CHICAGO –– State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) released the following statement today as the trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the shooting death of Laquan McDonald has ended with verdicts of guilty of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery with a firearm:

“I will continue to pray for the McDonald family as I have since Laquan was taken from them. The verdict will not bring Laquan back or undo this tragedy. 

“The jury’s verdict simply makes a statement about the long journey ahead of us to repair and improve relations between our police and our community. 

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CHICAGO –– The University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine is getting a long-overdue capital grant of $3.35 million for building upgrades, State Senator Patricia Van Pelt announced Friday.

“This investment will repair and improve the historic College of Medicine facilities to keep the campus in good condition for its students, faculty and visitors,” said Van Pelt. “Higher education capital funding was ignored by the governor for far too long while he delayed a state budget, and my efforts to provide these resources to address capital needs are now bearing fruit for UIC.”

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As you make your Labor Day weekend plans, be sure to plan for safe, sober driving and to be aware of traffic issues.

The Illinois Tollway expects nearly 8 million vehicles to travel the Tollway system this Labor Day holiday from Friday, August 31, through Tuesday, September 4. The heaviest travel is expected on Friday, August 31, when nearly 2 million vehicles are projected to use the 294-mile Tollway system. On an average day, more than 1.6 million vehicles use the Illinois Tollway.

To accommodate holiday travel on the Illinois Tollway, construction activity will be restricted to better serve Tollway customers.

Read further details about construction zones here.