Healthy Lifestyles Encouraged at the Gary Comer Youth Center

On Friday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s Council on Health and Physical Fitness hosted an event to encourage Illinois citizens to participate in health and fitness activities that will help them live a healthier, happier and more productive life, at the Gary Comer Youth Center, 7200 S Ingleside Ave., in Chicago.

6th Ward Alderman Calls for Better Snow Removal by the City of Chicago

Sixth Ward Alderman Roderick Sawyer publicly voiced his concern about the lack of snow removal on the side streets within his ward in a recent press release.

Gary Comer Youth Center Hosts Events in Honor of Dr. King

The Gary Comer Youth Center (GCYC), 7200 S. Ingleside Ave., will host two events in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 20, including the 5th annual Breakfast of Champions, which honors exemplary members of the local neighborhood as “Community Champions,” and the commemorative “King Today, King Beyond” event which is a tapestry of artistic performances.

AT&T Offers T-Mobile Customers up to $450 Per Line to Switch

AT&T is offering T-Mobile customers the opportunity to upgrade their mobile lifestyle with value of up to $450 per line when they switch to AT&T and trade in an eligible smartphone.

Mayor Emanuel Appoints former Obama Staffer as Deputy Chief of Staff

Mayor Rahm Emanuel started his new year off by appointing Ken Bennett, a long-time Chatham resident, and now former staff member of President Barack Obama's, as his new Deputy Chief of Staff and the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement.

After Cancer Diagnosis, Broadway Star Fights Back

Valisia LeKae has a New Year's resolution that has nothing to do with weight loss, money or watching less TV. "I will be cancer-free in 2014," she's vowed.

Chicago State Receives Grant for Substance Abuse Recovery Research

Chicago State University (CSU) is embarking upon cutting edge research as it looks into the benefits of meditation as a therapeutic tool for recovering substance abuse addicts and substance abuse case managers in urban areas.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to Serve as Keynote Speaker at Dr. King Celebration

A former Chicago South Side resident, who is now governor of another state, will come back to Chicago this month to help celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Black Star Project's Holiday Saturday University Makes Impact

The Black Star Project (BSP), a non-for-profit organization based in Chicago whose mission is to provide educational services that help pre-school through college students succeed academically, conducted Saturday University classes over the holiday break (Dec. 30, 2013 - Jan. 3, 2013). The sessions, which are held at BSP's headquarters at 3509 S. Martin Luther King Dr., included computer coding, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, African-American history, nutrition and college exposure.

CBA's Get Connected IT Ambassadors Give Local Small Businesses a Boost

Chatham Business Association’s (CBA) new Get Connected IT Ambassadors program develops young adults' computer literacy skills so that they can in turn, assist small local businesses with their computer based needs.

Newly Enacted Illinois Laws for 2014

Last year, Illinois' 97th General Assembly, passed over 200 new laws that went into effect Jan 1, 2014. Below, the Chicago Citizen Newspaper has highlighted new laws we feel are particularly noteworthy (To download a full list of all new Illinois laws, go to http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/images/PDFS/2013/BillseffectiveJan1-2014.pdf.):

Target: Customers' Encrypted PINs Were Obtained

Target says customers' encrypted PIN data was removed during the massive data breach that occurred earlier this month.

Inspiration for a Healthy New Year

Make being healthy your resolution and find ways to get and stay healthy this year. Many popular New Year's resolutions focus on how to improve your health. That is good news, considering that being healthy provides us protection against disease and injury, as well as strength and energy to help us have a good quality of life.

Gabrielle Union, D-Wade Engaged, Post Christmas Photo Shoot

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are engaged. The Miami Heat star proposed to his longtime girlfriend Saturday and the actress accepted. They announced the news through social media, around the same time as the two-time defending NBA champions were gathering for a team Christmas party.

UIC Approves $5 Million Matching Grant for New Illinois Manufacturing Lab

Trustees at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) recently approved a $5 million grant to support a new manufacturing initiative that hopefully will advance economic development throughout Illinois. Gov. Pat Quinn reportedly promised $5 million in state support for the Illinois Manufacturing Lab, to be matched by other sources.

RTA Hosts Ventra Public Meetings for Customers across Chicagoland

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) recently partnered with the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to hold six public meetings for their customers across Chicagoland. The meetings were geared towards informing seniors and physically disabled customers about Ventra, the new payment system for the CTA and Pace that allows customers to pay for train and bus rides with the same payment methods they use for everyday purchases.

cps Launches New Mentoring Program for Kindergarten and 8th Graders

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has launched Mentoring the Next Generation, a new district-wide school volunteer initiative for CPS staff to provide students in kindergarten and 8th grade with extra instruction and preparation for their next steps in education.

New Bronzeville Arts and Recreation Center Planned for 2015

A long planned and much needed recreation center project may finally come to fruition in 2015, providing the Bronzeville area with a place for youth to spend time and engage in positive endeavors. Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Park District Superintendent Michael Kelly, 4th Ward Ald., Will Burns and 3rd Ward Ald. Pat Dowell and Quad Communities Development Corporation announced last week plans for a new arts and recreation center at Ellis Park, 535 E. 35th Street.

Nelson Mandela Funeral Journey

I really wasn’t planning to go back. I was cooking when my friend Emma Bell called me and tentatively shared the news-Nelson Mandela had died.

Additional Accountable Care Organizations Added to Serve Medicare Patients

As the health care world adjusts to changes in laws due to the passage of the new Affordable Care Act, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are growing in number.