DES PLAINES – A mass COVID-19 vaccination site will open at the former Kmart in Des Plaines, thanks in part to efforts by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) to secure a more convenient location for residents in the Northwest Suburbs to receive their dose.

“It’s great to see this much-needed vaccination site open in Des Plaines, a community that suffered some of the highest rates of COVID-19 in the region earlier in the pandemic,” Murphy said. “This repurposed facility will allow residents throughout the O’Hare corridor to take that all-important step to protect themselves and their loved ones: Getting vaccinated.”

The site will be housed in the former Kmart located at 1155 E. Oakton St. in Des Plaines and will be open to residents in Phases 1A and 1B, including health care personnel, first responders, front-line essential workers, and residents 65 and older.

In February, Murphy and other North Suburban senators sent a letter to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle urging the county to open a community vaccination site in the area. Lawmakers cited disproportionately high COVID-19 rates and a large population of older residents, a potentially deadly combination, as reasons to prioritize the area in the county’s vaccine distribution plan.

According to Cook County officials, appointments will be available at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov starting at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Vaccinations will begin Friday or Saturday, pending delivery of vaccine supplies from the federal government.

“When it’s your turn, I encourage everyone to get the vaccine. It’s the best way you can protect yourself and your loved ones,” Murphy said. “The faster we get everyone vaccinated, the sooner we can start going out to eat, traveling, and enjoying the in-person company of our family and friends again.”

SPRINGFIELD – College students in Illinois could see lower textbook purchase and rental costs under legislation filed by State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines), which requires colleges and universities to find ways to make course materials more affordable.

“A full-time undergraduate student today spends nearly $1,300 per year on textbooks and supplies. Especially on top of tuition and other fees, that can be overwhelming,” Murphy said. “It’s time to explore more affordable options, like inclusive access models, e-books, and subscription and rental programs.”

The bill would require colleges and universities to consult with administrators, faculty, campus bookstores and publishers to examine current cost-saving practices and identify best practices moving forward with an eye toward improving affordability; supporting remote learning; ensuring access to required course materials by the first day of class; and bettering student outcomes for minority, low-income and first-generation students.

Each institution would report findings to the Board of Higher Education or the Community College Board, and together, these boards would issue a joint report to the governor and the General Assembly.

Between 2006 and 2016, the average cost of college textbooks rose by 73%—four times faster than the rate of inflation—according to the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. This lack of affordability has caused 65% of students to skip buying required texts at some point in their college career.

“Students can’t learn without the right materials,” Murphy said. “Tackling the high cost of textbooks is a critical step toward making college accessible to every Illinois student.”

Senate Bill 101 has been assigned to the Higher Education Committee.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the governor’s annual budget address Wednesday, State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) issued the following statement:

“The past year posed unprecedented challenges to families and businesses in Illinois and across the nation. To bring our state and local economies back on track, it’s critical that we move forward with a concrete financial recovery plan, and that starts with a balanced budget.

“I’m relieved to hear the state budget will make our full required pension payment without overtaxing the working-class families still struggling to make ends meet as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

“But, the governor’s proposal isn’t perfect. On top of pandemic-related hardships, Illinois households are still facing longstanding issues, like hefty property tax burdens and skyrocketing tuition costs. I plan to continue negotiations with my colleagues in the General Assembly to get our state through the current crisis and find long-term solutions to the problems we’ve been facing for decades.”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) and other members of the Senate Commerce Committee questioned representatives from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and communicated concerns from their local business owners at Thursday’s subject matter hearing regarding the Business Interruption Grant program.

“Today’s hearing shed some light on the processes the department used to evaluate applications and distribute BIG funds, but our small businesses deserve complete transparency,” Murphy said. “We need access to all available information to properly evaluate how small business owners could be better served in the future.”

Murphy and the committee were joined by Cara Bader, chief of staff at DCEO, and other department staff to discuss how the agency reviewed applications, communicated with awardees and unsuccessful applicants, and distributed BIG funds in both rounds of the program.

Legislators used the hearing as an opportunity to offer feedback to the department on behalf of their respective small business communities. Elliot Richardson, president of the Small Business Advocacy Council, also joined the meeting to give the Illinois small business community at large a seat at the table on future recovery efforts.

During the hearing, Murphy raised questions about how the department communicated eligibility criteria to applicants and how they are currently engaging stakeholders to improve future programming.

“The vaccine rollout is underway and many businesses have reopened, but our main streets are still struggling,” Murphy said. “We must consider the needs of our small business owners at every stage of our state’s recovery.”

The BIG program was developed last spring to provide $580 million in economic relief for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. Grantees could use funding to help with working capital expenses, including payroll, rent, utilities and other operational costs.

Committee schedules, virtual proceedings, witness slips and more are available at www.ilga.gov.