CHICAGO—As a result of an infrastructure package backed by Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-Chicago), the 17th District will see $258 million in infrastructure projects during the six-year span of the plan, with $24 million in road improvements set to begin in the next year.

“This is a meaningful investment to preserve local roads and bridges,” Sims said. “We are taking a responsible approach to not only address safety and traffic issues, but to prevent them before they arise.”

The largest project will be overlaying work in Crete and Beecher. It will cost $5.5 million and involve repairing deficiencies and resurfacing roads.

Another $4.3 million project will span Lynwood and Glenwood. It will include widening the road, bi-directing a left turn lane and improvements to help people with disabilities.

Burnham will see $1.6 million worth of bridge repairs and maintenance.

A $1.2 million project will also be done in Burnham and Calumet City. It will include surface maintenance at the right time (SMART) overlaying work, which is resurfacing an area that has previously had an overlay before major repairs are needed. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, if it is done at the right time, it can prevent serious distress. This project will also involve improvements for people with disabilities.

"Aside from making our roads safer, these projects will provide quality jobs and help people recover from the financial impact of the pandemic,” Sims said.

Passed in 2019, the historic and bipartisan Rebuild Illinois plan is the largest capital program in state history. In its first year, the program improved 1,706 miles of roadway, and repaired or reconstructed 128 bridges across Illinois.

IDOT’s complete Multi-Year Plan can be found on its website.

CHAMPAIGN – In an effort to recruit and support future educators, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is excited to announce nine local schools will receive Education Career Pathways Grants from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Teachers play an important role in our society and have the power to bring about change in a student’s life,” Bennett said. “This grant is an opportunity to support diversity in the teaching workforce, which will contribute to students’ desire to learn and overall performance in the classroom.”

The Education for Employment System #330 in Champaign has been awarded $85,450, which will be distributed to nine high schools in Champaign County to assist these schools in developing Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs to prepare students for careers in education.

CTE programs help students develop technical and employability skills while strengthening their core academic abilities to enable them to pursue higher education opportunities and succeed in the workforce. Students in CTE programs also have the opportunity to earn dual credit or credentials and certifications from partner institutions before graduating high school.

The programs will place a special focus on recruiting underrepresented students into education careers to help meet the high demand for teachers of color across Illinois.

Nearly $2 million in total funding has been awarded to 11 Education for Employment Systems statewide to recruit and support future educators at 62 high schools and vocational centers across the state. For a full list of grant recipients or to learn more about career and college readiness programs in Illinois, visit www.ISBE.net/CTE.

WHO: State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights), State Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights)
WHAT: Community Blood Drive
WHEN: 3-7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020
WHERE: Heritage Park, 506 W. Victoria Ln., Arlington Heights, IL 60005

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – State Senator Ann Gillespie and State Rep. Mark Walker are partnering with Versiti Blood Center of Illinois to host a community blood drive at Heritage Park next Thursday, Aug. 6.

“We currently face a nationwide shortage of blood and platelets,” Gillespie said. “As hospitals reopen for elective surgeries, their blood supply is more vital than ever. Please help our front-line medical workers by making an appointment to give blood.”

"Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen our communities step up time and again for each other,” Walker said. “This blood drive is another way to do that. I'm proud to partner with Senator Gillespie to do what we can to help alleviate the critical blood shortage we are experiencing.”

Appointments are preferred, however walk-ins can be seen if social distancing allows. Blood donors should make an appointment online at bit.ly/BloodDrive-8-6-20.

ROCKFORD – To provide assurance to residents that are concerned about potential identity theft after recent claims of fraudulent unemployment cards, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is asking Rockford residents who believe they’ve been a victim to file a report with Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“During this time of so much uncertainty, it’s sad that people are being taken advantage of,” Stadelman said. “If you believe you’ve been a victim of this scam, you can help other Illinoisans by filing a report with IDES. We need to hold these scammers accountable.”

Recent reports have shown Illinoisans have been receiving KeyBank debit cards and unemployment letters in the mail, despite never applying for benefits. According to IDES, individuals who received these mailings may be targets of fraud.

After receiving these reports, IDES launched an investigation into a national fraud scheme targeting claimants to the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program. IDES said unclear federal guidelines quickly developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, making claimants vulnerable to these scams. IDES also said this scheme is not associated to the PUA program issue experienced in May.

IDES employees are now working with people whose identities have possibly been stolen. The department is also working with local and federal law authorities to track down and prosecute those committing fraud.

Individuals who have received debit cards in the mail without applying for benefits should call IDES immediately at 1-800-814-0513 to report identity theft. Do not activate the debit card.

Victims of fraud are also encouraged to check their credit reports for possible suspicious activity, post a fraud alert and visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website for helpful tips on recognizing and reporting identity theft.

CHICAGO – Assistant Majority Leader Iris Y. Martinez (D-Chicago) is excited to announce the Illinois Department of Transportation is investing over $2 million to repair more than five miles of Pulaski Road.

“By investing in our state’s infrastructure, Illinois is supporting working families and residents who depend on reliable transportation,” Martinez said. “It’s also creating construction jobs at a time when our economic future needs a strong push forward.”

