BOURBONNAIS, Illinois, April 13 (TNSres) -- Olivet Nazarene University issued the following news: By Steve Case When Olivet zoology professor Dr. Derek Rosenberger ventured up Cerro de la Muerte (Mountain of Death) in Costa Rica in 2021, he didn't realize he'd be making a significant discovery about Central America's most important bumble bee species. Dr. Rosenberger and Brendan Blowers-De Leon, director of the Quetzal Education and Research Center, a research station owned by Southern Nazare  more

BOURBONNAIS, Illinois, April 13 -- Olivet Nazarene University issued the following news: By George Wolff Ellucian, the leading higher education technology solutions provider, announced the winners of its sixth annual Impact Awards at Ellucian Live, the industry's premier technology conference. The Ellucian Impact Awards recognize leaders who leverage Ellucian's innovative technology solutions to achieve better outcomes for students and their institutions. "The Ellucian Impact Awards celebrate  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 13 -- Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul issued the following news release on April 12, 2024: Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced his office filed a lawsuit against JET Enterprises & Holding Company LLC (JET) alleging the company's improper storage of numerous hazardous chemicals, illegal open dumping of dangerous metal and chemical waste, and contamination of standing water pose a danger to the environment and to the health and welfare of local residents.   more

PEORIA, Illinois, April 13 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: Thanks to state support backed by state Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, the Peoria region will soon see new electric vehicle charging stations installed around the community. "This is another step forward as part of Illinois' investment in electric vehicle infrastructure, preparing us to meet the current and future demands of travelers," Gordon-Booth said. "Additional charging stations are not just a conve  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 13 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Sonya Harper, D-Chicago, has advanced several bills out of key legislative committees that promise to help usher in a cleaner, healthier and more equitable and sustainable future. "I've spent my time in office focusing state resources on the problems of food access, equity and sustainability in agriculture, because our environment and our food are some of the most important and often overlooke  more

OAK PARK, Illinois, April 13 -- The Illinois House Democrats issued the following news: State Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, will further contribute to environmental justice efforts in Illinois after joining the Illinois Justice40 Oversight Committee. "Environmental justice is all about making sure communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution are given an equitable share of green initiatives," said Lilly. "Black communities have historically suffered the   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Infertility treatment is notoriously expensive, and many women in Illinois struggle to afford this care. In response, State Senator Cristina Castro is leading a measure to remove this barrier and make treatments like in vitro fertilization more accessible. "While other states restrict access to reproductive care, we are committed to remaining a safe haven where those seeking to start or grow their famil  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: In an effort to increase patient safety at state run mental health or developmental disability facilities, State Senator Laura Fine passed Senate Bill 857. This legislation increases the Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) ability to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect. "Since 2022, I have visited state-operated mental health and developmental disability facilities across the state to recei  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: For people purchasing a home, an upfront cash payment from a real estate agency in exchange for signing a contract seems harmless. What these homebuyers may not realize is this signed agreement can lead to added costs and barriers when they try to sell their home in the future. This type of predatory contract is what State Senator Ann Gillespie is working to prevent in Illinois. "People deserve transpar  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Napoleon Harris, III passed a measure inspired by constituent concerns for individuals fighting cancer who were unable to afford a hair prosthesis on Friday. "Individuals who are experiencing hair loss due to alopecia, chemotherapy or radiation have had endless hurdles to overcome," said Harris (D-Harvey). "Standardizing medical insurance for wigs and other scalp prostheses will help allev  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Illinois is one step closer to having a law on the books to help guarantee insurance coverage for medically prescribed infertility treatments, thanks to State Senator Michael E. Hastings. "My daughter was born via in vitro fertilization, so this initiative is near and dear to my heart," said Hastings (D-Frankfort). "Unfortunately I know firsthand the heartbreak and stress that families and individuals f  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: Under a measure from State Senator Robert Martwick, the property tax system in Illinois would face review by the Department of Revenue. "Taxpayers all across the state of Illinois are aware that the property tax system needs to be reformed," said Martwick (D-Chicago). "This bill represents an acknowledgement that our property tax system needs to be reevaluated and the best reforms can only be achieved b  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To protect buyers, lenders and homeowners, State Senator Robert Marwick has advanced legislation that would lay out regulations for online foreclosure sales. "Losing a home through foreclosure proceedings is one of the most difficult experiences a person can face," said Martwick (D-Chicago). "This legislation both permits and sets regulations for online foreclosure sales, which can ensure the best possi  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Laura Murphy has advanced a measure that would make medications easier to obtain during shortages. "Maintenance medications -- those that must be taken on a regular basis to treat long-term conditions -- aren't the kind that can be skipped," Murphy (D-Des Plaines) said. "We need to ensure that patients have access to the medications they need to survive." Murphy's measure would require he  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To support the educational aspirations of refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan, State Senator Mike Porfirio has steered legislation through the Senate that would waive transcript evaluation fees for these individuals. "Denying refugees equal access to education reinforces marginalization," said Porfirio. "By waiving transcript evaluation fees, we are not only promoting access to education, but also recog  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news on April 11, 2024: Individuals with asthma could see significant savings on their prescription inhalers thanks to legislation from State Senator Mattie Hunter that passed the Senate on Thursday. "No one should struggle to afford their medication while big companies profit," said Hunter (D-Chicago). "While insurance plans cover a portion of asthma treatment costs, we can do more to eliminate the barriers   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To more accurately represent public health, State Senator Mike Simmons passed legislation through the Senate Public Health Committee and Senate, successively, to amend the title of the "Illinois Sexually Transmissible Disease Control Act," to be the "Illinois Sexually Transmitted Infection Control Act." Additionally, the Act will include human papillomavirus and mpox within the updated definition of sexu  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Steve Stadelman's legislation aimed at enhancing transparency in the ticketing industry has passed the Senate. "This bill is a win for Illinois consumers," said Stadelman (D-Rockford). "By requiring ticket sellers to disclose the total price of event tickets upfront, we are empowering consumers to make informed decisions and eliminate the frustration of hidden fees. Transparency is essenti  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: If a person's license plate or sticker is stolen from their car, they wouldn't be on the hook for paying the replacement fee under a measure led through the Senate by State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. "Imagine the stress of seeing someone violated your personal belongings," said Sims (D-Chicago). "Now imagine the exacerbated stress of wondering how you are going to pay to fix the problem so you don't get  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Doris Turner led a measure through the Senate that would increase public safety by suspending EMS professionals who have been charged with a crime while performing their duties. "EMS professionals who cause harm to the public need to be held accountable," said Turner (D-Springfield). "Public safety has to be at the forefront of our priorities, especially during an emergency." Senate Bill   more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To protect university and community college employees, State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure that would ensure employees receive their pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a winter weather emergency. "Some employees are left without pay when we get hit with a winter storm," said Turner (D-Springfield). "This initiative protects the workers who play an important role in the normal, day-to-  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: School has become increasingly stressful for students, leading State Senator Rachel Ventura to spearhead legislation that would help students reduce anxiety and focus on their physical and emotional needs during school time. "A student's life consists of a variety of stressors - from homework to friend groups and life at home. Giving them at least 20 minutes to relax and focus on their mental health wil  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: To tackle growing emission rates from automobiles and trucks, State Senator Rachel Ventura spearheaded legislation through the Senate that would create a grant for local governments to help mitigate the impact of climate change. "By encouraging local governments to plant native trees and grasses, which are proven to help mitigate climate change through carbon capture, we can aid the process of healing o  more

