Renner Academic Library to receive Illinois History-Digital Imaging grant
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SPRINGFIELD – Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White announced yesterday that the Illinois State Library is awarding 15 libraries an Illinois History-Digital Imaging grant.
In Senator Cristina Castro’s (D-Elgin) district, Elgin Community College’s Renner Academic Library will receive $10,356 for the “The Gil Renner Collection: Insight into the Genesis of the Illinois Community College System,” project.
“Protecting our state’s historical and cultural collections is essential for Illinois’ future,” Castro said. “History is such a vital part of our state and making it more accessible is important, especially for younger generations trying to connect with the past.”
Libraries were awarded the grant to carry out projects involving the selection, digital capture and storage of significant historical and cultural collections. The collections will also be available through the Illinois Digital Archives database preserved by the State Library.
The award gives the library grantees up to two years to complete the project with the grant funds. More information regarding the Illinois History-Digital Imaging Grant Program can be found here: http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/library/grants/il-history-digital-imaging.html.
Castro reacts to Senate passing bipartisan balanced budget
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SPRINGFIELD – Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) released the following statement on the passage of a balanced, bipartisan budget tonight:
“This budget represents hope for our state. Members from all four caucuses came together to make difficult choices and find a compromise that would bring certainty and stability back to Illinois.
“My measure, Senate Bill 2577, or the Marketplace Fairness Act, is also included in the budget. This will bring revenue to our state because it ensures out-of-state online companies pay their fair share of taxes, just like local brick-and-mortar business owners do.
“I voted for this budget, not only because it was truly balanced, but because it funds the services many people in my district rely on. Under this budget, services such as domestic violence shelters, mental health programs and childcare and immigration services are able to get the funding they need to keep their doors opened.
“Our budget restores certainty for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade with the new evidence-based school funding model which guarantees no school district will get less funding than the year before. We can let out a sigh of relief knowing that our schools will open on time.
“After holding higher education hostage for over two years, this budget provides our colleges and universities with a 2 percent increase while also funding MAP Grants and a new Military Veteran Scholarship that will be distributed to public institutions based on their level of veteran enrollment. That will give Elgin Community College over $50,000.
“The budget also gives middle class students a chance to pursue a higher education in our state through the new pilot grant program, AIM HIGH. Illinois will match the funding to public universities that award scholarships to students based off of not only their financial need, but their merit. This will help keep students in our state.
“We began to rebuild our state when we passed a budget last year for the first time in two years. Now, it is time to continue working to ensure that Illinois is a place for people to live, work and prosper.”
The budget package will move to the House for consideration before heading to the governor’s desk.
Castro legislation protects nurses from workplace violence
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SPRINGFIELD – Both the Illinois House and Senate passed legislation sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin) today to protect nurses from workplace violence.
“Health care providers devote their lives to helping their patients,” Castro said. “It is time that we help them. Nurses deserve to come to work and feel safe.”
This legislation is in response to an incident that occurred in Kane County on May 13, 2017 at Delanor Hospital. Two nurses were taken hostage by an inmate undergoing treatment who managed to obtain a handgun.
“The incident that happened in my home county at Delanor Hospital was both alarming and upsetting,” Castro said. “These nurses went to work that day to do their jobs and help their patients, but instead they were assaulted. That’s why I brought forth this legislation. Our nurses deserve to be protected.”
In Illinois, violence against a nurse is deemed a class three felony charge, but there are no laws that require health care employers to provide protection to nurses, staff, patients and visitors.
House Bill 4100 will create the Healthcare Violence Prevention Act to protect health care providers, put in place a violence prevention program and add whistleblower protections for nurses that report violence to law enforcement.
House Bill 4100 passed both the House and Senate and moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.
Castro cracks down on texting and driving
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SPRINGFIELD – Both the Illinois House and Senate advanced legislation sponsored by State Senator Cristina Castro (D-Elgin)yesterday to create stronger penalties for texting and driving.
“Many people think texting one quick message while driving is harmless,” Castro said. “We have to get the message across that this can be life-changing.”
Under current law, first offenses of texting and driving are treated as non-moving violations. With House Bill 4846, a moving violation will be noted on the motorist’s driving record, along with fines and court costs.
Last year, Castro passed Senate Resolution 322 to establish an Illinois Distracted Driving Awareness Week. This piece of legislation will crack down on the epidemic in a more forceful way.
“There are countless distractions while on the road,” Castro said. “It’s important that we do our best to educate and bring attention to this issue because the consequences can be deadly.”
House Bill 4846 passed both the House and Senate and now moves to the governor’s desk for consideration.
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