SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D—Des Plaines) is proud to announce she has been selected to be a part of the 10th annual Edgar Fellows Program out of a pool of 160 nominees from all levels of government, nonprofit organizations, and the business world.

“Being chosen as an Edgar Fellow is a tremendous honor,” Murphy said. “I expect to learn a lot from not only the distinguished faculty, but the other fellows who were chosen this year.”

The Edgar Fellows Program is an initiative designed by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar to inspire respectful and collaborative leadership to address the state's major challenges. Since 2012, the designated fellows meet for a week for an intense executive training program to learn about leadership skills, strategies, and expectations.

During the week-long workshop, the fellows will engage with more than two dozen policy experts and experienced practitioners. In addition, they will discuss economic development, climate change, education, Medicaid, negotiations and intergovernmental cooperation.

“I am excited to work with and learn from so many respected community leaders through this program,” Murphy said. “I can’t wait to make the most of this week, and return to the 28th District with new ideas for the upcoming session.”

The 40 selected Edgar Fellows will meet next week in Urbana-Champaign. More information about the Edgar Fellows program is available here.

DES PLAINES – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) announced that several school districts in the area she represents will receive a total of $100,000 to improve their infrastructure, thanks to the Illinois State Board of Education.

“Research shows that high-quality facilities lead to better educational outcomes; therefore, our school facilities need to be routinely updated to keep our kids performing at their best,” Murphy said. “This investment will ensure children have the best tools to succeed in school, and their parents will not worry that their environment is a deterrent to their success.”

A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants was distributed to districts across the state. To be eligible for the grants, applicants were required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.

Projects made possible thanks to these grants include updates to heating and cooling, improvements to ventilation, increased accessibility throughout buildings and more. Districts CCSD 64 and CCSD 54 will receive these grants.

“Making sure school buildings are kept up with is critical to keep out kids safe, healthy and productive in their classrooms,” Murphy said. “I am passionate about students having access to high-quality learning environments, and cannot wait to see the results of this investment in our community.”

A full list of grantees and awards can be viewed on the ISBE website.

DES PLAINES –Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, State Senator Laura Murphy (D—Des Plaines) released the following statement.

I am disappointed at the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a court case that upheld a woman’s freedom and choice over her own body. Today, all over our country, women are facing unthinkable futures regarding their mental and physical health with the right to choose stripped away, and may lead to further restrictions on a woman’s access to reproductive health care, such as birth control. I am grateful that in Illinois, the women’s right to choose is protected under law; however, this attack on reproductive rights only makes it more important that we work to protect reproductive rights in the state legislature. I will continue to fight to protect reproductive rights in the state legislature until the right to choose is protected for all women.

DES PLAINES – To help community members protect their personal information from fraudsters, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) is hosting a community shred event on Saturday, June 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Acuity Brands Lighting, located at 1300 S. Wolf Rd. in Des Plaines.

“One way we can all prevent fraud and identity theft is by securely disposing of sensitive personal documents,” Murphy said. “Take advantage of this free and convenient opportunity to help keep your information out of the wrong hands.”

At this free community event, residents can securely dispose of any sensitive or confidential documents, like bank statements, paid utility bills and receipts.

The event will take place in the parking lot on the Wolf Road side of Acuity Brands Lighting, formerly known as Juno Lighting Group. Murphy is hosting the event in partnership with State Representative Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines).

“You can never be too careful when protecting yourself against financial fraud or identity theft which is why I strongly encourage any resident who has sensitive documents they need to get rid of to take advantage of this service,” Moylan said.