Rockford-area schools secure Library grants

Rockford – State Senator Steve Stadelman announced today that Rockford Public School District #205 and Harlem Community Unit School District #122 are set to receive nearly $25,000 in grants given out by Illinois Secretary ofState Jesse White’s School Library Grant program.

“I’m grateful to hear that both Harlem and Rockford school districts will receive these grants,” said Stadelman. “Libraries played an important role for me growing up, and additional funding will be helpful for our libraries to continueupdating their collections for every student to enjoy.”

The grants were awarded based on a per student formula. Rockford Public School District will receive a total of $19,557.00 and Harlem Community School District will receive a total of $4,284.75.

School libraries can use these funds to acquire fiction and/or nonfiction books, educational CDs and DVDs, and library subscriptions to electronic resources, as well as to improve technology by purchasing new computers orimproving Wi-Fi connectivity.

Grant applications for Fiscal Year 2021 are set to be available in August of this year.

Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin

 

 

On behalf of the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus, we want to wish you a happy holiday season and a new year filled with health, happiness and prosperity. With the start of the new year comes more than 250 new laws.

Legalization of adult-use cannabis, an increased minimum wage and new regulations on kennels are just a few recently passed measures that take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Read the full list of new laws here.

Watch our slideshow about the new initiatives here.

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In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Thanks to all the veterans groups and volunteers who organized today's free Christmas dinner
for vets at the VFW Post in Loves Park! Hundreds enjoyed a holiday meal and cheer.
They included 93-year-old Harlow Rosborough, who's a World War II veteran!

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Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin

Stadelman bill protects DNA test results

Illinois residents’ genetic testing results will be protected thanks to legislation co-sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, companies that provide direct-to-consumer commercial genetic testing such as ancestry.com and 23andMe no long can share test results with health or life insurance companies without the consumer’s consent.

"It is important for our laws to keep up with advances in technology," Stadelman said. "Genetic testing has become more affordable in recent years, and people deserve to have their privacy protected."

The number of people who have had their DNA analyzed with direct-to-consumer genetic genealogy tests more than doubled during 2017 and exceeded 12 million in 2018. Last year, an estimated 1 in 25 American adults now have access to personal genetic data.

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New law opens minority business access to state construction jobs

Minority owned business will be required to be included in statewide construction projects under legislation passed in the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker earlier this month.

The new law requires the Department of Management Services (CMS) to automatically certify companies as Business Enterprise Program companies if they are registered with the city of Chicago, Cook County or any other jurisdictions with equal or greater requirements for certification as having minority or female ownership. CMS also now must create a model disparity study to be used by units of local government to examine their total number of minority owned companies and find ways to increase those numbers.

Senate Bill 177 also makes changes to the Illinois Apprenticeship Initiative by requiring contractors to utilize apprentices from the Illinois Pre-Apprenticeship Program on public works capital projects. Under the measure, participants of the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program would receive a stipend or compensation while in the program.

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In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Congratulations to Peter and Heather Provenzano and everyone involved with development what's to be known as Hotel Kate in the former YWCA building on South Madison Street across from the Sports Factory.

The hotel's namesake is Rockford suffragist and Renaissance woman Kate O'Connor, who happens to have been the great-great aunt of former State Rep. John Hallock.

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Senator Stadelman's Weekly Bulletin

State makes good on financial commitment to Machnesney Park

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week that the state is reimbursing the Village of Machesney Park for a boat ramp built on the Rock River in 2015.

“This payment, of course, should have occurred long ago," Stadelman said. "But the release of the funds now proves Illinois is turning a fiscal corner and finally keeping its promises to communities like Machesney Park.”

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza issued a check for $200,000 to reimburse Machesney Park for a grant awarded in 2014 under the state's Boat Area Access Development Program but frozen after Bruce Rauner became governor in 2015. According to Machesney Park Mayor Steve Johnson, the ramp has lived up to the intent of the state's grant program, which was to improve access to Illinois' lakes and rivers. The ramp provides the added benefit of helping law enforcement respond more quickly to emergencies.

“The boating public and first responders have really appreciated the boat launch, as shown by the amount of use it gets,” ohnson said. “It would not have happened without the 50-percent grant funding by the state, and we appreciate Senator Stadelman’s help in seeing the final payment through to us.”

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 Stadelman urges Goodwill grads to keep believing

Citing the early life and career disappointments of Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Walt Disney, Lucille Ball and Dr. Suess, State Senator Steven Stadelman commended young adults who earned their GED through Goodwill and encouraged them to continue to invest in themselves.

Lincoln famously failed in business and lost eight elections before becoming president, Stadelman noted, and Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Disney, Oprah and Lucy all were dismissed as no-talents early in their careers, and Dr. Suess saw his first book rejected by 27 publishers.

"Our lives are richer because they believed in themselves," Stadelman told Goodwill's fifth and largest GED class at Veteran's Memorial Hall. "Always believe in your abilities even when others don't. Our community is held back by its comparative low education level. Each of you, in bettering yourself, makes our commuity a better place to live."

Pictured below are three of the 22 graduates: Dylan Farr, Efrain Dominguez and Pricilla Outcalt, who worked toward her diploma for 30 years.

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In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Shoutout to Albert Cheeks Riley Jr. for the photos of the charity basketball game earlier this month. I had a blast and, just as importantly, didn't tweak a knee or ankle!

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Enjoyed talking with ESL students at Rock Valley College! Thanks Bonnie Jensen for the invite!

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