CHICAGO – As COVID-19 continues to spread, State Senator Emil Jones, III (D-Chicago) encourages people to get tested if they have symptoms or come in contact with someone who is positive.

“To stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus in our communities, people who have symptoms need to get tested,” Jones said. “The process of being tested for the virus is simple, and there are sites across the state. I encourage people to get tested to prevent them from potentially passing on the virus to others.” 

If a person believes they have been exposed to the virus, they should get tested 5-7 days after exposure – even if they don’t feel ill. Studies have shown that people who are asymptomatic for the virus can still spread it to others, who may become visibly sick and require medical attention. 

Individuals with symptoms that may be COVID-19 should also get tested, even if they don’t believe they need medical care.

Since March, Illinois has tested more than 3.8 million COVID-19 specimens and has continued to expand testing throughout the state.

There are nearly 300 testing sites across the state, including 11 state-operated community-based testing sites and 12 mobile testing teams that conduct tests at facilities experiencing outbreaks – including nursing homes and correctional centers -- and areas around the state reporting increased cases. All state-operated testing facilities are free. 

More information about locations, times, and requirements can be found at www.dph.illinois.gov/testing.

CHAMPAIGN – With less than a month before the U.S. Census Bureau wraps up its counting efforts, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) is urging Champaign County residents to fill out the census if they have not done so, or risk costing their communities vital federal funding over the next 10 years.

“The goal is to get an accurate count of how many people live in a community so we don’t miss out on funding for critical public services,” Bennett said. “Whether it’s on paper, online or on the phone, please fill out the 2020 Census as soon as possible to ensure Champaign County gets its fair share.”

Across Champaign County, participation in the 2020 Census is lower than in the 2010 Census. Only 63% of Champaign residents have completed their census forms this year, as opposed to 70.7% of residents in 2010. In Urbana, just 65.2% of residents have been counted—a decade ago, 67.9% of residents responded. Rantoul is also below target level, with only 62.4% of residents having completed their census forms, versus 68.7% of residents in 2010.

Residents can complete the census for their household at www.my2020census.gov. Higher self-response rates mean fewer individuals are likely to receive visits from census surveyors to be counted in person. This year, census surveyors are putting their and their families’ health at risk of COVID-19, and limiting visits may mean saving lives.

“Health care, schools, and roads and bridges are all impacted by the 2020 Census,” Bennett said. “I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to participate.”

To see response rates across Illinois and the nation, visit www.censushardtocountmaps2020.us. 

CHICAGO — State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) is joining advocate groups and Alderman Jeanette Taylor in calls to make the childhood home of Emmett Till a landmark on the 65^th anniversary of his death. 

“Emmett’s unjust death parallels many today – George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and too many others to count,” Hunter said. “Emmett received no justice for being murdered senselessly, just as others we’ve seen this year that are still waiting for justice. This is why we proclaim, ‘Black Lives Matter’ – because the justice system hasn’t shown us that they do.”

Till was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago, visiting family in Mississippi when he was brutally beaten and killed for allegedly flirting with a white woman on Aug. 28, 1955.

When his body was found days later, it was so disfigured he could only be identified by an initialed ring. His mother’s decision to hold an open casket funeral changed the pace of the Civil Rights Movement, exposing the country to the horrors of racism.

Still, no justice was served for Till. The all-white jury debated for less than an hour before deciding Till’s killers were not guilty. Years later, it was revealed that the woman lied about Till coming on to her.

“We are tired, and we have been for generations. When will it end?” Hunter asked. “The first step to eradicating racism is to be educated about it. If we make Emmett Till’s home a landmark, and share this grave history, we can raise awareness in the hopes that the generation to come will have no more Emmett Tills.”

Last year, the Woodlawn residence where Till grew up was bought by BMW properties, which buys distressed property and sells them as turn-key investments to investors seeking passive rental income. If the home was made an official landmark of the city, it would be prevented from possible demolition or renovation that would dampen its architectural history.

