WAUKEGAN — State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) released the following statement:

“The news that Vista Hospital will no longer have emergency OB-GYN care is yet another blow to our community. The failed leadership of the previous Vista heads has left the current CEO in an impossible situation to save our hospital. It never should have come to this.

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson announced that 12 school districts across the 30^th District will receive over $8 million in evidence-based funding, in addition to the base funding that the state provides.

“We have to make investments into our schools to ensure our students have the best educational opportunities available,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “With evidence-based funding, we can identify the school districts that need more funding and direct resources toward educators and institutions that need and deserve assistance.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

BUFFALO GROVE — State Senators Adriane Johnson and Mary Edly-Allen are hosting a State of Transit Town Hall on Monday, alongside Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart and special guest State Senator Ram Villivalam, to share updates about the state of transit in Illinois.

“Public transit connects our community – getting residents where they need to go, when they need it,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “We need to continue to speak with residents to learn more about how they use public transit and provide them with updates on our work.”

The Northeastern Illinois transit region is expected to hit a $771 million fiscal cliff as federal pandemic relief funding runs out. Public transit riders are currently facing issues with the system, including delayed service, a lack of routes and limited coordination of services between providers. This presents an issue for many, as they are left without reliable transportation to reach health care appointments, jobs, school and more.

SPRINGFIELD — To improve access to critical support services for Illinois families, State Senator Adriane Johnson has passed a new law enhancing oversight, transparency and statewide coordination of the 2-1-1 helpline system.

“The 2-1-1 helpline connects people to housing, food, mental health care and so much more — often during their most vulnerable moments,” said Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This law will ensure that those seeking help aren’t met with delays or dead ends, but with compassionate, effective support.”

Senate Bill 2194 requires the lead entity managing 2-1-1 in Illinois to submit regular reports to the Department of Human Services on key service indicators — including caller demographics, referral gaps, coverage areas and outcome data. These insights will help state leaders identify areas for improvement and better tailor services to meet community needs.