KANKAKEE – Kankakee Community College has been selected to receive a grant for more than $67,000 from the Illinois Secretary of State to develop their adult literacy program, State Senator Patrick Joyce (D-Park Forest) announced Friday.

“The importance of literacy cannot be overstated,” Joyce said. “During these challenging times, helping someone read and write effectively or acquire basic math skills will give them the tools to take steps toward a better career and a better life.”

According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 13,500 students will be served by adult literacy programs throughout Illinois. Supported by $5.6 million in state funds, the programs will depend on nearly 6,000 volunteer tutors to provide skills training for students.

Adult literacy projects focus on improving reading, writing and math and are targeted at Illinois adults who read below the ninth-grade level or speak English at a beginning level.

Joyce urges skilled tutors interested in volunteering to contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 800-321-9511.

CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is pleased to congratulate three area education institutions who received more than $200,000 total in literacy grants to help adult learners develop their reading, math, writing and English-language skills.

“Literacy is fundamental to learning and cannot be taken for granted,” Bennett said. “These programs present a wonderful opportunity for volunteer tutors to help others improve their lives through literacy and education.”

The following education institutions within the 52^nd Illinois Senate District have been chosen to receive grants:

According to the Secretary of State’s office, more than 13,500 students will be served by adult literacy programs throughout Illinois. Supported by $5.6 million in state funds, the programs will depend on nearly 6,000 volunteer tutors to provide skills training for students.

Adult literacy projects focus on improving reading, writing and math and are targeted at Illinois adults who read below the ninth-grade level or speak English at a beginning level.

Bennett urges skilled tutors interested in volunteering to contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 800-321-9511.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) applauds the signing of legislation aimed at providing funding to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new law brings an additional $450 million to safety-net hospitals, prioritizing the institutions that serve a high number of Medicaid patients.

“I thank Governor J.B. Pritzker for signing this legislation that brings certainty to health care providers and the low-income clients they serve,” Aquino said. “The additional money will be vital to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.”

The law also increases Medicaid rates for physician services to $150 million annually, an effort to incentivize more health care providers to see low-income Medicaid patients. Under the plan, 24 Safety-Net Hospitals will receive an additional $81.2 million, and 51 Critical Access Hospitals will receive an additional $14 million.

“In a time of crisis, we should respond by protecting our most vulnerable,” Aquino said. “Many Black and Brown residents are essential workers, putting them at a higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19. These Illinoisans need to know that if they need to seek care, there will be properly equipped hospitals in their communities,” Aquino said.

The Hospital Assessment Program is a $3.8 billion program that will bring $450 million in additional funding to health institutions that care for underserved clients and leverage $250 million federal dollars for the state.

SPRINGFIELD – In response to House Speaker Mike Madigan’s call for the removal of Stephen Douglas’ statue from the Illinois Capitol grounds, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) has suggested it be replaced with a statue of Barack Obama to honor our nation’s first Black president.

“We have nothing that commemorates our first Black president, who started his political career here in Illinois,” Jones said. “We have countless statues that honor military and political leaders who fought to preserve slavery. Why not replace this one with Barack, a Black man who tried to lift Black voices in communities across the nation?”

Although Stephen A. Douglas was a Democrat, he owned slaves in Mississippi and held deeply racist views about people of color. Douglas also supported the 1857 ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, which stated that enslaved people did not become free when taken into free states like Illinois.

More than 1,700 U.S. memorials honor Confederates who fought to preserve slavery or the Confederacy. In June 2015, white supremacist Dylann Roof shot and killed nine African Americans at a historically black church in Charleston, S.C. In the aftermath of the mass murder, as photos emerged of Roof posing with the Confederate flag, activists started a nationwide movement to remove public tributes to Confederate heroes.

In June, George Floyd’s death at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer sparked a widespread movement against social injustice and police brutality, inspiring protestors across the world to renew calls to remove monuments of slave traders and imperialists, including Christopher Columbus, Cecil Rhodes and Belgium’s King Leopold II.

