Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura and other legislators have passed Senate Bill 642, which will increase the exemption thresholds for a property tax freeze for seniors on fixed incomes, provide a new property tax repayment plan, and help families manage rising property tax costs.
Governor
Posted inNews
Joliet to lower flags to half-staff to honor local military hero
Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy has requested flags throughout the city to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr., who was one of four U.S. Army soldiers killed in a training accident in Lithuania.
Posted inRegional
Lawsuit challenges credit card fee law
Financial institutions have filed a lawsuit challenging a new state law that would prohibit them from charging fees on the tip and tax portions of debit or credit card transactions, arguing it would disrupt the global systems for debit and credit card purchases.
Posted inRegional
Governor’s Plan to Close Stateville Prison Sparks Concerns for Workers and Local Economy
Representative Avelar (D-85) has released a statement on the Governor’s plan to close Stateville Prison, calling for transparency, stakeholder engagement, and an equitable transition for affected staff, and urging the community to engage with the process.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Governor, hospital leaders urge hospitals to postpone non-emergency surgeries during Omicron Surge
To prepare for a likely surge of post-holiday Omicron COVID-19 cases and to prepare for a potential shortage of staffed ICU beds, Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association are urging hospitals to take every possible measure to maintain and expand bed capacity, including postponing non-emergency surgeries and other procedures as needed and without risking patient harm.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
USF joins State program to help recruit, retain teachers of color
There are 24 Illinois colleges and universities, including the University of St. Francis (USF) that have volunteered for a pilot program to develop plans to recruit and retain future teachers of color. According to The Illinois State Board of Education (SBE), the pilot will help establish best practices ahead of ISBE requiring all 54 Illinois educator preparation programs to develop plans next year. “The diversity of Illinois is one of our state’s greatest strengths – including in our classrooms,” said Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. “By recruiting faculty of color who share their students’ lived experiences or expand their perspectives, our schools can empower more students to achieve their goals and pursue their passions. This pilot program is just the beginning of ISBE’s recruitment efforts, and I commend the leadership of the 24 colleges and universities who have volunteered to spearhead this initiative with us.” “I applaud the 24 colleges and universities that have volunteered to lead the way in breaking down barriers for people of color to join the teaching profession,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen I. Ayala. “All students, and especially students of color, benefit from having diverse educators throughout their school experiences. My own mentors in my career have been people of color like me. When the role models and people in positions of authority in our lives look like us, that shapes our perception of our place in the world in a positive and powerful way.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Pritzker signs Congressional Maps that preserve minority representation
SPRINGFIELD — After reviewing the General Assembly’s congressional maps drawn with 2020 U.S. Census data, Governor JB Pritzker signed the new U.S. House district map that reflects Illinois’ diversity and preserves minority representation in Illinois’ delegation in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Commentary, Community, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., Economy, Featured, Health, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Coronavirus Task Force, NNPA Newswire, Op-Ed, Politics
OP-ED: Keeping Our Access to Healthcare
NNPA NEWSWIRE — The healthcare system has long been inequitable – low-income individuals, people of color, and those without means, time, or money to travel to a physical facility, face significant challenges in getting the care they need. This situation worsened as the world shut down last year.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Gov. JB Pritzker announces the $1.2 billion plan to overhaul Interstate 80 in 2019, surrounded by local state officials
State officials visited Will County on Monday to recommit to a six-year plan aimed at a complete overhaul of the Interstate 80 corridor. Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation joined by local officials introduced the six-year plan to rebuild Interstate 80 in Will County. Made possible by the Governor’s, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program, the $1.2 billion project will replace more than 50-year-old infrastructure on a condensed timeframe and create thousands of construction and permanent jobs while positioning the region for long-term economic opportunity. “We were excited to see Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton, and IDOT Secretary Osman visit Will County to emphasize the critical need for completion of the I-80 project. Getting to the finish line on a project of this scale requires consistent leadership from state and local officials, and we are fortunate to have that support,” said Doug Pryor, vice president of economic development for the Will County Center for Economic Development.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Statewide campaign underway to increase booster shots
With 1.5 million Illinoisans currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccination booster shot and millions more set to become eligible in the coming weeks, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike on Tuesday announced a statewide effort to increase uptake rates.
