NORTH LAWDALE – State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) joined other state officials and The Will Group to celebrate the first completed phase of the build out of the new K-Town Business Development Centre in the North Lawndale neighborhood.

The centre was launched with the support of state capital dollars for minority-owned businesses, set to create 100 jobs and economic growth for the community.

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CHICAGO — To help students struggling from summer learning loss, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is hosting a Summer Book Club for Chicago’s Westside youth.

“I know that everyone is excited to be outside and enjoy that aspect of summer break, but it is also important for children to exercise their minds,” Van Pelt said. “Kids who keep their minds engaged through the summer will be better prepared when school starts again, and even develop good lifelong learning habits.”

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the State of Illinois are reminding all Illinois residents that financial assistance is available to individuals who have incurred COVID-19 related funeral expenses. The assistance is being provided by FEMA for expenses incurred after January 20, 2020.

According to the CDC, there are more than 21,000 families in Illinois that are eligible for federal funeral reimbursement funding. To date, more than $10.4 million has been approved for the more than 1,500 approved applicants in Illinois.

Residents can apply for FEMA’s COVID-19 Funeral Assistance program by calling 844-684-6333 (TTY: 800-462-7585) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The application process takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and multilingual services are available.

Program aims to crack down on uninsured motorists
Those who receive letters must contact their insurance company or agent; do not visit a Driver Services facility

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White announced that automobile insurance verification will be conducted electronically. This upgrade to the state’s mandatory insurance verification program will begin enforcement on July 1, 2021. The program requires insurance companies to work in conjunction with the Secretary of State’s office to confirm electronically that motorists have automobile insurance. This program follows national standards established by the Insurance Industry Committee on Motor Vehicle Administration and is expected to reduce the number of Illinois motorists driving while uninsured.

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