Skokie Shred Day on Aug. 8

Join your local representatives for a free shred day! Industrial grade shredding will be available in the main parking lot (entrance on Central Park Ave.). Register online, call 872-208-5188, or text 224-592-5819.

New Villivalam law gives immigrant drivers greater flexibility

CHICAGO – To keep immigrant drivers moving during bureaucratic delays, legislation introduced by State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) that would allow the secretary of state to extend temporary driver’s licenses was signed into law today.

“Driver’s licenses, temporary or permanent, are licenses to work,” Villivalam said. “Working people in immigrant communities need to have reliable access to a driver’s license to continue providing for their families.”

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Governor signs historic Asian American curriculum bill into law

SPRINGFIELD (July 9, 2021) -- Governor Pritzker signed the TEAACH Act (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History) into law on Friday. The bill will make Illinois the first state to require a unit of Asian American history to be taught in public elementary and high schools.

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes and attacks on Asian Americans rose across the country, prompting advocacy groups and organizers to develop and champion this legislation over the past year.

The historic bill was introduced by State Sen. Ram Villivalam and State Rep. Jennifer Gong Gershowitz, and was championed by Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago and a coalition of more than 35 organizations.

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Villivalam commends passage of sweeping gun violence prevention measure

CHICAGO – State Senator Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) released the following statement in response to the passage of a comprehensive gun safety and modernization package in the Illinois House today:

“This critical legislation will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people, empower partners in law enforcement to act before the next tragedy can occur, and dedicate life-saving mental health funding to communities most impacted by gun violence.

“We chose to move forward with this bill to not let perfect be the enemy of good, as this package contains most of the provisions offered in our initial legislation. It will expand the number of fingerprints on file for police to conduct universal background checks and crack down on illegal gun purchases.

“I strongly urge Gov. Pritzker to sign this vital legislation.”