a turnout like never before.”

Voters are now able to apply for an absentee ballot, and can register here.

MARKHAM - The Illinois Secretary of State has extended vehicle registration expiration dates by at least 90 days, but to ensure all motorists can renew their vehicle registrations before this deadline, State Senator Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) announced the reopening of the vehicle emissions testing center in Markham.

“With the Illinois Secretary of State resuming services, people have to get emissions tests on their vehicles,” Harris said. “I want the South Suburbs to be able to do their part in protecting the environment, and that will only happen if they can access a testing site near them.”

The Markham location was previously used as a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site to help expand testing availability across the state.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office has extended vehicle registration expiration dates without penalty by at least 90 days, allowing motorists to wait to have their vehicles tested. Motorists who are not comfortable visiting an emissions testing center may revisit at a later date or have someone else bring in their vehicle for testing.

Individuals 65 and older, healthcare workers, first responders and those with pre-existing health conditions are encouraged to visit the facility during the first testing hour of each day (8–9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 7:30–8:30 a.m. Saturday).

Employees at the emissions testing center will be wearing face masks and practicing safe social distancing, and they ask that motorists take the same precautions.

SPRINGFIELD – A new measure backed by State Senator Terry Link (D-Indian Creek) that would help ensure Illinois voters can safely participate in the November 2020 General Election was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker today.

“With the possibility COVID-19 will still be a problem in our state in the fall, it’s critical that we ensure voters can participate in the election, even if they do not feel safe going to their usual polling place,” Link said.

Senate Bill 1863 expands Illinois’ vote-by-mail program for the 2020 General Election. Under the new law, anyone who has voted in the last two years will receive a vote-by-mail application. New voters registering online may also automatically request a vote-by-mail ballot rather than having to apply.

The measure also establishes Election Day, November 3, 2020 as a holiday for Illinois schools and universities. Some schools and universities will be used as polling locations and will be properly cleaned before students and staff return.

The law further allows election authorities to establish a curb-side voting program and extends early voting hours at polling locations.

“We can’t allow the novel coronavirus infringe on anyone’s ability to exercise their democratic right,” Link said. “This law will help ensure every eligible voter can participate in our process.”

Senate Bill 1863 takes effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD— State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) announced this week that an $80,047 grant has been awarded to Route History in Springfield as part of the state’s Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program.

Route History is an organization focused on teaching the stories of tragedy, resilience, and triumph of Black people along the Historic Route 66 and in Springfield – stories that serve as a reminder of struggles and consistent perseverance towards excellence in spite of overwhelming systemic racism and injustices. Route History also leverages resources to support sustainable and transformative community projects.

“Route History plays an important role in Springfield, not only by telling the stories that shaped this community, but by taking initiative to help build a brighter future for its children,” Manar said. “At this particular moment in society, Route History’s mission and purpose couldn’t be more important. The state’s investment in Route History will strengthen programs and projects that educate, uplift and empower African-American youth in Springfield.”

"I'm very pleased that Route History will be receiving a Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Grant," said Springfield Alderwoman Doris Turner. "They are doing extremely important work regarding race reconciliation and community engagement around Springfield's racial history that has, until this point, been lost."

Created by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Minority Economic Empowerment, the grants will equip minority-owned firms with resources to create jobs, build capacity, and revitalize properties in underserved communities. Recipients were required to outline project proposals as part of a competitive application process.

In total, the program awarded $11 million in grants to 32 businesses and organizations throughout the state. Grant recipients represent underserved communities across Illinois, as defined by the Community Development Block Grant program.

Individual applicants were eligible to receive up to $500,000 per project, and the amount of the award is based on anticipated costs associated with meeting project requirements and bond guidelines.

A list of Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure grant recipients can be found here.

SPRINGFIELD – An expanded vote by mail program signed into law today will ensure Illinoisans can exercise their right to vote without compromising their health and safety, State Senator Michael E. Hastings (D-Tinley Park) said.

“Though the state of Illinois has made tremendous strides in flattening the curve, it is not realistic to expect everyone will be comfortable with going to the polls this November,” Hastings said. “We had to take the health and safety of our people into account, and I feel we arrived at a commonsense solution to expand access to the ballot box.”

Under Senate Bill 1863 any person who has voted in the past two years — in the 2018 General Election, 2019 Consolidated Election or 2020 Primary Election — would receive an application for a vote-by-mail ballot in their mailbox. It can then be filled out and mailed to your election commission, or there will be instructions for making the request electronically.

Voters will also retain the choice to vote in person via early voting or on Election Day, which would be a state holiday for 2020.

“Those who feel comfortable voting in person should absolutely do so,” Hastings said. “The point of this legislation is to simply ensure no one feels pressured into unnecessarily putting their personal health and safety at risk.”

This legislation is effective immediately.

CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is applauding an expansion to the state’s vote-by-mail program becoming law after Gov. JB Pritzker signed it Tuesday.

“Since everyone deserves the right to be healthy, it’s critical that we figure out a way to help people stay healthy while they exercise their right to participate in the democratic process,” Peters said. “Voting by mail is a safe, convenient way for folks to have their voices heard without having to worry about contracting COVID-19.”

The vote-by-mail expansion is part of a larger election package legislators passed in May to address specific concerns regarding voting during a global pandemic. Under the new law, local election authorities must automatically send vote-by-mail applications to everyone under their jurisdiction who voted in the 2018 general, 2019 consolidated, or 2020 primary elections, or who registered to vote after the 2020 primary.

“Many people don’t realize they even have the option to vote by mail, so automatically sending applications will help give people who are worried about getting sick while voting some peace of mind,” Peters said.

The law is effectively immediately and applies only to the 2020 General Election.