Castro invites residents to Carpentersville shred event, food donation drive

To give residents an opportunity to safely dispose of sensitive documents and protect their identities, State Senator Cristina Castro is hosting a free shred event Saturday, Sept. 27.

“Secure shredding is a great way to make sure your personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “I encourage residents to take this opportunity to declutter, shred outdated documents and keep their identities safe.”

Residents are invited to bring personal documents for shredding on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 9-11 a.m. at Carpenter Park, located at 275 Maple Ave. Confidential or sensitive documents that can be shredded on site include things like bank statements, canceled checks, outdated medical records, paid bills and junk mail. Only paper will be accepted for shredding – no electronics, cardboard, plastic or other materials.

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Castro law adds layer of protection from federal interference

SPRINGFIELD — As the federal government takes steps to dismantle agencies and lay off qualified public servants who administer key programs serving millions of Americans, State Senator Cristina Castro ushered in a new law protecting state-administered federal programs from future interference.

“The days of politically-motivated hiring and partisan handouts of government jobs are over — and this law makes certain it stays that way,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Essential programs like Medicaid and SNAP are successful because the employees who administer them are hired based on merit, not their loyalty to the president.”

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Castro brings over $7.8 million in additional funding to local schools

State Senator Cristina Castro announced five local school districts across the Northwest Suburbs will receive more than $7.8 million in evidence-based funding this year, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.

“Students deserve a learning environment that not only meets their needs, but challenges them to think critically and sets them up for lifelong success,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “The evidence-based model continues to equip our schools and teachers with the resources they need to deliver a high-quality education for all students in Illinois.”

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Illinois to track and record firefighters’ causes of death under new Castro law

SPRINGFIELD — Recognizing the heightened risk of cancer, trauma-related mental health conditions and other illnesses faced by firefighters, Illinois will begin to track and record firefighters’ causes of death under a new law led by State Senator Cristina Castro.

“This is about transparency for the families of fallen firefighters, and it’s about helping the state understand what we can do better to protect the first responders who put their lives on the line every day,” said Castro (D-Elgin). “Whether a tragedy happens from injuries in the line of duty or from the lasting effects of firefighting over time, this data will shed light on where current gaps exist so we can intervene.”

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