State Senator Omar Aquino, standing alongside Service Employees International Union members, pushed for a wage increase for home care workers in Illinois at a rally Wednesday.

“When I worked for the Community Care Program, I witnessed firsthand the impact of home care workers on seniors’ ability to live an independent and dignified life,” expressed Aquino to advocates gathered in the Capitol rotunda. “You all provide dignified work—you should earn a dignified pay.”

Aquino joined hundreds of home care workers rallying together to speak on the need to increase wages for home care workers who provide essential personal assistance and health care support to thousands of seniors and people with disabilities across the state.

State Senator Omar Aquino joined Governor JB Pritzker at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture to announce the creation of Puerto Rico Town as an official State-Designated Cultural District.

“In Illinois, diversity is our strength, and the State-Designated Cultural Districts Program is shining a much-deserved light on some of our state’s most culturally and historically rich communities, including Puerto Rico Town,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “These designations will help Illinoisans celebrate our lineage and traditions of our communities.”

Launched in 2023, the State-Designated Cultural Districts program aims to uplift the unique contributions of historic cultural districts with the overarching goal of increasing economic development opportunities. The purpose of the program is to support the preservation and development of history and culturally significant structures, traditions and languages, foster local cultural development and education, provide a focal point for celebrating communities’ unique cultural identities, and promote equitable growth and opportunity without generating displacement.

The new district in Humboldt Park — also known as Puerto Rico Town — will be led by efforts from the Puerto Rican Cultural Center. Cultural Districts are eligible to apply for $3 million in funding that will be tailored to fit the needs of the individual district and support the goals of the program to foster economic development and help preserve their unique cultural identities.

Under a proposal announced Wednesday by State Senator Omar Aquino and State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., working parents in Illinois earning the median income or less could soon have the option to claim a state-level child tax credit on their state income taxes.

“The Child Tax Credit I am proposing this year would put money back in working-class parents’ pockets,” said Aquino (D-Chicago). “That little bit of extra change helps families stay afloat, provide a good education for their children, and re-invest that money right back into our local economy. It’s why studies show that just this investment in our families would pay dividends, by creating a $1 billion surplus in our economy.”

Senate Bill 3329 would create a state-level child tax credit for eligible low- and middle-income families. Families would receive a $300 tax credit for each child under the age of 17. The proposal would benefit joint filers earning less than $75,000 and single filers earning less than $50,000. If passed, Illinois would become the 15^th state to enact a state-level child tax credit.

Local governments: Don’t miss out on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Stormwater Partnership Program. This program can help government organizations address flooding by paying for the construction of stormwater infrastructure on public property in Cook County, including localized detention, upsizing storm sewers and culverts, pumping stations, establishing drainage ways and implementing green infrastructure. These projects can reduce flooding and prevent damage to residential homes and businesses.

The MWRD will review applications and select projects for partnerships. The selected partner is responsible for their project's design, contract advertisement and award, construction, and long-term maintenance.

Learn more about who can apply, what projects are eligible, how funding can be used and general partnership requirements on the MWRD website. Interested local government entities must submit a pre-application form by Sunday, Feb. 11 to be considered for the program – click here to view the form.

For questions regarding the Stormwater Partnership Program or how to apply, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..