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Turner celebrates ribbon cutting at SCHEELS Sports Park

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Doris Turner celebrated the opening of the new SCHEELS Sports Park complex Tuesday. Projections indicate the facility will attract 250,000 annual visitors, generate an estimated $25 million in annual economic activity, and bring a significant boost to Springfield’s tourism industry. The new complex will also allow youth in Springfield and the surrounding area to access new, state-of-the-art sports facilities that provide opportunities for healthy physical activity and community engagement.

“The SCHEELS Sports Park development has been years in the making, but it’s not just a park — it will serve as a premier destination for a wide range of family-friendly and community events,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We are seeing hundreds of people, from athletes to spectators to organizers, come to Springfield for tournaments each weekend, boosting our local economy and bringing in tourism dollars. This facility will have a lasting effect on the Springfield community for decades to come.”

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Cervantes measure to slash parking mandates and boost affordable housing

CHICAGO – State Senator Javier Loera Cervantes is leading a transformative piece of housing legislation that will rein in excessive parking requirements imposed by municipalities and remove a key barrier to building more homes for working families.

“Every unnecessary parking space we mandate is a home we aren’t able to build,” said Cervantes (D-Chicago). “This measure is about putting families first and making sure communities have the tools they need to grow, welcome new residents and build housing that people can actually afford.”

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Hunter leads landmark housing bill to tackle affordability crisis

CHICAGO – State Senator Mattie Hunter is leading sweeping legislation that would reform exclusionary zoning laws and open new pathways for affordable, diverse housing across the state.

“Underserved communities across Illinois have been bearing the weight of the housing crisis for years," said Hunter (D-Chicago). “Senate Bill 4060 gives us the tools to build more housing in more places – and to do it in a way that is fair, transparent and enforceable.”

As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s Building Up Illinois Developments – or BUILD – proposal, Hunter is leading Senate Bill 4060.

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Senate Democrats highlight launch of new tax credit to incentivize sustainable filmmaking, boost Illinois’ TV and film industry

CHICAGO – Members of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus celebrated the launch of a first-of-its-kind incentive program to promote environmentally conscious television and filmmaking, positioning Illinois as a nationwide leader in sustainable film production.

“I am proud to support an initiative that brings together innovation, job creation, and environmental responsibility,” said State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin). “Illinois is setting the standard for how states can grow their industries while building a more sustainable future.”

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