The $2.87 million investment will cover two separate stretches of Pulaski Road – one running from Devon Avenue to Barry Avenue and one from Diversey Avenue to North Avenue, for a total of 5.69 miles.

The Pulaski upgrades are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan to maintain and expand Illinois’ transportation infrastructure. Another area project scheduled for the upcoming year involves preserving more than two miles of Montrose Avenue.

MARYVILLE – With construction slated to begin in the next year, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) is announcing more than $6 million in state investments for road projects within her district.

“By investing in our local infrastructure, our state is committing to the transportation needs of Metro East residents,” Crowe said. “Ensuring reliable transportation for seniors, working families and students while creating construction jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic is a start to getting our local economies back on track.”

Totaling more than $6.4 million, 10 major projects are scheduled to begin on local highways in Crowe’s district by next summer. The projects are listed by county below:

Madison County

• Replace bridge on Albers Lane over Rocky Branch Creek in Bethalto
• Restore 0.14 miles of North Prairie Street from Corbin Street to Williams Street in Bethalto
• Reconstruct intersection of Sugar Loaf Road and Illinois Route 157 in Collinsville
• Restore 0.34 miles of pavement on North Buchanan Street from East Union Street to Hillsboro Avenue in Edwardsville
• Restore 0.34 miles of pavement on Keebler Road from Illinois Route 162 to Old Keebler Road in Glen Carbon
• Restore 0.2 miles of pavement on Johnson Road from Terrace Lane to Nameoki Road in Granite City
• Restore 0.47 miles of Wood River Avenue from Eckhard Avenue to Ferguson Avenue in Wood River

St. Clair County

• Restore 0.18 miles of pavement and repair sidewalks on Morris Street from Illinois Route 157 to 2nd Street in Caseyville
• Improve intersection of Hartman Lane and Central Park Drive in O’Fallon
• Restore 0.32 miles of pavement on Venita Drive from Taylor Road to the entrance of the O’Fallon Sports Park

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Multi-Year Plan will invest $21.3 billion to improve the state’s infrastructure over the next six years. Projects included in the program were selected based on objective criteria, such as pavement conditions, traffic volumes and crash history.

Collins calls for comprehensive approach to end violence

CHICAGO — In the wake of a mass shooting at a Gresham funeral that wounded at least 15 people, State Senator Jacqueline Y. Collins (D-Chicago) expressed her support of the victims, asked those with knowledge of the crime to come forward and called for city and state government to act to address the root causes of violence.

“We face two pandemics in Chicago. Both spread and perpetuate themselves. And we already know how to end both,” Collins said. “We know the solution to the coronavirus is to bring our resources to bear to support public health and follow the science. We know that to end the pandemic of violence we need to stem the flow of guns, drugs and gangs, and address the poverty, disenfranchisement and criminalization of communities of color in Chicago.”

Read more.

Bush warns of IDES debit card fraud

GRAYSLAKE — State Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) is warning Illinoisans about possible unemployment debit card fraud after multiple reports of people receiving cards they didn’t apply for.

“There are so many people struggling to get legitimate unemployment benefits right now,” Bush said. “It’s sickening that there are people taking advantage of other people’s problems to perpetrate scams at a time like this.”

Read more.

Gillespie brings Medicaid Working Group to safety-net hospitals

CHICAGO — State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) welcomed legislators and staff to tour two safety-net hospitals last week. Attendees included members of the bipartisan Legislative Medicaid Working Group and Senate leadership.

“Our working group and Senate leaders were able to see first-hand the important role of safety-net hospitals and the work they do for underserved communities,” Gillespie said. “The patients served by safety-net hospitals are largely uninsured or are covered by Medicaid or Medicare; as a result, safety-net hospitals often look beyond traditional health care to addressing social determinants of care to better serve their communities.”

Read more.

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NAPERVILLE – To support more young people entering the field of education, State Senator Laura Ellman (D-Naperville) is announcing that two local high schools are set to receive an Education Career Pathways Grants from the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Educators play some of the most import roles in our society. They prepare our children for the future,” Ellman said. “That’s why these grants are so important. They will help future educators develop the skills they need to be as effective as possible.”

DuPage Area Occupational Education System has been awarded nearly $250,000 that will be split between seven schools, including Wheaton North High School and Wheaton Warrenville South High School to help with developing Career and Technical Education programs to prepare students for careers in education.

CTE programs help students develop technical and employability skills while strengthening their core academic abilities to enable them to pursue higher education opportunities and succeed in the workforce. Students in CTE programs also have the opportunity to earn dual credit or credentials and certifications from partner institutions prior to high school graduation.

The programs will place a special focus on recruiting underrepresented students into education careers to help meet the high demand for teachers of color across Illinois.

“Students are successful when their teachers are successful,” Ellman said. “It’s time that we start investing in them.”

Nearly $2 million in total funding has been awarded to 11 Education for Employment Systems statewide to recruit and support future educators at 62 high schools and vocational centers across the state. For a full list of grant recipients or to learn more about career and college readiness programs in Illinois, visit www.ISBE.net/CTE.