SPRINGFIELD – February 2022 may soon be Career and Technical Education Month in Illinois, thanks to State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood).

“Career and technical education is another tool to give our children real-world skills to excel in their future careers,” Loughran Cappel said. “CTE connects and creates a pathway for Illinois students to be prepared for the jobs of the future.”

Approximately 12.5 million high school and college students are enrolled in CTE courses across the country. Advance CTE reports that the high school graduation rate for CTE concentrators is about 90%– 15 percentage points higher than the national average.

Loughran Cappel’s district is served by the Wilco Area Career Center, which works with area students to develop skill sets that provide a pathway to college and career readiness.

“On behalf of the nearly 1,200 hundred students at Wilco Area Career Center, the 30,000 CTE students in Will County and the additional thousands in the State of Illinois, we appreciate Senator Loughran Cappel’s recognition of Career and Technical Education month and her ongoing work to support College and Career Pathways in Illinois,” said Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman, executive director of Wilco. “Career and Technical education programs in the State of Illinois have worked tirelessly to prepare essential workers, connecting students to further education and employment opportunities. Along with the State of Illinois, Wilco celebrates Career and Technical Education month and the possibilities that CTE provides to the students, the employers, and the economic development of Illinois.” 

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) will host a virtual Theft and Scams Prevention Workshop with the office of the Illinois comptroller Wednesday.

The hour-long workshop, which takes place Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 12 p.m., will inform residents of the best practices to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, scams and identity theft

It will be livestreamed through State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel’s Facebook Page, which can be found at @SenatorMegLoughranCappel.

“The pandemic has opened more opportunities for scammers to take advantage of residents,” Loughran Cappel said. “Join our informative virtual seminar from the comfort of your own home to learn about signs to look out for, and resources to take advantage of if you fall victim.”

From phishing emails to illegal robocalls, scammers are getting creative with how they take advantage of their victims. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made these issues worse, with some scammers asking people to give their bank account information to receive fraudulent checks, invest in fake companies and more.

Loughran Cappel urges residents to reach out to her office with questions or concerns at 815-267-6119. If someone is unable to watch the livestream of the workshop a recording will be accessible on her Facebook Page account at a later date.

PLAINFIELD – In an effort to lift the spirits of seniors in the 49^th District, State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood)  invites residents of all ages to get creative and donate homemade or store-bought valentines to support seniors.

“This is one small way to brighten the day for our seniors,” Loughran Cappel said. “I urge area residents of all ages to take a few minutes to make or buy a Valentine’s Day card to make sure our seniors know we are thinking of them during these winter months.”

Loughran Cappel is encouraging churches, schools and community members in the region to write Valentine’s Day cards, which can be dropped off or mailed to her district office. Once all the cards have been collected, they will be delivered to various senior facilities in the 49^th District.

The collection of Valentine’s Day cards will run through Thursday, Feb. 10. Those wishing to participate can drop off cards at Loughran Cappel’s office or mail them to:

Senator Loughran Cappel

2009 S. Route 59

Plainfield, IL  60586

For more information, residents can contact Loughran Cappel’s office at 815-267-6119.

PLAINFIELD – State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel’s office is starting off the new year with traveling office hours at the Troy-Shorewood Public Library on Friday, Jan. 14 from 11 a.m. – noon to increase accessibility to residents throughout the 49th District.

Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) hosts traveling office hours every month at different locations and times of day to increase the availability of state assistance and informational resources.

“Government works best when we are easily accessible and accountable to the people who live in our communities,” Loughran Cappel said. “I urge folks who need assistance accessing state and local resources to stop by and find out about new programs and services available.”

Previous traveling office hours have been hosted in Naperville, Oswego and Bolingbrook.

Loughran Cappel urges residents unable to attend the monthly office hours to reach out to her office at 815-267-6119 or visit her website to take her legislative survey.