Working for Illinois Caucus

With lawmakers set to return to Springfield this week, state Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) is preparing for continued discussions about how the COVID-19 health crisis has affected education and how to best meet the needs of teachers, students and their families. 

“For the past several weeks, we have been meeting remotely in bipartisan working groups to discuss all aspects of managing the current crisis and moving toward recovery,” Stuart said. “Education is one area that has been greatly impacted by the pandemic. As the end of the school year changed to remote and online learning, and with questions surrounding the start of school for the fall, schools and students are facing new challenges.”

As a member of the Elementary and Secondary Education working group, Stuart has participated in numerous discussions about the impacts of school closures and how to bridge the digital divide that hinders learning for students without access to technology to do their schoolwork at home. The working group has also discussed additional supports for teachers, such as implementing a mentor program, to help minimize teacher turnover and retain high-quality educators during and beyond the pandemic.

“Every student in Illinois deserves access to a quality education, even during a pandemic when learning looks very different,” Stuart said. “We have had some productive conversations about how to help both students and educators overcome the short and long-term challenges associated with COVID-19, and I am eager to continue this work when we’re back in session.”

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To better protect tax filers from falling victim to fraud, state Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) is highlighting emerging scams used to gain access to sensitive tax information and bank accounts.

“Being aware of common scams is the best way to protect yourself from losing money to a scammer,” Stuart said. “We’ve heard stories lately of individuals being put into compromising financial situations due to COVID-related tax scams. As criminals become more creative, it’s important to know about their tactics and the ways the IRS does contact people, so you can identify a scam when you see one.”

In the past year, the IRS has noticed an increase in scams to access taxpayers’ bank accounts and personal information, particularly during tax season. Over email, scam artists often pose as tax preparation services to trick people into giving up personal data, or clicking on links to malicious websites or fake PDFs that download viruses or malware onto their computer. Scammers may also call pretending to be from the IRS, claiming that a victim owes money and threatening arrest if they don’t comply. Stuart is reminding residents that the IRS will always mail a bill before calling to discuss taxes owed and will not ask for sensitive information over text or email. 

“If someone unexpectedly contacts you by phone, email or text message about tax matters, or with information about your stimulus payment, be mindful that it’s not really the IRS,” Stuart said. “Scammers are still at work during the pandemic, but by staying vigilant and not responding to unsolicited requests for personal information, you can keep yourself safe this tax season.”

If individuals suspect that they have received a scam call or email, they should contact the Attorney General’s Office Consumer Fraud Hotline   1-800-243-0618 to help protect others. For more information about COVID-related fraud, visit https://www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/

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ROUND LAKE BEACH – With the modified stay-at-home order taking effect May 1, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is reminding residents that state parks are partially reopened and available for residents to visit.

“With the weather continuing to get warmer, it is a great time to utilize the many amazing state parks that Illinois is home to,” Yingling said in a news release. “Visiting a state park is a great way to get outdoors while also maintaining social distancing during this pandemic.”

Many state parks in Illinois, including Chain O’Lakes in Spring Grove, are partially available for public use. Visitors will be able to engage in activities such as wildlife observation, hiking, biking and fishing. Facilities such as visitor centers, campgrounds and beaches will remain closed.

For more information, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources website at www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Pages/default.aspx.�

ROUND LAKE BEACH – State Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is raising awareness about the increased dangers of scams during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office has warned the public about new scams that have become common during the recent health crisis.

“With the hardship that many are facing due to this pandemic, it is disgusting that there are those looking to take advantage of those who are vulnerable,” Yingling said. “We must do everything we can to protect those in our community from people who seek to steal from them, and the best way to do that is by being informed about the tactics that scammers use.”

According to Attorney General Kwame Raoul, individuals should avoid answering text messages, phone calls or emails that ask for financial information or that direct recipients to a link. These links can lead to websites looking to steal sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. Clicking links can also download dangerous malware to the phone or computer, which also can lead to theft of personal information.

To learn more about how to avoid scams, visit https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov. �

To the editor:

This week is National Nurses Week. Nurses have always done heroic, lifesaving work that deserves recognition beyond a single week in May, but this year that is especially true.

In Illinois, we’re fortunate to have more than 150,000 hardworking nurses fighting for us against COVID-19. This includes hundreds of retired nurses who have courageously renewed their licenses to rejoin the workforce when we needed them most.

The coronavirus outbreak has radically changed what it means to be a nurse. In addition to providing vital health care and emotional support to those in their care, nurses’ own lives and the lives of their loved ones are now on the line.�

While we don’t yet have exact statistics on the rate of COVID-19 infections and deaths among health care workers, we do know at least 5,000 of them have tested positive for the virus in Illinois. That number should not come as a surprise, as many of them are being directly exposed to the virus by reporting to work at hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities where they treat COVID-19 patients day after day.�

Let National Nurses Week serve as a reminder to each of us to do everything we can to keep our nurses safer as they fight on our behalf in this crisis. Wash your hands frequently, wear a face covering when instructed, clean commonly touched surfaces often, and stay home as much as possible. Remind your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.�

I urge everyone to honor nurses not just in social media posts and one-sentence texts to the nurses in our lives, but with real, meaningful actions that will keep them and their families better protected from the impact of COVID-19.

State Rep. Joyce Mason

61st Representative District

GURNEE – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is highlighting Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ Cream of the Crop Photo Contest.

The photo contest is a statewide event that aims to get young people involved with agricultural resources in their communities.�

“Although we live in the suburbs, agriculture is all around us and plays a vital role in sustaining our economy and environment,” Mason said in a news release. “While students are having to spend time away from school, there’s no better time to get outside and explore the wide array of fields, pastures and farmers markets our community has to offer.”

The Cream of the Crop Photo Contest is open to all Illinois students ages 8 to 18. Photo submissions should depict agriculture from any part of Illinois.

Winning photos will be used to create promotional materials for Ag Invest, the treasurer’s program that provides low-interest loans to farmers. The contest is open until June 24.

For information, visit www.creamofthecropcontest.com.