Johnson moves legislation to prohibit withholding transcripts for unpaid high school fees

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) moved legislation out of the Senate Education Committee to prohibit public high schools from withholding a student's grades, transcripts or diploma due to unpaid balances on a student’s account today.

“Students are so much more than a set of credits,” said State Senator Adriane Johnson. “They are scholars and future contributors to our society, and we should do all we can to further their academic careers and not contribute to unnecessary burdens.”

Current law does not address withholding of grades, transcripts of diplomas for students for financial reasons whatsoever. The law only speaks to academic performance, established local goals and objectives, age, and other social reasons.

Under House Bill 4243, the prohibition would last for 3 years and would require school districts to catalogue and report the total amount of unpaid accounts due to the prohibition of withholding grades, transcripts, or diplomas to the Illinois State Board of Education.

“This is an equity issue and this practice almost exclusively affects low-income students,” said Johnson. “Plus, there is no real evidence that withholding a student’s transcript encourages parents to pay the bill.”

House Bill 4243 passed the Senate Education Committee and will be heard before the full Senate for further consideration.

Johnson announces more than $4.7 million in grant funding for local businesses

WAUKEGAN – Local businesses in Cook and Lake Counties were awarded more than $4.7 million in funding from the Back to Business program thanks to advocacy and support from State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove)

“Small businesses have continuously bounced back despite the issues in supply or other pandemic related burdens,” Johnson said. “Grant programs like Back to Business have been vital to keeping the doors open of thousands of small businesses across the state, and especially those in Lake County. I am proud to have supported this initiative in bringing additional resources to the area as our economy continues to recover.”

The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

So far – thanks to strong support from Senator Johnsoon – DCEO has provided $200 million in B2B grants to small businesses throughout the state with an emphasis on disproportionately impacted areas. With nearly $50 million left to go, more businesses will have the opportunity to get a share of the relief funds.  

Grants will continue to be awarded on a rolling basis. Visit the DCEO website for more information on the B2B program or check the status of an existing application by logging into the portal.

Johnson delivers Valentines to local long-term care facility residents

WAUKEGAN – Thanks to outpouring support from the community in her Valentine’s collection drive, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) delivered numerous cards to residents in local long-term care facilities.

“Residents were overjoyed to receive so many cards full of encouragement, love and thoughtfulness,” Johnson said. “I can’t thank the students and community members of the 30th District enough for their participation and support.”

Pictured from top to bottom:

• Pavilion Nursing Home of Waukegan
• Symphony Nursing Home of Buffalo Grove
• And Thrive Nursing Home of Lake County

Special thank you to following groups that donated Valentine's Day cards:

1.  St. Andrews Lutheran Church - Mundelein

2.  Our Lords Little Ones - Mundelein

3.  St. Anastasia Catholic School - Waukegan

4.  Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep. - Waukegan

5.  Lake County Treasurer Holly Kim

6.  Mundelein Queens

Senate approves Johnson’s plan to restore, protect Lake Michigan’s shore

SPRINGFIELD – To clean up the ponds of coal ash created by the Waukegan Power Generating Station along Lake Michigan and hold the company accountable for its pollution, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) took action by advancing a measure through the Senate to restore safety to the area and offer environmental protection.

“Lake Michigan is an essential water source to Waukegan and other shore-line communities,” Johnson said. “Waukegan has too long been burdened by environmental hazards, and by requiring the plant to clean up its ash ponds, we are one step closer to reaching environmental justice in the area and progressing to a cleaner, greener future.”

With requirements outlined under the Environmental Protection Act, Johnson’s initiative requires coal combustion residual, or coal ash, stored in ponds on Lake Michigan’s shore at the Waukegan Generating Station to be removed from the site. The plant’s owner must also conduct a site investigation to identify and characterize the scope and extent of coal ash pollution on the site.

Coal production at the Waukegan Power Generating Station is scheduled to end in June 2022.

“Coal-fired power plants have caused irreparable damage to our communities and ecosystems, and the Waukegan site is a pollution nightmare,” Johnson said. “We must make strong efforts to clean up coal ash around Lake Michigan and offer protection to our region’s largest water source from decades of lingering toxins.”

Senate Bill 3073 advanced out of the Senate Friday and moves for further consideration in the House.