Stratton wins Democrats’ nod for Illinois U.S. Senate nomination
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, among 11 Democrats vying for the party’s nomination for outgoing U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s seat, beat out two sitting Congresspeople and eight others to win the nomination Tuesday (PBS). Stratton was endorsed and heavily funded by Gov. JB Pritzker and also overcame a last-minute controversy about whether the late Rev. Jesse Jackson had privately or publicly endorsed her in the race. She defeated Raja Krishnamoorthi and Robin Kelly, both Congress members for Illinois. In November, she’ll face Don Tracy, former state Republican party chair, who defeated five Republican opponents for the party’s nomination
Female mannikins for CPR training would be required under proposal
Female mannikins would be required in CPR training programs under a bill introduced by Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia (Capitoil City Now). Hirschauer was inspired to sponsor the bill through the input of a Naperville High School student, who shared with her that she’d never received CPR training on a female mannikin. Research shows women are 27 percent less likely to receive CPR in a medical emergency than men, reports the Journal of the American Heart Association. At least one female mannikin would be required for every two male mannikins, under the bill. It’s scheduled to be heard Thursday by the House Education Policy Committee.
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Released inmates would receive housing assistance under proposed bill
With an estimated 15,000 state inmates released annually, and many struggling to find stable housing, a proposed bill would fund a “coordinated, statewide re-entry strategy” for inmates (Illinois Senate Democrats). The Home for Good proposal is supported by 60 homeless service or prevention organizations statewide. It would especially benefit Black and Brown communities in Illinois, says director of the Illinois Justice Project, noting those identities “already face higher rates of over-policing and incarceration.” The Vera Institute, for instance, reports that Blacks account for only 15 percent of Illinois’ population, but 49 percent of those in local prisons, and 56 percent of those in Illinois state prisons. The Home for Good bill has not yet been scheduled for consideration by a Senate committee.
