(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Board of Higher Education has awarded $400 million in grants through the Independent Colleges Capital Investment Grant Program to 45 institutions of higher education in Illinois. Officials say the goal of the program is to provide financial assistance to private, not-for-profit colleges & universities in Illinois for the construction, repair, & renovation of infrastructure on campuses to provide better learning for students.
(CHICAGO) The Illinois Veterans’ Home in LaSalle is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases with 25 people currently affected. There are 13 residents and 12 staff members who have tested positive with all presenting only mild symptoms and no hospitalizations so far. The facility continues to follow all infection prevention policies including encouraging all residents to stay in their rooms to minimize movement, plus social distancing, masking in direct care areas, and intensified cleaning and disinfection protocols.
(SPRINGFIELD) State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) has filed a post judgement petition with the Illinois Supreme Court to vacate its decision on the weapon ban law. At issue is the denial of due process under the 14th Amendment arising from Justices Mary Kay O’Brien & Elizabeth Rochford participating in the case despite overwhelming reasons they should have recused themselves. Both justices received monetary contributions from government leaders worth $2.5 million in direct contributions and $7.3 million in indirect contributions, calling into question their impartiality. The case has been accepted.
(CHICAGO) The Pritzker Administration has decided to hold off on proposed cuts to the Intellectually & Developmentally Disabled Community (I/DD), according to State Senator Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet). It was last week that Senator Rose sent a letter to Springfield asking the Administration to prioritize the people of the I/DD community who are some of the state’s most vulnerable citizens. Senator Rose and many other lawmakers from both sides of the aisle signed a bi-partisan in opposition to the proposed cuts as well. Look for a lot of debate on this particular issue during the spring legislative session in Springfield.