MARYVILLE - To show appreciation for first responders and their efforts during the pandemic, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon), State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and State Representative Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) are sponsoring a mobile blood drive in partnership with the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center.

“With the holiday season upon us, first responders and their families deserve our deepest admiration as we reflect on all we have to be thankful for over the last year,” Crowe said. “By donating blood in their honor, we can give back to those who have kept us safe in this difficult time.”

The mobile blood donation bus will be set up in the parking lot of Sen. Crowe’s office at 35 Executive Court Plaza in Maryville on Jan. 7, 2021 from 3-7 p.m. To donate, residents must make an appointment on the blood center’s website. Masks are required.

For more information, call Mira at (618) 401-4165 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

MARYVILLE – With winter weather fast approaching, State Senators Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) recommend bookmarking the Illinois Department of Transportation’s GettingAroundIllinois.com website for continually updated information on road conditions.

“We all know how dangerous roads can become in the wintertime,” Belt said. “During snowy or icy conditions, Getting Around Illinois is a great tool for determining whether your trip out is safe.”

GettingAroundIllinois.com can be accessed using a computer or a smartphone. Road conditions are recorded by plow drivers out in the field and relayed to GettingAroundIllinois.com through a cloud-based system to provide a general overview on IDOT-maintained highways. The site includes the ability to identify and zoom in to a location, travel route or destination on a state map.

“While the CDC recommends limiting travel because of COVID-19 right now, there are still times when you may need to leave the house,” Crowe said. “If you do need to travel, Getting Around Illinois can help you choose the best route to get to your destination.”

The website also provides information on road construction, average daily traffic and trucking routes. Residents can visit and bookmark GettingAroundIllinois.com for the most up-to-date road conditions throughout Illinois.

Round 2 applications now being accepted by DCEO

MARYVILLE – To mend digital inequities in rural areas of the Metro East region, State Senator Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) and State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) are urging local organizations to apply for a portion of $50 million in available funding through the second round of the Connect Illinois broadband expansion program.

“High-speed internet is one of the most important resources for households and businesses, especially in our current climate,” Belt said. “To ensure that no child, family or business is left behind, I encourage eligible applicants in the Metro East area to apply for the Connect Illinois program.”

The second round of Connect Illinois grants will award up to $5 million per project. At least 50 percent of total project expenses must be provided as nonstate match, be it from private, local or other nonstate sources, to accelerate the delivery of broadband investments. Internet service providers, rural cooperatives, nonprofits and local governments are eligible to apply.

“To ensure small businesses are able to compete and residents are able to connect at work and school, access to reliable, high-speed internet is critical,” Crowe said. “Communities must have the resources to support local digital demands, and applying for this grant is a simple way to expand broadband opportunities to those living in rural and underserved areas.”

Funding for the Connect Illinois program is made possible through Rebuild Illinois, the state’s historic, bipartisan $45 billion statewide construction program, which has dedicated $420 million to expanding broadband infrastructure.

The application will remain open through February 2021. The application and more information on this grant program can be found on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s website.

MARYVILLE – To help local governments cover unexpected costs due to COVID-19, State Senator Rachelle Crowe (D-Glen Carbon) and State Representative Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville) have secured critical federal funding for Madison County, East Alton, the Caseyville Public Library District and many others through the Local Coronavirus Urgent Remediation Emergency (Local CURE) program.

“The pandemic continues to inflict unexpected financial devastation on many industries,” Crowe said. “By successfully applying and utilizing Local CURE funding, we can ensure COVID-19 expenses don’t fall on the backs of taxpayers.”

Local CURE funds can be used to reimburse a variety of costs associated with COVID-19, including purchasing personal protective equipment, the cost of sanitizing and arranging workspaces and public spaces to follow public safety guidelines, COVID-19-related overtime expenses, and more.

“It is vital that our local governmental entities are able to recoup what they can from this federal funding. Everyone, from our county government to our libraries have been impacted by this virus,” Stuart said. “These funds will help them deal with the costs associated with protecting our public health during this crisis.” 

The Local CURE program is federally funded from the Coronavirus Relief Fund using dollars allocated to Illinois through the CARES Act. These dollars are allocated by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to downstate local governments to help cover necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 crisis.