“People like Stephen Douglas need not be glorified, and especially not on government grounds,” Jones said. “Of course, we cannot change our past, but we can make an effort to move forward and honor people who support people of all racial backgrounds.”

SPRINGFIELD - Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford released the following statement on news that Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed Kristin Richards, current Chief of Staff to the Senate President, to serve as the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security on Thursday:

“Congratulations to Kristin Richards on being chosen as director of IDES! I commend Gov. Pritzker for seeking out talent with proven experience. I’ve enjoyed working with Kristin in her various management roles with previous administrations and most recently as President Cullerton’s chief of staff. I look forward to supporting her as she takes on this new challenge during this critical time. She’s a true public servant, an inspiration and a powerhouse of a woman. Shine on Kristin!”

CHICAGO – State Senator Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) railed against the most recent Trump administration decision to identify international students who are attending universities with online-only learning and require them to leave the United States or not allow them to enter the country at all.

“This is yet another example of the xenophobic policies advanced by Donald Trump’s administration, and this time his targets are colleges, universities and international exchange students.,” said Feigenholtz, whose district includes DePaul University.

If enacted, this decision could affect more than a million international students who come to the United States to attend universities or participate in other training programs.

On Monday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that international students pursuing degrees in the United States will be required to leave the country or risk deportation if their schools conduct only online courses in the fall.

ICE further stated that the U.S. Department of State would not issue visas to students enrolled in fully-online programs for the fall semester.

"Harvard University and MIT sued the Trump administration Wednesday over the guidance, and I am hoping Illinois colleges and universities will join them. Enough is enough,” Feigenholtz added. “International students are an important part of campus communities, and it’s discriminatory to require them to leave the United States.”

MARYVILLE – The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded 12 organizations with new state grants to support broadband advancements, and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is excited to congratulate Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois as a recipient.

“Because of their experience of drawing private investment and economic advancement, Leadership Council SWIL supports nearly 700,000 residents and more than 250 leaders in business, industry, labor, education and government,” Crowe said. “This grant will allow the Southwestern Illinois region to advance and improve the reliability and consistency of internet connectivity for remote workers, telehealth, and e-learning for students.”

The Illinois Connected Communities grant program was created to support building broadband capacity in some of the most underserved areas with awards up to $15,000.

“The Leadership Council SWIL Education Committee is excited to participate in this this very important Broadband Connectivity planning effort,” said Dr. Ronda Sauget, Executive Director and CEO of Leadership Council SWIL.” It is more critical than ever before to have internet connectivity for remote work, e-learning, telemedicine, agricultural, and so many other sectors. This grant will help us to identify a path for SWIL to move forward.”

The 12-month program enables each Illinois Connected Community to complete a plan for expanding broadband that identifies actions to improve internet access in the areas of community and economic development, education, civic engagement, healthcare, agriculture, and more.

The program directs $150,000 in state-funded small grants for 12 community and local government partners to help improve access to high-speed broadband in their communities.  The state grants will be matched by $150,000 in philanthropic funds.

GRAYSLAKE – After months of working remotely, State Senator Melinda Bush’s district office will reopen to the public on an appointment-only basis beginning Monday.

“To keep community members safe and healthy from COVID-19, we decided to work from home during the height of the pandemic,” the Grayslake Democrat said. “However, while we were still answering emails and phone calls, we recognize and believe people are best served in-person.”

Bush’s office will be open by appointment-only in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19 between both staff and community members.

While it is encouraged to conduct business over the phone, via email or through Zoom, people may still visit the office by making an appointment.

To do so, they may call 847-548-5631 or visit senatormelindabush.com/contact/request-a-meeting . There is also an option on the website to make a Zoom appointment – which is highly encouraged. Walk-ins will not be accepted. Those who are medically able should wear a face covering in an effort to keep everyone in the office – and everyone who visits after them – as safe as possible.

“Opening the office will allow us to better serve the people we represent,” Bush said. “I encourage anyone with questions or concerns related to legislation, COVID-19 or other items to contact my office. We are always happy to help.”

Bush’s office will continue to be available by both phone and email.