CHICAGO – After conflicting reports regarding an officer-involved shooting sparked confusion and violence in the city, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is calling for transparency.

“As I’ve said before, there is a big difference between those who protest in the streets for justice, and those who are looting for opportunity,” Van Pelt said. “There are people grieving the disparities in our community, questioning the credibility of the police after they shot yet another Black man. In many cases, these people are not the same as the looters.”

Though it has been reported that Latrell Allen shot at officers first, many Black Chicagoans still question the credibility of the Chicago Police Department’s account. Despite mandatory body camera policies, there is currently no video evidence of the incident. Allen’s public defender claims he was shot in the back, which is a narrative all too familiar in the longstanding case against police brutality and Black men — including the deaths of Rayshard Brooks and Walter Scott.

More than 100 people were arrested Monday following the looting of various store fronts downtown. Englewood residents fed up with the looting blocked Black Lives Matter protesters when they entered the neighborhood Tuesday, stating that protestors will amp up tensions with the police, but won’t be there when it’s time for Englewood residents to deal with the backlash.

“Tensions were already high due to stress and issues stemming from coronavirus, not to mention police brutality,” Van Pelt said. “We have a desperate need for more transparency between local authorities and civilians. We have a desperate need to come together, to love each other, to put an end to the nonsense. I am working every day to bring together these gaps, to dispel the inequities that have been debasing our city.”

Allen, 20, has been charged with attempted first degree murder and is recovering at the University of Chicago Medical Center. The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating the officer-involved shooting. Another protest against police brutality is expected to take place Saturday.

PLAINFIELD — To help business owners who have faced financial uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) announced more than 25 local business in Will and Kendall Counties will receive assistance through the Business Interruption Grant Program. 

“Small businesses owners are dealing with a lot of uncertainties,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “Our small businesses play a vital role in our communities, and I am pleased many have been awarded assistance to keep their doors open.”

A total of 26 business in Will and Kendall Counties received a combined $420,000. Each business received between $10,000 and $20,000 to be used to help with working capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, training and new technology.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a total of $46 million to 2,655 small businesses in the first round of BIG funding. The BIG program offers grants to Illinois restaurants and bars, barbershops and salons, and fitness centers that have suffered pandemic-related losses, with a focus on businesses in the hardest-hit areas of the state.

To ensure ongoing support for Illinois small businesses, the State of Illinois has planned future rounds of funding, including a special program for child care providers. The application deadline for the child care program is Aug. 14.

The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the COVID-19 economic downturn. The full list of grant recipients is available here.

GLENVIEW – To support small business owners as they adapt to new health and safety guidelines, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) announced 56 local businesses will receive a combined $930,000 through the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program.

“With our state in recovery mode, these grants will give business owners the boost they need to reopen in a way that’s safe for staff and customers,” said Fine. “BIG funding can help get our local economy back on its feet without sacrificing our progress in the fight against COVID-19.”

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a total of $46 million to 2,655 small businesses in the first round of BIG funding. The BIG program offers grants to Illinois restaurants and bars, barbershops and salons, and fitness centers that have suffered pandemic-related losses, with a focus on businesses in the hardest-hit areas of the state.

First round grants range from $10,000 to $20,000 and may be used to help businesses with working capital expenses, including payroll costs, rent and utilities. The funds may also be used to cover pandemic-related expenses, such as personal protective equipment, training and new technology.

“This first round of funding is a step toward ensuring a total recovery for our small business community,” said Fine. “I encourage everyone to shop local when possible to help our main streets bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis.”

To ensure ongoing support for small businesses, the State of Illinois has planned future rounds of funding. The BIG program is the largest state-run economic support program formed in response to the COVID-19 economic downturn. The full list of grant recipients is available here.

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is highlighting small business grants the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is awarding to Rockford businesses and other small business communities across the state that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19-related losses and closures.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of my community and of our state,” Stadelman said. “They need this grant money to survive and I’m proud that we are doing everything possible at the state level to help our small business community stay afloat.”

The grants are the first round of the Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program. The state program will award funds to businesses that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a large portion of the grants being awarded to child care providers.

The first round of grants range from $10,000-$20,000 and can be used to help businesses with expenses like payroll costs, rent, utilities, equipment and other possible unexpected costs to relieve the effects of the pandemic, such as PPE, training, and new technology.

“This pandemic has hit smaller and minority owned businesses especially hard,” Stadelman said. “That’s why the program is ensuring that these businesses take priority when grants are being awarded.”  

The first round of awards includes a diverse group of businesses and focuses on small businesses. Recipients are required to prove annual revenues of $3 million or lower.

A list of grant recipients can be found here.

CHICAGO – In response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state’s economy and more specifically, Illinois’ transportation and infrastructure system and workforce, State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, led a virtual hearing focused on transparency and diversity goals as it relates to contracts with the Illinois Tollway Authority. 

Among those who gave testimony to the committee were representatives from the Illinois Tollway Authority, the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, the African American Contractors Association, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association, the Federation of Women Contractors, and the Asian American Contractors Enterprise.

CHAMPAIGN – In a victory for the Champaign-Urbana business community, Business Interruption Grants have been awarded to 50 local businesses severely impacted by the COVID-19 closures, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced Thursday.

“Our small business community continues to be hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis,” Bennett said. “These grants offer assistance to businesses at a time they need it most, and hopefully will allow them to get back on their feet.”

Businesses from the Champaign-Urbana area received a combined $910,000 in grants. Grant recipients span a wide range of industries, including restaurants, retail, personal care services and more.

SPRINGFIELD – To restore the public’s trust in their elected officials in light of recent allegations of corruption within the Illinois government, State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) joined her colleagues in the House and Senate to support a set of measures to overhaul ethics laws in Illinois.

The legislative package includes nine proposals to increase transparency in all levels of state government. The lawmakers gathered Thursday to call on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to consider recommending the measures in their final report.

“Government officials should be working for their constituents, not themselves,” said Fine. “These steps have the potential to create long-term change to root out corruption and dishonesty in our state government.”

SPRINGFIELD – In response to ongoing federal investigations surrounding Illinois government, State Senator Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is calling on the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform to consider including in their final report sweeping measures that would overhaul ethics laws in Illinois.

Manar has spent his career in Springfield advocating for stronger ethics laws, sponsoring a 2017 piece of legislation that closed loopholes allowing Cabinet-level appointees of the Illinois governor to use official positions to campaign for candidates. Additionally, he was a Senate sponsor on a 2019 piece of legislation that created the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform.