A good-government law promoting greater transparency about Medicaid applications was signed into law today.

“Examining trends of long-term care applications for Medicaid can reduce our backlog and improve government efficiency,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). “In the past year, DHS and DHFS reduced their backlog from 12,500 pending cases to less than 6,000.”

Free health and fitness services, back-to-school supplies, activities and food will be available for families and residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 1. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) and the Institute for Positive Living are providing free health screenings. For the first time, Hunter will join the families of victims of violence and families for those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer for consecutive balloon releases at 10:45 a.m.

The 12th Annual Health, Fun & Fitness Fair, located at the Illinois Institute of Technology on 33rd and State St., will offer free eye and dental examinations, health screenings and provide information on nutrition, exercise and holistic health. The festivities will include raffles, prizes, food and refreshment.

Services may soon resume for seniors, wards of the state and families who rely upon state-funded public health and Department of Children and Family Services’ care. The Illinois Senate overrode the governor’s veto of the Department of Public Health and DCFS’s budget today.

“Providing vital services for seniors, families and at-risk children are our state’s top priority,” said State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago). “I urge the governor to join us in protecting our most vulnerable residents. We should not put their lives in limbo while we debate on how to run our state.”

“Letting thousands of families lose cooling assistance isn’t governing. That’s abandonment.”

-    State Senator Mattie Hunter, Majority Caucus Whip.

Over 150 concerned residents packed Antioch Missionary Baptist Church last night to oppose Governor Rauner’s suspension of state contributions to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which helps seniors and low-income families afford heating and cooling.