Turner hosts ham and turkey giveaway in Springfield

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – To give back to the community, State Senator Doris Turner is partnering with Meridian and HealthChoice Illinois to host a turkey and ham giveaway on Friday, Nov. 17 in Springfield.

“As a state senator and resident of Springfield, it’s important to me to continue giving back to our community during the holidays,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “I’m excited to join health organizations to provide a meal and resources for residents to enjoy ahead of the holiday season and take advantage of.”

Turner will be giving away turkey and ham at the Grace United Methodist Church located at 1612 E. Capitol Ave. in Springfield on Nov. 17 from noon to 2 p.m. or while supplies last.

Residents with questions can call Turner’s Springfield office at 217-782-0228.

Turner introduces measure to hold funeral homes accountable

• SB 2643

SPRINGFIELD – In response to a Carlinville funeral home’s insufficient handling of human remains, State Senator Doris Turner introduced legislation that would put procedures and protocols in place to protect families who have lost a loved one.

“When we lose a loved one, we expect a funeral home to respect the remains of our friends and family,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “We are talking about a person who has loved ones and a story of their own. It is vital that we ensure no family has to receive the dreaded call that the remains they received belong to someone else. This has become a nationwide issue that needs to be addressed.”

Senate Bill 2643 would require the death care industry in the state as well as state regulators to implement a mandatory unique identification tagging system for all human remains. It also would establish a chain of custody system that tracks the human remains of a deceased individual whose death occurred in the state from death to final disposition, if the final disposition is in Illinois.

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Turner introduces measure to expand pickleball in Springfield

• Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – With the ever-growing support for pickleball, State Senator Doris Turner has introduced legislation that would increase the number of pickleball courts in Springfield.

“We have seen a tremendous growth in the interest of pickleball over the past few years. To meet the needs of the sport, I’ve worked closely with the Springfield Pickleball Club to find the best way to accommodate players,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Adding additional courts to Centennial and Iles parks would bring an economic boost to Springfield. This would be instrumental for Springfield, pickleball players, businesses and our community.”

Pickleball has become the country’s fastest-growing sport. The Springfield Pickleball Club has 435 members and has averaged about 24% more new members each of the last three years. Currently, there are 15 pickleball courts in Springfield. Turner’s measure would increase the number of courts in Springfield to meet the growing demand.

Senate Bill 2599 would provide funding to add 14 new pickleball courts at Centennial Park in an undeveloped space and would include a new concrete slab with a six-foot walkway separating the courts. The measure would also fund the replacement of a 60-year-old concrete slab at Iles Park, which currently has eight courts, and add four courts to allow for more participation in an annual summer tournament.

“The Springfield area has experienced, perhaps, the largest percentage increase in the number of pickleball players. It now has an estimated 1,200 players,” said Jack Handy, president of the Springfield Pickleball Club. “With only 15 pickleball courts available for play, it has been increasingly difficult to avoid long waits for a court. The addition of 18 courts, as outlined in this bill, will meet the current demand for play space.”

Senate Bill 2599 awaits committee assignment in the Illinois State Senate.

Turner applauds expansion of tech workforce in Springfield

• Lincoln Land Community College

SPRINGFIELD – To build a pipeline of tech talent, a paid trainee program will be coming to Lincoln Land Community College that will help meet the growing demand for skilled professionals and diversify the state’s workforce, announced State Senator Doris Turner. 

“Investing in our workforce pipeline opens the door for new opportunities, grows our pool of skilled professionals and increases industry-focused jobs,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “Lincoln Land’s location will bring people from across Central Illinois to train and grow in the tech profession. This is a win for LLCC, Springfield and the state as we continue to expand career opportunities for our workers.”

Through the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, trainees will receive a minimum yearly salary of $54,000 while pursuing tracks in one of five high-need concentration areas: cybersecurity, networking, coding and database, end user computing and enterprise infrastructure. Additionally, trainees will receive formal mentoring from current DoIT employees and be offered a full-time job with the department after completing the program and meeting its benchmarks.

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