Yesterday marked the deadline for passing Senate Bills out of the Senate. The chamber’s focus will shift to House Bills for the remainder of session. Since the beginning of the 98^th General Assembly in January, the Senate has passed 341 legislative items.Read the complete list of passed bills.

Do you have unused or expired prescription or over-the-counter medications in your home? Don't throw them away -- dispose of them responsibly and easily.

Saturday, April 27 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, when law enforcement agencies will oversee local collection sites to take prescription and over-the-counter meds and dispose of them safely, conveniently and in an environmentally sound manner.

Read more: Saturday: Take Back Unused Prescription Drug Day

With the court-mandated June deadline to pass concealed carry legislation approaching, debate about the best way to the law continues. The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) held a rally in front of the Capitol in support of legislation that would limit who can carry a loaded weapon in public.

A number of people took the podium to advocate for stricter gun control legislation keeping the violence that occurs in Chicago on a daily basis in mind. Behind the podium, people help up a sea of photographs of young people who have fallen victim to gun violence.

“We demand change because we deserve a future,” said Victor Valencia, whose brother died from a gunshot wound.

Read more: Capitol rally for more gun safety

The week of April 15 is National Work Zone Awareness Week, bringing attention to the importance of driving with alertness and caution in highway construction zones.

In 2012, 19 people died in work zones on Illinois roads. Two of those were construction workers, 10 were drivers, three passengers, two motorcyclists and two pedestrians. Your life and that of your passengers as well as those of construction workers and other motorists or pedestrians are at stake and work zone accidents are preventable with your commitment.

Read more: 1900 injuries, 28 fatalities annual average in Illinois work zones

Today would have marked the 91st birthday of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington.  In recognition, the Chicago City Council has declared today to be “Harold Washington Day” in the city.

Washington was born in Chicago on April 15th, 1922.  His father, Roy, was a minister as well as a lawyer, and his mother, Bertha, was a singer.  Washington grew up in Bronzeville and attended DuSable High School.

Read more: Illinois Senate Democrats remember Harold Washington