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, April 12 -- The Illinois Senate Democrats issued the following news: State Senator Celina Villanueva championed a measure to make the college transfer process easier and more equitable by waving certain admissions fees. "Equitable access to education is of the upmost importance, and students in their final semester should have the opportunity to transfer without the burden of application fees," said Villanueva (D-Chicago). "It is our responsibility to ensure every studen  more

CARBONDALE, Illinois, April 13 -- Southern Illinois University issued the following news release: Award-winning broadcaster, commentator and author Scott Simon will visit Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Paul Simon Public Policy Institute on Wednesday, April 17, to meet with students and discuss his groundbreaking career in journalism. Simon and John Shaw, institute director, will discuss Simon's career and the challenges facing American journalism during the free, public discussion a  more

CARBONDALE, Illinois, April 13 -- Southern Illinois University issued the following news release: A Southern Illinois University Carbondale-affiliated family event aimed at helping science teachers across the region is set for later this month at a local winery. Teachers from SIU's River Region Master Teaching Fellows Program will host the Family Eco Festival, set for 1-5 p.m. April 27 at Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass. The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization Innovations in STEM E  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 13 -- Littler, a law firm, issued the following news release on April 12, 2024: Today, the Illinois Senate passed SB 2979, which would reform the liability guidelines under the state's Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA). The bill marks an important milestone in the broader effort to resolve BIPA's vague statutory language and courts' expansive interpretations of the law, which have posed a threat to businesses that capture biometric information. Illinois Senator   more

CHICAGO, Illinois, April 13 (TNSres) -- The University of Chicago issued the following news: By Sarah Steimer Prof. Gary Becker, AM'53, PhD'55, is regarded as one of the foremost economics scholars of the 20th century. The Nobel laureate broke new ground by approaching economics as the study of human behavior, and his contributions to the field continue to be felt, even a decade after his death in 2014. A recently published book edited by Becker's former colleagues and students draws upon his  more