Tuesday, September 30
NFL says Abdullah should not have been penalized
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The NFL said Tuesday that Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah should not have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct when he dropped to his knees in prayer after an interception.
Monday, September 29
Pro-democracy protests expand in Hong Kong
HONG KONG (AP) — Pro-democracy protesters, some wearing surgical masks and holding up umbrellas to protect against tear gas, expanded their rallies throughout Hong Kong on Monday, defying calls to disperse in a major pushback against Beijing's decision to limit democratic reforms in the Asian financial hub.
Friday, September 26
Few flights resume at Chicago airports after fire
CHICAGO (AP) — A contract employee suspected of setting a fire at a suburban Chicago air traffic control center brought two of the nation's busiest airports to a halt for hours Friday, sending delays and cancellations rippling through the air-travel network from coast to coast.
Study: Millennials Less Trusting than Gen X Was
They're often pegged as the civic-minded, do-gooding generation. But while they're still optimistic about their own personal prospects, a new study finds that today's youth are often more skeptical of the country's institutions than the young generations that preceded them.
Justice Department Plans National Effort to Build Trust Between Law Enforcement and Communities
Attorney General, Eric Holder announced last week the launch of the Justice Department’s National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice. Funded through a $4.75 million grant, the initiative will create a substantial investment in training, evidence-based strategies, policy development and research to combat distrust and hostility between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Wednesday, September 24
South Suburban College Announces 6th Annual Manufacturing Conference at Oak Forest Center
South Suburban College is gearing up for its 6th Annual Manufacturing Conference. This year’s conference theme titled, Making the Model Work, is produced by South Suburban College’s Business & Career Institute (BCI) and will take place on Friday, Oct. 3, from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the college’s Oak Forest Center, 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest.
First Ever AAHH! FEST Involves the Community
The first ever AAHH! FEST presented by Chicago rappers Common, Kanye West and Che “Rhymefest” Smith on Sept. 21 at Union Park, 501 W. Randolph St., provided a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and promoted peace and positivity.
Cook County Authorities Probe Dolton Animal Hospital
A south suburban animal hospital is under investigation after a police officer found four dead dogs at the facility, Cook County authorities said.
8th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Fest Continues to Reach the Community
The 8th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Fest, a free two-day festival featuring local, national, and international jazz artists, is now a community staple that honors the history of jazz on Chicago’s south side of and will take place at several different venues spanning the Hyde Park community Sept. 27 and 28.
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Releases New Mobile Incident Reporting App
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has released a new mobile incident reporting app as an extension of its online incident reporting application released last May. The free app is currently available on Apple operating system products only.
Jesse White Tumbler Shot and Killed
Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White and members of his Jesse White Tumblers are mourning the death of a team member who was shot Sept. 18 on the 1300 block of North Cleveland Avenue.
Bronzeville Dream Center to Address Violence, Provide Post-Trauma Counseling
Clergy leaders from various faiths, gathered last Friday along with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to launch a collaborative effort between Bright Star Community Outreach, Northwestern Medicine, University Chicago Medicine and the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago to combat violence and provide post-trauma counseling and other support.
Morehouse College Defeats Central State University
The 17th Annual Chicago Football Classic (CFC) held at Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Dr., on September 20 and played between Morehouse College and Central State University attracted thousands of spectators, despite the downpour of rain that plagued the earlier part of that day. In the end, Morehouse College from Atlanta, Ga. defeated Central State University from Wilberforce, Ohio, by a score of 43-9.
95th St. and Dan Ryan Red Line Terminal Renovation Gets Underway
Local aldermen joined U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President, Forrest Claypool, and CTA Chairman, Terry Peterson and other dignitaries Monday morning to announce renovation of the 95th St. and Dan Ryan Redline Terminal, one of CTA’s largest rail station projects that officials say is a $240 million investment that will modernize the city's transit system and promote economic opportunity on Chicago’s south side.
Tuesday, September 23
Obama urges world to follow US lead on climate
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — In the first international test for his climate-change strategy, President Barack Obama pressed world leaders Tuesday to follow the United States' lead on the issue, even as a United Nations summit revealed the many obstacles that still stand in the way of wider agreements to reduce heat-trapping pollution.
