Hazardous road conditions cause spike in roadside crashes

WILL COUNTY – To help keep first responders safe while they assist motorists on the side of the road, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Plainfield) and State Senator John Connor (D-Lockport) are reminding residents to reduce speed, switch lanes if possible and drive cautiously when emergency lights are visible.

"Scott's Law means move over for emergency vehicles, which is especially important with the winter weather conditions we're currently experiencing," Loughran Cappel said. "I am grateful the trooper involved in the accident in Will County has been released with non-life-threatening injuries, and I urge drivers to move over and drive slowly when passing emergency vehicles to prevent further tragedy." 

According to the Illinois State Police, District 5 covering Will County is investigating the second Scott’s Law-related crash in just a week. The first occurred on Feb. 15 while a trooper was assisting drivers on Interstate 55 northbound near US Route 30, and the trooper was airlifted to a local area hospital with serious injuries. The second crash happened on Feb. 16 while a trooper was responding to an accident on Interstate 80 over Interstate 55. The trooper sustained non-life-threatening injuries and has been released from hospital care.

SPRINGFIELD – Following Governor JB Pritzker’s budget address Wednesday, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) says that his proposal is a good start to the budget process and she looks forward to being involved in negotiations this spring.

“This year has been tough on a lot of families, especially those with school-aged children,” said Loughran Cappel, vice-chair of the Senate Education Committee. “I am glad to see that the governor plans to maintain funding for higher education and increase funding for need-based tuition assistance programs.”

Additionally, Gov. Pritzker’s proposal utilizes an increase in funding for the Illinois Department of Employment Security to upgrade the system and increase call center capacity to help meet the unprecedented need during the pandemic. The proposal also includes competitive grant funding to provide infrastructure improvements to roads and highways to benefit the communities of Will and Kendall counties.

“We are living through unprecedented times, and I understand that some priorities will need to take precedent,” Loughran Cappel said. “I hope to work with my colleagues and the governor to pass a budget that provides stability for working families in the 49th District and restores predictability that will help get our local economy back on track.”

PLAINFIELD – The Oswegoland Park District Nature Preschool has received an Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Grant to fund a pollinator garden at the school, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Plainfield) announced. 

“Kids learn best through hands-on experience, so this grant opportunity is a great way to give them that opportunity,” said Loughran Cappel, who was a teacher prior to becoming senator. “This project will benefit both the kids who get to learn about Illinois habitats and the wildlife species the garden will attract.”

SPRINGFIELD – This week’s lame duck session was a win for students and teachers with the passing of the Black Caucus’s education pillar and legislation restoring collective bargaining rights to Chicago teachers. With her background in education, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D- Shorewood) is especially proud to have been a part of such monumental votes.

“As a mother and former teacher and school board member, I’m proud one of the first votes I cast was to improve our school system for all children,” Loughran Cappel said. “Ensuring every child has the tools they need to success in their education is one of my top priorities.”

The education reform measure, part of the Black Caucus’s plan to improve conditions for minorities and low-income families touches on early childhood, K-12 and higher education. It includes measures to expand high school graduation requirements to include two years of laboratory science and foreign language and to improve curriculums teaching about minority groups and civil rights.