SPRINGFIELD – This afternoon, the Illinois Senate Public Health Committee, chaired by Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago), heard from the Illinois Department of Public Health on the status of the response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Illinois.

Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike explained the testing process. First, samples are taken to a state lab. If a result is positive, it is sent to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmation.

IDPH’s turnaround for test results is less than a day, while it can take up to a week for a case to be confirmed by the CDC.

SPRINGFIELD – In honor of the 50th annual Illinois Agriculture Legislative Day, Senate Agriculture Chairman Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) connected with farm, agricultural commodity organizations and other diverse agriculture interest groups at the state Capitol Tuesday.

The day-long event, organized by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, provides groups the opportunity to speak with legislators about industry-related issues, as well as educate them about their own agri-business and role in the community.

Additionally, Illinois FFA members and agricultural instructors assemble and deliver baskets filled with agricultural products to legislators to remind lawmakers of the various aspects agriculture has in the lives of Illinoisans and the impacts their choices make on the world of agriculture.

SPRINGFIELD – Since the demand for behavioral health services has grown and the behavioral health workforce is still experiencing shortages, a task force was created to study the crisis. Findings from the study were shared with State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and the Senate Human Services Committee Tuesday.

“This has been a major concern in Illinois for years, but as a demand for service grows and the workforce diminishes, it has gained an even greater sense of urgency,” Morrison said.

Among the recommendations outlined by the task force was a plan for creating the Illinois Behavioral Health Workforce Education Center to lead a cross-agency, cross-sectorial strategy to improve access to a qualified, diverse workforce.

SPRINGFIELD – Rising tuition costs have made higher education inaccessible to many Illinois students, but State Senators Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) hope to put college back within their reach by expanding grant programs for students in need.

“As high school students begin to explore options for higher education, many are turned off by the rising cost and lack of need-based assistance,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “It is imperative students who want to get an associate’s degree or certificate have the opportunity to do so without going into debt.”

Murphy and Bertino-Tarrant are sponsoring separate measures that would expand grant programs to students entering college.

SPRINGFIELD – To battle increasing suicide rates, State Senator Tom Cullerton advanced a measure to ensure suicide prevention information is readily available to college students.

Cullerton (D-Villa Park) advanced Senate Bill 2495, which requires state public universities and community colleges to publish numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the Crisis Text Line on the back of each student identification card.

“Improving access to mental health resources is a simple step state universities and community colleges can take to save lives,” Cullerton said. “Students are constantly required to use their student ID card to access sporting events, dorm rooms or utilize their meal plan. Ensuring these lifesaving helplines are easily accessible can be the difference between life and death.”

SPRINGFIELD – After a weeklong water shortage at a mobile home park in her district, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is taking action to ensure that residents can count on the owners of their parks to maintain livable conditions.

Last winter, residents of the Blackhawk Estates mobile home park in unincorporated Des Plaines were unable to shower, do laundry or wash dishes after pipes froze, cutting off access to clean running water across the park.

“Water is a vital resource. During the situation in Blackhawk Estates last year, people couldn’t cook, perform household tasks or care for their pets. Without water, their homes became unlivable,” said Murphy. “I want to make sure that it never happens again.”

SPRINGFIELD – A pilot program meant to provide supervision and care to adults and children with developmental disabilities will be expanded and made permanent under a measure sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin).

“Taking care of an individual with developmental disabilities can be a real challenge and many families across the state struggle to do so,” Castro said. “The pilot program proved to be successful in providing services to those in Illinois who really needed it, which is why it should be made permanent and expanded to provide even more assistance.”

SPRINGFIELD – As the heat of summer approaches, some kids are working to make a little bit of cash mowing lawns, babysitting or establishing a lemonade stand outside their home.

Hayli Martinez, an 11-year-old girl from Kankakee, had the perfect idea last summer to sell lemonade with different flavors in order to earn money for her college funds.

However, after much success, her lemonade stand was flagged by Kankakee Health Department officials and it was shut down soon after.