SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is encouraging incoming students to take advantage of Common App – a tool to apply for multiple Illinois colleges at once.

“Common App makes college more accessible by making the application process less tedious and stressful,” Turner said. “Illinois’ best and brightest now have a streamlined and simplified process to apply to all public universities in our great state, like the University of Illinois Springfield.”

Incoming students applying to college will now be able to submit applications to any of Illinois’ 12 public universities and dozens of private institutions using just one form on commonapp.org. Once a student makes a Common App account, they will be asked to confirm which schools they’d like to apply to and review the admission requirements for those schools. They’ll then submit their application on the website, where they’ll be able to track its status.

Low-income students and their families can apply for a waiver to help cover the application cost. Over the last two years, more than 470,000 students using Common App across the country were granted a fee waiver.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) held a press conference Tuesday morning to celebrate the passage of a measure to extend the Enos Park Tax Increment Financing District for another 12 years.

“The Enos Park TIF has been instrumental in revitalizing a Springfield neighborhood and has been a great tool in the expansion of the Mid-Illinois Medical District,” Turner said “Neighborhoods that were once an eyesore and full of blight and despair are now home to young families and home rehabilitation success stories.”

SPRINGFIELD –State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) attended two events in the 48^th district Wednesday where she provided more than 400 meals to community members. 

Turner first attended a senior ministry event at the Salvation Army Clear Lake Corps in Springfield, providing 200 meals alongside members of the Greater All Nations Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Senior Luncheon. She then visited the Boys & Girls Club of Decatur, where she and her staff distributed 200 meals to families dropping off their children.

CARLINVILLE – On Thursday, State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) visited MJM Electric Cooperative in Carlinville. MJM provides power to members in Macoupin, Jersey, and Montgomery Counties.

The new facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that can tell the dispatchers at headquarters each utility pole position and its current status in the middle of a significant weather event. If a pole were to fall due to strong winds, the dispatcher can see the update in real time and send a lineman out to fix the pole.

Senator Turner also toured the newly completed community room, equipped with a full kitchen, available for rent to any community organization.

“I enjoyed meeting with Laura and everyone at MJM,” Turner said. “The smartboard technology employed at MJM will cut outage response times dramatically.”

Turner plans additional tours of businesses and facilities throughout the district she represents. Interested organizations can contact her office at 217-782-0228 or by email at www.senatordoristurner.com.

Photo: State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) poses outside with MJM Electric Cooperative CEO, Laura Cutler, Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.

SPRINGFIELD – Agricultural sciences will now be added as a type of course that may be counted towards the requirement for three years of sciences in order to gain admission to an Illinois public university under a plan backed by State Senator Doris Turner’s (D-Springfield).

“This is simply an effort to highlight the importance of agricultural science,” said Turner. “It is my hope that students are encouraged to work and study in the field now that we’ve expanded our current curricula to include specialized sciences.”

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois students with learning disabilities who historically would have been sent to out-of-state schools will now have the opportunity of gaining an in-state education thanks to a plan backed by State Senator Doris Turner’s (D-Springfield)

“We have a responsibility as a state to protect our most vulnerable residents,” Turner said. “This duty means protecting our students and putting their needs first. I hope this law meets the needs of every student in this state while ensuring them a safe learning environment.”

SPRINGFIELD – Following a weekly phone conference with Montgomery County and its Community Risk Committee, State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) released the following statement urging Montgomery County residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine as cases rise in the area:

“I’d strongly encourage those of you who haven’t already done so to go out and get vaccinated. Even though the state has entered Phase 5 of Illinois Restored, COVID-19 is still here. Many people are now being exposed to the more infectious variant, so we must work together to protect ourselves and our families.

“Getting vaccinated is the first step toward us getting back to our normal lives. It breaks my heart that so many lives were lost over this past year and we’re starting to see cases on the rise again in the Montgomery County area. This is still very real and very serious, so we must fight this disease together. I implore you to please go out and get vaccinated.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority announced two grants totaling more than $340,000 for organizations in Springfield and Decatur to offer pro-social activities that may reduce violence and victimization or provide increased street intervention to young people and emerging adults aged 10 to 25 this summer.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for young people in these areas,” Turner said. “I’ve been working to address the root causes of violence since the start of my political career. I’m so proud of the work done on this initiative. These grants will increase programming, job opportunities, and provide safe spaces for our kids.”