GARFIELD PARK – On Halloween night, a tragic drive-by shooting in Garfield Park injured 14 people, including three children, in addition to a woman who was hit by the driver while trying to escape the shooting. In response, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) issued the following statement:

“I mourn with my community after yet another senseless shooting. It pains me that on Halloween night, a group of peaceful individuals could not even hold a vigil for their late loved one without fearing for their own safety.

“We cannot continue to live in a state of perpetual fear. It is extremely disheartening and exhausting to see shooting after shooting. We are fighting for the soul of our city. How heartless must you be to shoot a child? To shoot up a vigil?

“I remain committed to ending the gun violence epidemic. I am meeting with local officials to see what support we can provide to the community so that we can reduce the chances of this tragic situation from happening again.”

SPRINGFIELD – During National Diabetes Month, State Senator Doris Turner is urging residents to take their health into their own hands by educating themselves and others on detection and available resources to help combat the disease.

According to the American Diabetes Association, in Illinois more than 1.3 million people have diabetes, which is 12.8% of the population.

“There is a significant chance that you have a loved one, friend or neighbor that has been diagnosed with diabetes,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “During National Diabetes Month, we must raise awareness and educate ourselves on available treatment, resources and possible dangers of this condition.”

LITCHFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner joined Deputy Governor Andy Manar and community stakeholders Monday to announce the award of $8.6 million for a new South-Central Illinois Training & Innovation Center.

The funding will be used to redevelop a warehouse in the City of Litchfield’s Industrial Park and will create a regional training center, providing Career and Technical Training for school districts in Montgomery & Macoupin Counties. The center is expected to launch in fall of 2023.

“We are laying the groundwork for helping people in Litchfield and across Central Illinois meet their full potential and receive the training they need to land a good-paying job,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Ensuring that centers for career and technical education have state-of-the-art facilities is essential for us to build a vibrant economy in our own backyard. I am thrilled to support this amazing opportunity for Montgomery and Macoupin County families, businesses and communities.”

The Center will offer training to both high school students as well as displaced workers located in the region. In partnership with Lincoln Land Community College and Lewis and Clark Community College, students will have the opportunity to earn college credits and industry credentials while still in high school – helping them meet the needs of regional workforce demands while preparing them for postsecondary success.

CHICAGO – Nearly $3 million in new funding is available to help counties, municipalities, non-profit organizations and promotional groups revitalize Illinois’ tourism industry by promoting events, destinations and tourist attractions, thanks to support from State Senator Sara Feigenholtz. 

The Illinois Travel and Tourism Grant Program will match up to $100,000 in project funds to drive tourism activity across the state by investing in marketing and promotional projects, including media production costs, billboards, trade shows, website development and more. 

“Illinois has a great story for visitors from around the country, we need to get out there and tell it,” said Feigenholtz (D-Chicago). “Marketing dollars available through DCEO will help convention and visitors' bureaus and local governments update their pitch and image so that Illinois is next on everyone's travel list.” 

CHICAGO - Senate Democrats joined the Illinois State Board of Education to celebrate the 2022 Illinois State School Report Card at J. Sterling Morton High School this afternoon. Gov. Pritzker and State Senators Lightford and Villa were in attendance and spoke at the press conference.

The 2022 Illinois State School Report Card indicated that every demographic in Illinois experienced accelerated growth in both English language arts and math, outpacing pre-pandemic levels. Children in grades 4 and 8 scored above the national average in reading and math, and high schoolers showed the highest graduation rate in over a decade.

“Illinois has taken monumental steps in ensuring that all children receive quality education that prioritizes their needs,” said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood). “Today’s news is a positive step toward making education equitable and no longer letting ZIP codes determine the quality of a student’s education.”

NAPERVILLE – State Senators Laura Ellman and Suzy Glowiak Hilton announced Thursday the Health Equity Response Team (HEART) of the DuPage County Health Department has been awarded the ARISE grant to implement health equity strategies.

Activating Relationships in Illinois for Systemic Equity (ARISE) is a joint initiative of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Center for Minority Health Services and The Center for Rural Health, in collaboration with Well-Being and Equity (WE) in the World.

“The COVID-19 pandemic increased health disparities and inequalities in our most vulnerable communities,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “It is important that community organizations such as the Health Equity and Response Team within DuPage County Public Health are empowered in their efforts to close the gap.”

CHICAGO – State Senator Bill Cunningham encourages Chicago residents to show appreciation to emergency personnel this Friday, Oct. 28 to celebrate First Responders Day.

“First responders put their lives on the line to protect us,” said Cunningham, a Democrat who represents portions of Chicago and the Southwest Suburbs. “This Friday, and every day, these courageous individuals deserve our appreciation.”

This day specifically thanks 911 dispatchers, as well as firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics for their commitment to Illinois public safety.

CHICAGO – State Senator Celina Villanueva is encouraging homeowners who struggled with paying their mortgage due to the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of an upcoming mortgage assistance program that will open applications on Tuesday, Nov. 1.

“This program will allow Illinois homeowners the opportunity to financially recover from the impact the pandemic has left on them,” said Villanueva (D-Chicago). “Homeowners should not have to struggle to make mortgage payments due to a global pandemic that shut down the world and immensely impacted the economy. Providing a solution to this financial hardship is a means of getting families back to a financially stable and secure position."

The Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund, administered by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, will provide up to $30,000 in mortgage assistance to eligible homeowners — paid directly to the servicer, taxing body or other approved entity — while homeowners work to regain their financial footing. Whether homeowners have a mortgage, a reverse mortgage, or are mortgage-free, the program can fund past due housing payments and up to three months of prospective mortgage payments.