Thursday, September 18
Home Depot says malware affected 56M payment cards
NEW YORK (AP) — Home Depot said that 56 million payment cards were estimated to have been breached in a data theft between April and September at its stores in the U.S. and Canada. That makes it the second-largest breach for a retailer on record.
Dancer Misty Copeland inspires new generation of ballerinas
“This is for the little brown girls,” writes Misty Copeland in the prologue of her New York Times bestselling memoir, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina,
Wednesday, September 17
African-American Hair: Dermatologists’ Tips for Everyday Care, Processing and Styling
Unique in appearance and structure, African-American hair is especially fragile and prone to injury and damage. More than half of African-American women will cite thinning hair or hair loss as their top hair concern. Fortunately, there are a lot of things African-Americans can do to help minimize damage and keep their hair beautiful.
Report: NFL racial hiring up, women hires lagging
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An annual report on the diversity of the NFL personnel shows the league has achieved an all-time high mark for racial hiring practices, while it continues to struggle with diversity in gender hiring at the team level.
JRW Still Making Rounds as Little League Baseball's 2014 World Series U.S. Champions
As Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West (JRW) All Stars, Little League Baseball’s 2014 World Series U.S. Champions slowly return to the normalcy of life, by returning back to school, city of Chicago officials seem a bit reluctant to let go of the excitement surrounding the young celebrities. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and several aldermen welcomed the JRW All Stars to last Wednesday’s City Council meeting where the team, the parents and coaches were once again honored.
Chicago Sky’s WNBA Finals Run Positively Impacts Community
Since its inaugural year in 2006, the Chicago Sky (Sky) women's basketball team, has consistently aspired to uplift, empower, and inspire young women, through community engagement initiatives. Additionally, the Sky’s recent run in the WNBA Finals has helped to further position the team's players and staff as role models for young women in the Chicago land area.
South Suburban College to Host Adult Literacy Celebration
In recognition of the growing need to address adult illiteracy and in recognition of individuals who need assistance in learning the English language or who are working to complete their high school diploma equivalency, South Suburban College (SCC) will celebrate National Adult and Family Literacy Week from September 22 through September 26.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois State Historical Society to Host Maya Angelou School Rededication Ceremony
On Monday, Sept. 22, Harvey Public Schools District 152 will rededicate the Maya Angelou Elementary School at 15748 Page St. in Harvey Ill. The school was formerly known as Waldo Emerson Elementary School before being renamed on Friday, September 22, 1995 in honor of Angelou’s legacy. At that time, Dr. Angelou was present for the event.
Bruce Rauner Greets Illinois Citizens at 95th & Dan Ryan as Quinn Enhances Parks
Ill. Republican gubernatorial candidate, Bruce Rauner, visited the bus/train terminal at 95th & the Dan Ryan during the early morning rush hour on Sept. 15, where he wished commuters “good morning” and encouraged them to vote on election day, as part of a daylong campaign route on that crisscrossed Chicago’s south and west side communities.
Englewood/Woodlawn Peace Mural Gets Underway
This past weekend, Englewood and other Chicago South Side mothers began creating what they’re calling a “Peace Mural on the viaduct walls of 63rd Street and Wallace Ave. in Chicago, the ‘gateway’ between the Englewood and Woodlawn neighborhoods.
Local Universities among Four Finalists to Hosts the Obama Presidential Library
Following a somewhat long, wait for word on which universities would be chosen to move forward with their bid to host the Barack Obama Presidential Library, The Barack Obama Foundation on Monday announced the issuance for a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the University of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University, and the University of Hawaii, all of which submitted their qualifications to host the future Obama Presidential Library earlier this year.
The 2015 Miss Black Illinois USA Pageant Focuses on Community
The 28th Annual Miss Black Illinois USA Pageant 2015, to be held on October 25, 2014, at the DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl. in Chicago, provides African American women from across the state an opportunity to earn academic scholarships by showcasing their talents, beauty, and commitment to community service.
Chicago Mayor Lends Support to Chicago Football Classic
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago Football Classic Inc. co-founders.
On Sept.10, at Chicago's City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined Chicago Football Classic Inc. co-founders, Everett Rand and Larry Huggins, for a press conference where he lent his support for the 17th Annual Chicago Football Classic (CFC) game which showcases the football teams and marching bands of two top historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs).
Thursday, September 11
Obama orders airstrikes in Syria for first time
WASHINGTON (AP) — Opening a new military front in the Middle East, President Barack Obama authorized U.S. airstrikes inside Syria for the first time Wednesday night, along with expanded strikes in Iraq as part of "a steady, relentless effort" to root out Islamic State extremists and their spreading reign of terror.
Caribbean roots of black church explored
Dr. Noel Leo Erskine investigates the history of the black church in his latest book, “Plantation Church: How African American Religion Was Born in Caribbean Slavery.”
Wednesday, September 10
CBA Monthly Meeting: Small Business Procurement Opportunities, Tips for Starting a Small Business
Mike Riordan, associate vice president of Strategic Sourcing for the Art Institute of Chicago, was one of two guest speakers at the Chatham Business Association’s (CBA) monthly membership meeting on Tuesday where he discussed small business procurement opportunities with the museum and the museum's school.
Source says Rice video sent to NFL
A law enforcement official says he sent a video of Ray Rice punching his then-fiancee to an NFL executive five months ago, while league executives have insisted they didn't see the violent images until this week.
Paul Laurence Dunbar Statue Unveiled at Dunbar Park
The creation of the statue was commissioned by the Chicago Park District and The Friends of Dunbar Park (TFDP).
South Side YMCA Two-Year Renovation Unveiled
The YMCA of Metro Chicago unveiled $3.6 million in renovation s to its South Side YMCA (Y) facility located at 6330 S. Stony Island Ave., last Thursday. In celebration of the overhaul, the Y offered visitors tours of the facility, sample "work-out" classes and conducted a drawing for a one-year free membership.
Mayor Emanuel Signs Executive Order to Raise Minimum Wage for Contractors
The Executive Order applies to all service contracts, including construction contracts, advertised after October 1, 2014.
Last week at a press conference, held at 33 W. Monroe St., Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel signed an Executive Order requiring City contractors and subcontractors to pay employees a $13 per hour minimum wage of for contracts advertised after October 1, 2014.
First lady helps reopen White House Visitor Center
WASHINGTON (AP) — The desk where President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his "fireside chats." An eagle ornamental feature from the top of the flagpole on the White House roof. A desk with an intercom system that allowed the chief White House usher to contact staff in other parts of the building.
Friday, September 5
Obama lays out immigration goals, not timing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaving his timing uncertain, President Barack Obama laid out ambitious objectives Friday for immigration steps he intends to take on his own and said he had already received some recommendations from the Homeland Security and Justice departments for executive action he could implement without Congress.
Wednesday, September 3
Jackie Robinson West All-Stars’ Manager Darold Butler:
Magic of His Own
Jackie Robinson West All-Stars Little League (JRW) Manager, Darold Butler, a volunteer little league baseball coach, returned home to a hero’s welcome after guiding his team on a historic and magical run to become the first all African American Little League Baseball team to become U.S Champions.
Mo’ne Davis Takes the Mound and Center Stage
Davis made history as the first female pitcher to win a game in the LLWS when she struck out eight batters.
The undisputed feel good story that came out of the 2014 Little League World Series (LLWS) was none other than 13-year-old African-American female pitcher, Mo’ne Davis, of the Taney Dragons Little League Baseball Team from Philadelphia, Pa.
Jackie Robinson West Little League Baseball Team 2014 World Series U.S. Champions
Ill.Gov. Pat Quinn Proclaims Aug. 27 2014 as “Jackie Robinson West Championship Day”
Upon returning home to Chicago as Little League Baseball’s 2014 World Series, U.S. Champions, the Jackie Robinson West (JRW) All Stars Little League team were greeted with nothing but joy and excitement from their hometown fans. The team's accomplishments were so impressive and so mesmerizing, that a prideful, Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn, proclaimed Wednesday, Aug. 27, as “Jackie Robinson West Championship Day” in honor of the team’s U.S. championship win and as runner up in the Little League World Series.