SPRINGFIELD – Following the election of a new Senate President, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) offered the following statement:

“I would like to congratulate Senator Don Harmon for becoming President of the Senate. Over the years Harmon has showed strong leadership skills day in and day out. I look forward to working with him to bring unlimited resources back to my district,” Jones said.

Lawmakers will return to Springfield on Jan. 28 for the beginning of the spring legislative session.

CHICAGO – Five local school districts will receive more than $8,000 combined in grants through the Illinois secretary of state’s School Library Grant program, State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) announced Wednesday.

The grants, which are issued by the Illinois State Library, are meant to help public schools offer more library books and materials to students.

“These grants will provide many additional learning materials to the deserving school districts,” Jones said. “It’s sad to say, but libraries are often overlooked and underfunded so these funds will be beneficial to increasing our students reading skills.”

Schools receiving school library grants include:

• Atwood Heights School District 125, Alsip — $750
• Alsip, Hazelgreen & Oak Lawn School District 126 — $1,128.75
• Cook County School District 130, Blue Island — $2,396.25
• Forest Ridge School District 142, Oak Forest — $1,189.50
• Kirby School District 140, Tinley Park — $2,557.50

SPRINGFIELD – Legislation sponsored by State Senator Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) that will increase access to apprenticeship programs in the construction industry for African Americans was signed into law.

Jones's legislation creates the Bureau on Apprenticeship Programs within the Illinois Department of Labor and creates an advisory board of 12 legislators (three from each caucus, appointed by the caucus leader). The goal of the commission is to increase minority participation in apprenticeship programs.