Stadelman pitches in $400,000 in state funds for museum project, hoping to bag new women's baseball league games

State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week that he's commiting $400,000 in state funds to redevelop Beyer Field -- home of the legendary Rockford Peaches -- in an attempt to attract the inaugural games of a new professional women's baseball league.
The state funds will help pay for a scoreboard, press box, lighting and other minimum upgrades required for league play. Stadelman's contribution pushes fundraising efforts over the $1 million mark toward the $5 million first phase of International Women's Baseball Center, which focuses on the historic stadium where the Peaches competed from 1943 to 1954.

“Given the rich history of the Rockford Peaches, attracting these inaugural games to Beyer Field is an opportunity not to be passed up. I want to help make the improvements necessary to accommodate women’s professional baseball sooner rather than later,” Stadelman said during a news conference at Beyer's home plate. “Having this world-class sports event occur on the Peaches home field will serve as an example of the economic catalyst that’s possible when the museum is fully developed.”

The new league's first games are expected to be played in May 2026. Plans are for the second and third phases of the IWBC to include an indoor sports facility and women's baseball museum designed by acclaimed architect Jeanne Gang, a Belvidere native, for an estimated cost of another $26 million.

Stadelman secures $50,000 for Food Bank expansion

Northern Illinois Food Bank celebrated its relocation to larger quarters in the old K-mart on Sandy Hollow Road in Rockford with a ribbon-cutting this week. The new Neighborhood Market occupies 30,000 square feet or about a third-more space than its previous location, a move made possible in part with $50,000 in state funds secured by Senator Steve Stadelman.
"I believe in the Food Bank's mission to 'provide nutritious food with dignity, equity and convenience.' and I'm also a proponent of the adaptive reuse of vacant buildings," Stadelman said. "Food insecurity is a growing concern in our community and across Illinois, and the Food Bank's dedicated volunteers and staff are working hard to address this challenge and doing so with great vision."
Refrigerated outdoor storage lockers offer 24/7 pickup for those who want to order ahead online or who cannot visit during store hours Tuesdays and Thursdays. Since a soft opening several weeks ago, an average of 1,700 people use the market weekly. More than 15 percent of the population in Winnebago County experience food insecurity.

Stadelman measure to require more transparency in hospital billing passes committee

In an effort to ensure transparency from health care providers and protect patients from unexpected fees on bills, State Senator Steve Stadelman passed a measure through committee this week that would require hospitals to be more explicit about the fees included in their services.

“Patients deserve to know ahead of time if any extra fees will be added onto their bill,” Stadelman said. “Hospitals need to take responsibility and inform their patients of all applicable fees at any of their facilities.”

House Bill 1431 would require hospitals to develop a policy to inform patients they may be charged a facility fee, if applicable, for outpatient services separate from a professional fee. Facility fees are charges imposed for use of space, equipment and administrative services, whereas professional fees cover the cost of the professional providing the care. The lack of transparency between the two has made patients feel like they are being double charged for their visit.

“When people are provided clear information about all costs, it helps them make the best choices for their health without financial anxiety,” Stadelman said. “This is a common-sense bill that will help put more trust into our health care system.”

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

State Senator Steve Stadelman
April 30 at 6:16 PM

 Great to see Rockford area realtors who are part of the NorthWest Illinois Alliance of Realtors at the Capitol advocating for legislation!

Steve Stadelman
April 29 at 3:51 PM

Congratulations and good luck to Jefferson High School student Mikiah Gerrity, who won the Illinois Poetry Out Loud championship last month and goes to Washington DC to perform next week in the national competition. Fellow J-Hawk Grant Smith was the Northern Regional winner at the state level. It was my pleasure to visit with them both, hear about their plans for college and present them with Certificates of Recognition from the Illinois Senate.

Steve Stadelman
April 27 at 11:26 AM
Congrats to the Greater Rockford Arab Chamber of Commerce on the success of its first-ever Arab Festival!