SPRINGFIELD – Children across the south suburbs will soon have access to full-day kindergarten, thanks to a law supported by State Senator Michael E. Hastings.

“Early education is crucial to setting our children on a path to be academically successful,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “Our kindergarten classrooms help prepare children to develop social and emotional skills. I am pleased to see that all of our state’s children will have access to these educational opportunities.”

House Bill 2396 will provide full-day kindergarten options with developmentally appropriate play-based learning opportunities for families throughout the state.

Currently, it is optional for school districts to offer full-day kindergarten. This new law will also create the Full-Day Kindergarten Task Force to collect information and research regarding the current status of full-day kindergarten in Illinois and make recommendations to help with the implementation of this requirement to the State Board of Education.

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SPRINGFIELD – The South Suburban Airport may soon be a reality thanks to a new measure supported by State Senator Michael E. Hastings that was signed into law on Friday.

“This new law brings us one crucial step closer in opening the South Suburban Airport,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This new economic engine will help our communities grow, generate new jobs and further establish the Southland as a strong force in the Midwest.”

The new law requires the Illinois Department of Transportation to enter into public-private agreements and to establish a pre-qualification process for vendors to participate in the development, financing, construction, management and operation of the new airport.

"This new cargo airport will further energize and strengthen our local economy, creating a greater revenue base to increase funding to our local schools, our municipalities, and the services that are provided,” Hastings said.

The new law is supported by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly.

The South Suburban Airport Act, which became law more than a decade ago, established that the state may develop a prequalification process. However, steps were not taken to begin the prequalification process, and Hastings hopes this new law will jump-start the process and help fulfill the promises of this cargo airport.

The measure also adds domestic and global freight cargo transfer development to the stated goals for the airport.

House Bill 2531 passed the Senate and House with bipartisan support and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

FRANKFORT – State Senator Michael E. Hastings is urging local organizations throughout the South Suburbs to remember to apply for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grants before the Aug. 31 deadline.

“Our local parks serve as cornerstones of our communities,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “It is crucial that we continue to look for ways to make investments in our parks and the OSLAD program is a great way to do that. I hope our local agencies are sure to take advantage of this wonderful program.”

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be accepting applications for Open Space Land Acquisition and Development, or OSLAD, grants through Aug. 31.

The program offers state-financed funding assistance to local governmental agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and outdoor recreation areas. A total of $56 million is available for this round of OSLAD grants. In addition, IDNR will once again provide funding to cover 100% of eligible projects located in economically distressed communities.

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COUNTRY CLUB HILLS – State Senator Michael E. Hastings and Country Club Hills Mayor James W. Ford invite residents to attend their Shred Day on Saturday, Aug. 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Country Clubs Hills Amphitheater located at 4150 183^rd St. in Country Club Hills.

“Safely disposing of sensitive, personal documents is a good first step in preventing identify theft,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “This event will provide Country Club Hills residents with a convenient, free method to shred important documents in a secure manner.”

To accommodate all participants, each person will be limited to two boxes of residential shredding. Boxes and bags will be returned. Documents will be accepted for shredding until trucks reach capacity.

If residents have questions about the event, Hastings urges them to contact his office at 815-464-5431 or visit http://www.SenatorHastings.com.