ELGIN – This week is Work Zone Awareness Week, and as temperatures warm and construction ramps up throughout Illinois, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) is reminding people to slow down and be vigilant when driving through work zones.

“We’re hitting the time of year when road construction is increasing,” Castro said. “It’s important that we keep those hardworking men and women who fix our roads and bridges safe by slowing down and moving over when we see orange lights and signs.” 

Illinois averages 6,400 crashes in work zones each year, resulting in 1,700 injuries and 34 deaths. When it comes to deaths associated with accidents in work zones, more than nine out of ten are someone other than a worker, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

To recognize those who have died in work zone-related accidents and to remind drivers to be careful in these areas, Governor JB Pritzker proclaimed April 26-30 as Work Zone Awareness Week with the theme of “Drive Safe. Work Safe. Save Lives.” The week aligns with National Work Zone Awareness Week.

“I urge travelers to slow down, drop any distractions and move over as they drive through work zones,” Castro said. “Together, we can keep ourselves and others in our community safe.”

Visit the Illinois Department of Transportation’s website for more information on work zones throughout the state and tips on being safe in these areas. 

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) recently honored 254 high school students from the community who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

SPRINGFIELD – In order to clarify how taxes are collected from online sellers based in Illinois, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) introduced a measure that corrects the double-taxation of Illinois sellers who sell their products through larger marketplace facilitators.

“This legislation provides a simple fix to something that has cost businesses in the state unnecessary taxes,” Castro said. “Big websites that act as a marketplace for smaller sellers provide an important service, but the way the Illinois Use Tax was interpreted by Department of Revenue in 2020 hurt some of these Illinois sellers.”

SPRINGFIELD – To encourage victims of crime to make reports, assist law enforcements with criminal investigations and promote transparency in the criminal justice system, State Senator Cristina Castro (D- Elgin) has passed a measure to enhance the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors Act.

“The VOICES Act of 2018 was a good start in encouraging people to report crimes, especially violent ones, regardless of citizenship status,” Castro said. “These enhancements to the act will do even more to support both victims of crime and law enforcement in their investigations.”