CHICAGO – Earlier this week, the US Department of Energy announced $115 million grants for quantum research centers at two facilitates affiliated with the University of Chicago. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), who represents the area including the university, is excited and hopeful about the future prospects the grants bring to the district as well as the state as a whole.

“These grants are going to put the University of Chicago and the state of Illinois at the forefront of quantum sciences and research,” Peters said. “Much like how the region of California known as ‘Silicon Valley’ became the hub of technological advances, these grants will make Illinois the place to be when it comes to the emerging field of quantum sciences.”

VILLA PARK — To prevent unnecessary danger to seniors in Illinois, State Senator Tom Cullerton (D-Villa Park) is alerting drivers age 75 and older that their driver’s license expiration dates have been extended by one year.

“The one-year extension for our seniors will help delay a visit to the DMV during this awful pandemic,” Cullerton said. “This move will help at-risk DuPage County residents keep their driving privileges and proof of identity without putting their health and safety at risk.”  

In addition to being 75 years of age or older, the driver must have a valid driver's license. Those seniors whose licenses have been suspended or revoked do not qualify for the one-year extension. Eligible drivers should soon receive a letter from the secretary of state as proof that they qualify.

For drivers under age 75, expiration dates for driver’s licenses, ID cards and license plate stickers have been extended until Nov. 1, 2020. Customers who choose to visit a facility must wear a face mask. In addition, customers are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and to be prepared to wait outside in various types of weather.

“There is not an immediate need for this vulnerable population to put themselves at risk,” Cullerton said. “I urge our older populations to take advantage of this extension and stay safe."

Cullerton continues to encourage drivers to visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com to avoid waiting in line and take advantage of online services, including replacements and renewals of registrations, driver’s licenses and ID cards.

CHAMPAIGN – Building on the state’s commitment to support science and technology, the University of Illinois has been selected to receive federal funding for two research institutes focused on artificial intelligence, State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) announced Thursday.

“Researchers at the University of Illinois are addressing some of the most complex and exciting challenges of our time,” Bennett said. “I’m proud to see their work recognized, and I have no doubt that these institutions will drive discovery and innovation for decades to come.”

With these investments, the National Science Foundation will fund the AI Institute for Molecular Discovery, Synthetic Strategy and Manufacturing, also known as the Molecule Maker Lab Institute. In addition, the AI Institute for Future Agricultural Resilience, Management and Sustainability will advance AI research in computer vision, machine learning, soft-object manipulation and intuitive human-robot interaction to solve major agricultural challenges.

The funding comes from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Each of the new institutes will receive about $20 million over five years.

CHICAGO – With many older adults heavily Impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, State Senator Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) wants to highlight a recent announcement by the secretary of state’s office that all valid driver’s licenses held by Illinoisans who are 75 years of age or older have been extended by one year.

“It’s important to ensure the health and safety of everyone in our community,” Martwick said. “Extending licenses allows older adults to maintain social distancing as they are at high risk of complications from COVID-19 during this time.”

As a result, drivers age 75 and older with a 2020 driver’s license expiration date do not need to visit a facility to renew their licenses until shortly before their birthday in 2021.

There are approximately 147,000 drivers age 75 and over with expired or expiring driver’s licenses in 2020. Letters are being sent to drivers that qualify for this extension. The letter should be kept with the qualifying driver as further proof of the one-year extension. In addition, driving records on the secretary of state’s computer system have been updated to show the new 2021 expiration dates for qualified drivers, and law enforcement agencies both state and nationwide have been notified of the extended expiration dates.

In addition to being 75 or older, the driver must have a valid license. Drivers whose licenses are suspended or revoked do not qualify for the one-year extension. All other drivers whose licenses have expired since the beginning of the pandemic have been extended until Nov. 1, 2020.

For those customers who must visit a facility, face masks are required. In addition, these customers are asked to be patient due to heavy volume and to be prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.

Illinois law gives the Illinois secretary of state the authority to extend driver’s license expiration dates. For more information, visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com.