ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) is reminding residents that independent contractors and employees in the “gig economy” can apply for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“With the passage of the CARES Act, more employees are now able to receive economic assistance,” Gillespie said. “Those who work in the ‘gig economy’ should apply as soon as possible so they can be approved for the PUA program.”

Read more: Gillespie encourages independent contractors to apply for new unemployment program

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS –State Senator Ann Gillespie (D-Arlington Heights) and State Rep. Jonathan Carroll (D-Northbrook) released the following statements after the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) announced new rules that would continue to allow students to be restrained in a prone position:

“We are disappointed in the decision to allow for prone restraints to continue to be used in schools,” Gillespie said. “Prone restraints carry the most serious risk to students and are unacceptable. When students return to school after the Stay at Home order, they should not be put in a situation where their most basic dignity can be stripped away.”

“We’ve been working in good faith with all stakeholders to ensure that students are protected, and this decision undermines all that work,” Carroll said. “It’s disappointing that special interests have manipulated this process beyond the work we’ve done to produce a comprehensive bill. We will continue our work to make classrooms a safe learning environment for all students.”

Senator Gillespie and Rep. Carroll will continue to advocate for a ban on prone restraints in their pending legislation on seclusion rooms, Senate Bill 2315 and House Bill 3975.

To keep vulnerable populations healthy during the outbreak of the new coronavirus, grocery stores throughout Illinois are offering special senior hours. See the list below for your favorite store's hours.

Read more: Find Senior Hours at Your Local Grocery Store

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Ann Gillespie issued the following statement today following Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address:

“There were many laudable goals in the governor’s proposal today, and as we begin the work of negotiating a budget in the General Assembly, I want to ensure we don’t lose sight of many of them,” Gillespie said. “I know what my constituents demand: A budget that is balanced, that ensures we continue the growth and investment in our public schools of the last few years, and that deals honestly with the state’s pension obligations.

“We may be appropriating a budget for the coming year, but we are also creating the first part of a road map for the many years to come. For the future of Illinois, we need a responsible budget.”