Ill. Rep. Rita Awarded Agriculture Award

Ill. State Rep. Bob Rita (Dist. -28th), was recently presented the 2014 Friend of Agriculture award from the Farm Bureau, an honor bestowed upon him in recognition of his steadfast support of agricultural and economic legislation.

Maya Angelou Elementary School Rededication Ceremony

On Sept. 22, Harvey School Dist. 152 held a rededication ceremony to commemorate the 10th year anniversary of the renaming of Ralph Waldo Emerson Elementary School as Maya Angelou Elementary School (15748 Page St., Harvey, Ill). The commemorative ceremony was as a celebration of the life of Dr. Maya Angelou, who was present at the school's initial renaming ceremony on Sept. 22, 1995.

Multigovernment Export Program Launched

Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle joined Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, DuPage County Chairman Dan Cronin and the Chief Executives of Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties, JPMorgan Chase, the Brookings Institution, founders of the Global Cities Initiative, and World Business Chicago at The Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago, 320 N. Damen Ave. on Monday to launch “Metro Chicago Exports,” an unprecedented regional collaboration designed to help small and medium enterprises throughout the region capture export opportunities.

The Grant at Woodlawn Park to Replace Grove Parc Plaza Apartments

Only four years ago, the aging 500 plus-unit Grove Parc Plaza Apartments stood as an eyesore on Cottage Grove Avenue. In a dramatic turnaround, The Grant at Woodlawn Park, the second phase of new-construction, mixed-income housing that is replacing the formerly blighted buildings, was chosen as the overall winner and master planned winner in Affordable Housing Finance Magazine’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards.

Hopeful Candidates Announce Bids to Become Chicago’s Next Mayor

Political veteran, Robert Shaw, a former Ald. (9th Ward) and former Cook County Commissioner, announced in March that he is in the race to become Chicago’s next mayor, the first individual to publicly do so via a press conference in March of this year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.