Grassroots effort leads to dropping of controversial rail expansion

• Lake Forest
• Hiawatha Service

LAKE FOREST - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has dropped a proposal to install holding tracks for freight trains in Lake Forest and Glenview after pressure from State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), State Senator Laura Fine (D-Glenview) and a coalition of grassroots citizens in the North Suburbs who voiced their opposition to the proposal.

“The recent announcement by IDOT represents a hard fought win for the many homeowners and concerned citizens who stood up and made their voices heard,” Morrison said. “It was a pleasure to advocate and ultimately be successful for the thousands of area residents who stood up and refused to accept this ill-advised proposal.”

Morrison expressed concern with the project after plans were submitted that would have led to the construction of extra rail lines just feet from property and businesses across the region.

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Morrison, Raoul increase awareness on the effects of trauma on children

• Children
• Video
• Attorney General Kwame Raoul
• SR 99

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) is raising awareness that traumatic experiences during childhood, including physical abuse, sexual assault or emotional neglect, can affect the development of a child and have a lifetime effect on the physical and mental health of a person’s life.

In response to the growing public health concern, Morrison recently passed a resolution declaring May 15 as Trauma-Informed Awareness Day to highlight the importance of prevention and effective responses to dealing with trauma. Morrison joined with Attorney General Raoul, fellow colleagues and health advocates at a press conference in Springfield today to further highlight the issue.

“We are here today to stand together to confront this growing public health concern,” Morrison said. “The data has proven the direct correlation between trauma and mental and physical health. We as policy makers and advocates need to continue working to ensure mental health care and trauma prevention are at the forefront of our discussions and the dedication of our state resources.”

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Trooper Christopher Lambert remembered at Illinois State Police ceremony

• Audio
• Video
• Highland Park
• Illinois State Police
• Trooper Christopher Lambert

Illinois State Police Trooper Christopher Lambert was assisting in a traffic accident on the Tri-State Tollway in January when he was struck by a speeding motorist and killed. A five-year member of the State Police, Trooper Lambert was traveling home to Highland Park when the crash occurred.

A ceremony this week at the newly finished Illinois State Police Memorial Park honored Trooper Lambert’s service to the people of Illinois.

“Trooper Lambert’s selfless sacrifice toward ensuring the safety of Illinoisans is why we are all here today,” said State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield), who attended this week's ceremony. “In the months and years ahead, let us never forget the thousands of Illinois State Police officers and others in law enforcement who get up every day in the service of their fellow Illinoisans.”

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Morrison calls for audit of DCFS hotline in wake of 5-year-old’s death

DEERFIELD – State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) released the statement below following Crystal Lake Police’s announcement today that they are charging AJ Freund’s parents with murder after finding the 5-year-old’s body: 

“It is horrific that we are once again discussing the death of a child following alleged abuse and neglect at the hands of his parents. It does not get any easier to hear these stories.

“As with many other deaths, it seems the system designed to protect Illinois' children did not work in AJ Freund's case.

“It has long been my contention that we need to start at the first step of the child protection system and look critically at the Illinois hotline program. It is our duty as legislators to investigate why this happened. Therefore, I am calling for an independent, comprehensive audit of the DCFS hotline.

“The legislature, along with the governor, must begin in some concrete ways to reform an agency that has failed in its responsibility to protect children.”