Community Focus

Education Advocates Call for Retooled No Child Left Behind on 50th Anniversary

Officials, lawmakers and civil rights groups commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by calling for much-needed updates to the law.

Obama to New Orleans: ‘You Inspire Me, and America’

Visiting residents on tidy porch stoops and sampling the fried chicken at a corner restaurant, President Barack Obama held out the people of New Orleans last month as an extraordinary example of renewal and resilience 10 years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

#Laughingwhileblack Comes to the Aid of Book Club Kicked Off Wine Train

When social media got wind of a predominately African-American female book club getting kicked off of a Napa Valley wine train for laughing too loud on August 22, others who have witnessed similar incidents, created the hashtag “#LaughingWhileBlack.”

Minimum Wage Hikes Gain Momentum Around the Country

The push for a higher minimum wage gained momentum on both sides of the country last month, with New York embracing an eventual $15 an hour for the state’s 200,000 fast-food workers and the huge University of California system announcing the same raise for its employees.

Chill Out with Live Entertainment, Food, and Family Fun at Brookfield Zoo’s Summer Nights

Brookfield Zoo’s summertime event, Summer Nights, sponsored by Meijer and the Illinois Farm Bureau, is back and it’s bigger and better than ever! The evening celebration will feature cool jams and fun activities for the whole family until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through August 8.

Do Not Argue with Cops During Traffic Stops!

What should you do when a cop pulls you over during a traffic stop? Drivers should simply comply with the officer’s orders, said several law enforcement experts.

Tensions Rise During Neighborhood Meeting on Medical Marijuana Dispensary

“We don’t want it!” “We don’t it!” We don’t want it!” That is what nearly 100 members of the Eight Ward Accountability Coalition (EWAC), a neighborhood organization, angrily chanted during a recent community meeting in protest of a proposed opening of a medical marijuana dispensary in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.

U.S. Dept. of Education Announces Set of Rights to Help Parents Seek High-Quality Education for Children

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan last month released a set of rights that outlines what families should be able to expect for their children's education.

2015 Global Peace Index

The Global Peace Index measures the state of peace in 162 countries according to 23 indicators that gauge the absence of violence or the fear of violence. It is produced annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

Facts about Needle Exchanges and Hepatitis C

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention documented a 364 percent increase in new cases of Hepatitis C in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Virginia. Of the four states, only Kentucky has passed legislation to allow for syringe exchanges. Such programs remain illegal in Virginia. West Virginia is considering implementing a pilot program, citing the Hepatitis C epidemic.

Congress Sends NSA Phone-Records Bill to President

Congress approved sweeping changes last week to surveillance laws enacted after the Sept. 11 attacks, eliminating the National Security Agency's disputed bulk phone-records collection program and replacing it with a more restrictive measure to keep the records in phone companies' hands.

Kanye West Gives Donda’s House Largest Donation Ever

Grammy award winning rapper, Kanye West, recently flexed his philanthropic muscle, donating a record breaking $133,000 to his music and art based community organization, Donda’s House, Inc. (DH), the largest amount ever donated to the non-profit.

Harriet Tubman Wins Poll to Replace Andrew Jackson on $20 Bill

Twenty-dollar bills could soon be known as "Tubmans" if a grassroots campaign succeeds in persuading President Barack Obama to remove Andrew Jackson's portrait from circulation on U.S. paper currency in favor of a famous woman in U.S. history.

$20 Million in Funding from U.S. Justice Department to Support Body-Worn Camera Pilot Program

The U.S. Department of Justice last week announced a $20 million Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Pilot Partnership Program to respond to the immediate needs of local and tribal law enforcement organizations.

Here Are The Six Officers Charged in Freddie Gray’s Death

Six officers are charged in Freddie Gray’s death from injuries he suffered while in police custody. State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby says the officers repeatedly failed to get Gray medical treatment after his arrest. The police officers’ union has said they are not responsible for Gray’s death.