GURNEE – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is joining her colleagues in the Conference of Women Legislators of the Illinois General Assembly in announcing academic scholarships for women who are at least 25 years old.

“Too often, the cost of tuition prevents people from attending college or leaves them straddled with debt for years after graduation,” Mason said in a news release. “Financial assistance in the form of scholarships can make a big difference in the overall cost of going to school, but it can be difficult for older students to secure that assistance when they’re forced to compete with large pools of younger applicants.”

The Conference of Women Legislators of the Illinois General Assembly is a bipartisan nonprofit organization of Illinois state senators and representatives. The conference is offering 10 scholarships of $2,500 each to women who are 25 or older and enrolled at an accredited Illinois college or university. Applications are due on or before May 1. To apply, visit www.cowl.formstack.com/forms/20202021_cowl_scholarship_application.�

To support the SIUE students, staff and faculty facing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, state Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) is co-hosting a virtual food drive to benefit the Cougar Cupboard.

“The COVID-19 health crisis has caused many obstacles for residents in the Metro East, including uncertainty with employment and finances for some families,” Stuart said. “SIUE is one of the largest employers in our region and since school has been closed for the foreseeable future there are students, staff and faculty in need of extra support during this time.”

Stuart is co-hosting a virtual food drive through the end of May to benefit the Cougar Cupboard, a campus food pantry that provides food support for students, staff and faculty. To promote social distancing and contactless donations, residents wishing to donate can do so by visiting https://yougivegoods.com/cougarcupboard. The Cougar Cupboard is fully supported by donations and is preparing emergency boxes for students, staff and faculty facing hardship during the COVID-19 health crisis.

“This virtual food drive will help ease the burden for residents that are struggling to make ends meet and feed themselves and their families during this time,” Stuart said. “During this unprecedented time, it is important that we continue supporting each other because we are all in this together, so I am asking residents that are able to consider supporting the Cougar Cupboard through my virtual food drive.”

For more information, contact Stuart at (618) 365-6650 or RepKatieStuart@gmail.com.

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ROUND LAKE BEACH –�As part of his efforts to connect constituents to vital resources, state Rep. Sam Yingling, D-Grayslake, is highlighting the new “Help is Here” program by the Illinois Department of Human Services that helps residents find the services they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Help is Here program is a compilation of resources that help with gaining access to food, shelter, medical attention, and more. Included in the program is a hotline that can help residents navigate the resources and find their best options.

For information, visit www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=123529�or call 1-833-2-FIND-HELP (1-833-234-6343).

GURNEE – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is sharing ways for community members to give back during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As unemployment claims reach record levels and more families find themselves in need of emergency assistance, many of the nonprofits that usually provide those resources are being stretched thin,” Mason said in a news release. “Thankfully, there are still plenty of safe ways to continue supporting these organizations, while still protecting yourself and those around you from COVID-19.”�

Mason is directing residents who are interested in volunteering to visit www.lakecountyil.gov/4413/How-You-Can-Help for local opportunities and https://ift.tt/2x23psG for statewide opportunities.

For information, contact Mason’s constituent service office by calling 847-485-9986 or emailing info@repjoycemason.com.

– Lake County Journal

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OTTAWA, IL – State Rep. Lance Yednock, D-Ottawa, is highlighting mental health resources available and encouraging residents to care for their mental health as the COVID-19 crisis presents new challenges.

“These unprecedented times have been difficult for essential workers, medical professionals, first responders, their families, and everyone in between,” said Yednock. “If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s how important it is for each of us to take charge of our own health. That extends to our mental health just as equally as it applies to our physical health.”

Because the biggest companies weren’t doing enough to combat price gouging, 18 Illinois state legislators joined a bipartisan group of nearly 350 lawmakers from 45 states in sending a letter to the CEOs of Amazon, eBay, Craigslist, Facebook and Walmart calling on them to put more proactive measures in place to prevent price gouging before it happens. A similar letter was sent last week from 33 attorneys general, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Specifically, the letter urged the companies to do three things: set policies and enforce restrictions on unconscionable price gouging during emergencies; trigger price gouging protections prior to an explicit emergency declaration, as prices often begin to increase before this; and create and maintain a “Fair Pricing Page/Portal” on their websites where consumers can easily report price gouging.

While we wait for online retailers to implement these policies, consumers can and should still take action if they see price gouging or have already purchased products with inflated prices. First, you should report any price gouging to the Illinois Attorney General’s office by filling out this form.

How do you know when something is price gouging, you might ask? Well, if you’re suspicious that a product you see online is higher than it should be, you can protect yourself by following these steps:

• Use a price tracking tool like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa to see if the price increased recently.