SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) is highlighting an opportunity for area airports to apply for funding for improvement projects through the Rebuild Illinois statewide construction program.

“The Illinois aviation system is one of the largest in the nation,” Turner said. “The new funding will allow airports in Central Illinois and across the state to pay for much-needed repairs that will keep passengers safe and our economy strong. It is my hope that local airports take advantage of this opportunity and apply for funding.”

Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that the Rebuild Illinois program will provide $94 million in funding to improve public airports throughout the state. Through a competitive grant process, airports may submit project proposals for updates, improvements, and extensions of their facilities.

Airports must be for public use and included in the Illinois Aviation System Plan to be eligible for the funding. Applications are due June 14 to be eligible for grants of up to $25 million.

Airports in the Central Illinois area eligible to apply for the funding include the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Decatur Airport, Litchfield Municipal Airport and Taylorville Municipal Airport.

Application information is available by visiting IDOT’s Airport Improvement Program page. Awards are anticipated to be announced later this year.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) recently honored 144 Central Illinois high school students who were named 2021-22 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Illinois State Scholar winners rank in approximately the top 10% of the state’s high school seniors from 676 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on a combination of standardized test scores and class rank or unweighted GPA at the end of the student’s junior year. ISAC works in conjunction with the students’ high school guidance counselors to determine the winners.

“This spectacular achievement is a result of hard work and dedication,” said Turner. “I am especially proud of these students’ efforts to persevere while in the middle of a devastating pandemic. Despite the fear and uncertainty this infectious disease has brought on, these students have maintained an esteemed level of academic excellence and I am so proud of each and every one of them.”

The Scholars from the Central Illinois area include students from 17 area high schools, including Morrisonville, Hillsboro, Lincolnwood, Litchfield, Nokomis, Southwestern, Staunton, Bunker Hill, Carlinville, Gillespie, Mt. Olive, North Mac, Sangamon Valley, St. Teresa, Douglas MacArthur, Eisenhower and Lutheran School Association of Decatur high schools.

Recipients of the award will receive a congratulatory letter from ISAC, and a Certificate of Achievement will be sent to their high school. State Scholars will also receive a digital badge issued by ISAC that can be displayed on online profiles, exhibited on social media, and shared with prospective colleges and employers.

More information about the State Scholar program can be found at ISAC’s website.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Doris Turner’s (D-Springfield) effort to make agricultural sciences courses count toward Illinois university admissions requirements passed the Senate unanimously last week.
“The goal here is to highlight the importance of agricultural studies,” said Turner. “Our current curricula did not reflect that by excluding it from courses that count toward the three required years of sciences, and may have deterred some students from pursuing those studies.”

Currently, the minimum requirements to gain admission to state universities include the completion of at least 15 units of high school coursework in the following subjects: English, Social studies, Mathematics, (Laboratory) Sciences and electives in either foreign language, music, vocational education, or art.

Additionally, some colleges may accept agricultural science under the auspices of a science course but not all are doing so. This legislation will add some conformity to the available options.

“We want to encourage students to feel confident and passionate about their career choices especially when choosing a field that has such a substantial and diverse impact,” said Turner.

The measure passed out of the Senate and is now in the House of Representatives for further consideration.

SPRINGFIELD- State Senator Doris Turner (D-Springfield) passed her first piece of legislation out of the Illinois State Senate Thursday, April 22, in an effort to allow Capital Township residents the right to vote for their own officials.

“This legislation speaks solely to representation,” said Sen. Turner. “This bill addresses an electorate’s right to choose their own representatives. Under state law, the current Sangamon County Clerk and Treasurer are automatically officers of Capital Township, and that’s not fair. That is akin to the voters of Naperville voting for the officers of Cook County. This bill would allow that only the voters of Capital Township elect Capital Township officers.”

Currently, if a township is completely within a city of more than a population of 50,000 residents, then the County Clerk is the ex officio Township Assessor and Clerk and the County Treasurer is the ex officio Township Supervisor and Collector.

Advocates of the bill point out that of the 1,432 townships in the state of Illinois, Capital Township in Sangamon County is the only city where this rule applies. Senate Bill 826 would allow Capital Township voters to elect leaders.

The bill passed the Senate and moved to the Illinois House of Representatives for further consideration.