BURBANK— Last week a Chicago Public Schools teacher in Garfield Ridge was murdered. Days later, the alleged killer attacked and shot an Illinois State Police officer in Springfield, leaving the officer critically wounded.

In response, State Senator Mike Porfirio released the following statement regarding the urgency to take action and pass legislation to prevent situations like these from occurring in the future:

“I am devastated by the tragic shooting that occurred in our district, resulting in the loss of a valued public servant and member of our community. The murder of Adrianna Lopez in such a cruel and violent manner is unacceptable. We owe it to Ms. Lopez’s memory to take concrete steps to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

“Gun violence against women is a repeated pattern that must be addressed. Illinois lawmakers have the responsibility to take action to prevent attacks like this from occurring. I remain committed to working with my colleagues to pass legislation, known as Karina’s Bill, that will prevent further violence and save lives to empower law enforcement to grant more protection to victims of domestic violence.  

“We must reflect on this loss, acknowledge the pain it has caused and unite to prevent further suffering and loss of life. We must remember that violence and abuse have no place in our community. My heartfelt condolences are with Ms. Lopez’s family, her loved ones and the entire CPS community during this unprecedented and difficult time.

“While Officer Chapman-Green was shot several times, he is thankfully expected to recover. I will continue to keep him in my thoughts and I wish for a speedy recovery.”

BURBANK—State Senator Mike Porfirio announced the Secretary of State’s office has launched two “senior only” walk-in DMV centers in the Chicago area, one of which will be located in Bridgeview.

“This is a huge win for seniors in our communities,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “By offering a more targeted option, the Secretary of State’s office is ensuring that seniors are prioritized without impacting other DMV customers who have made appointments.”

In the district Porfirio represents, Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview will implement the senior only walk-in option. Seniors at this location, as well as the other walk-in location in Evanston, will not need appointments.

However, seniors still have the option to make a standard appointment at these and other DMV locations. Both centers are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and offer full driver and motor vehicle services, including in-car driving tests.

“These centers are a testament to our commitment to improving the quality of life for our residents,” said Porfirio. “Our seniors have contributed immensely to our communities, so it is important that we make their interactions with government services as smooth as possible.”

The centers include Seat Geek Stadium located at 7000 S. Harlem Ave. in Bridgeview, and Evanston Civic Center, located at 2100 N. Ridge Rd. in Evanston. For more information, visit the SOS website. To schedule an appointment, seniors can call 800-252-8980.

BURBANK – State Senator Mike Porfirio is encouraging all eligible people to apply to this year’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help with utility costs. Applications will be accepted starting Oct. 2 through Aug. 15, 2024.

“This program helps minimize the financial hardships that energy bills often place on families, especially during the winter months when rates increase” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “I strongly encourage all residents to take advantage of this program and ensure they have access to affordable energy.”

Energy bill assistance offered through the Help Illinois Families Program in program year 2023 will provide $237 million to eligible families to assist with natural gas, propane and electricity bills. Last year's LIHEAP funding — which was available from September 2022 through May 2023 — provided assistance to a record number of 311,214 households.

Beginning Oct. 2, eligible families can apply to this year’s program by visiting HelpIllinoisFamilies.com or by visiting their local agency (a list of partners throughout the state can be found here). Families can also call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance in 30 languages.

“By reducing the monetary burden of energy costs, families can allocate their resources to other essential needs,” said Porfirio. “It is important that all families in our communities have equitable access to essential services. This program is a step in the right direction for reducing the disparities in energy access and quality of life for residents.”

All families who meet the qualifications and provide proper documentation will receive support until funding is exhausted. Families who earn up to two times the federal poverty level are eligible to receive support through LIHEAP.

BURBANK– A measure championed by State Senator Mike Porfirio this year expanded the Residential Sound Insulation Program Advisory Committee by two members, and recently, Senate President Don Harmon appointed Porfirio as one of these members.

“The goal with expanding the committee was to provide additional insight for municipalities, ensuring that affected areas have adequate representation,” said Porfirio (D-Lyons Township). “I’m grateful to President Harmon for entrusting me with this responsibility, and I look forward to being able to serve Cook County residents in a new way.”

Municipalities can establish Residential Sound Insulation Programs to mitigate the impacts of aircraft noise and pollution on neighboring homes by replacing residential windows and monitoring the off-gassing of those replacements. At least 10% of window replacements must go to homes that are considered in extreme hardship.

The committee—with the changes Porfirio’s legislation enacted—is comprised of 11 members who monitor the various municipal programs and have the authority to determine which homes contain windows or doors that cause offensive odors and are thus eligible for replacement.

“The city of Chicago has already sound insulated more than 21,000 homes near O’Hare and Midway airports,” said Porfirio. “I’m excited for the opportunity to continue this trend and improve the quality of living for community members in these highly impacted areas.”

Porfirio’s appointment to the RSIP Advisory Committee is effective immediately and expires January 2025.