Stadelman secures $1 million in funds to support UW Health

State Senator Steve Stadelman is pleased to partner in the community's latest effort to address domestic violence by securing $1 million in state funds to equip the UW Health SwedishAmerican Emergency Department with specially trained staff to offer support and assistance to patients whose injuries stem from suspected domestic violence. More than half of survivors seeking help from the Rockford Family Peace Center report they were strangled, a form of abuse that increases a survivor's risk of homicide by 700 percent.

Stadelman secures $250,000 for Cherry Valley Police Department command center

• Rockford
• Cherry Valley

ROCKFORD – The Cherry Valley Police Department’s command center has received $250,000 for upgrades, thanks to State Senator Steve Stadelman.

“Investing in the renovation of the Cherry Valley Police Department’s command center is an investment in the safety and security of our community,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Equipping our local first responders with the necessary resources to effectively address any situation is paramount to ensuring public safety.”

A squad room in the Cherry Valley Police Department will be turned into a unified command center for use in cases where law enforcement and emergency responders from multiple jurisdictions are called to help.

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Stadelman leads measure for greater transparency in political AI communications

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – In a step toward greater transparency in political communication, State Senator Steve Stadelman has introduced legislation aimed at mandating disclosure on political materials generated by artificial intelligence.

“In an era where AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent, it is imperative that people have full disclosure regarding the origin of the ads they see,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Transparency is fundamental to the democratic process.”

Senate Bill 2762 would require political ads to clearly disclose if they are AI-generated. According to the Brennan Center, the use of AI in political communications leads to challenges such as misleading people and amplifying ongoing issues of election misinformation.

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Stadelman applauds $100,000 grant to Rockford holiday festival

• Rockford
• Grants
• Tourism

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman has announced that the popular Stroll on State festival in Rockford has received a $100,000 grant to improve and expand the event.

“Festivals bring people together and foster a sense of community,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This funding will go a long way to ensure that all visitors of the holiday festival receive a magical experience.”

A total of $4.6 million was awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to local tourism organizations throughout the state to a total of 20 grantees – including Stroll on State.

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