Local News
Reps. Kelly, Kiggans and Senators Peters, Collins Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Medical Nutrition Therapy Act
Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced the bipartisan Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023 to expand Medicare coverage for medical nutrition plans and addressing health disparities. Senators Gary Peters (MI) and Susan Collins (ME) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
Chefs Join Together Providing Meals to the Community Fridge during the Holiday Season
Heather and D’Andre, along with volunteers from Evanston Community Fridges, stock the refrigerator and pantry outside the Soul & Smoke location at 1601 Payne St., Evanston year-round. The need increases during the winter and the holidays, and to address demand this year, they asked Chef Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe & co-founder of Chicago Chefs Cook to help organize additional contributions to the pantry.
Lt. Governor Stratton Convenes Thought Leaders and Policymakers at the Illinois Legislators Retreat Centered Around Education
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton convened the Illinois Legislators Retreat, in partnership with the Hunt Institute, early this week. Members of the General Assembly and resource experts discussed the early childhood workforce, K-12 reading and mental health, educator diversity and diverse postsecondary experiences.
Biden-Harris Administration Premiers Public Service Announcement Elevating the Teaching Profession
The U.S. Department of Education launched its campaign to elevate the teaching profession and promote educator diversity. The campaign titled “Teachers: Leaders Shaping Lives” is headlined by a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) developed in partnership with TEACH.org and One Million Teachers of Color. The goal of the PSA is to inspire more talented people—especially those from underrepresented communities—to become teachers, while also elevating the teaching profession and celebrating our teachers. The PSA premiered on LinkedIn’s LinkedIn Live and will appear in media markets across the country via television, radio, and social media. To watch the PSA, click here.
ANNOUNCING WINNERS OF THE JOFFREY ACADEMY 14TH ANNUAL WINNING WORKS
The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, presents five world premieres in the culmination of Joffrey's national call for ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American) artists to submit applications for the Joffrey Academy's Winning Works Choreographic Competition. In addition to an added weekend of performances, new to this year's program is the selection of a first-ever Chicago-based choreographer as a fifth candidate, set on the students of the Joffrey Conservatory Program, a preliminary training program for aspiring Trainee dancers ages 14 to 18. This year's Competition winners— Jainil Mehta, Martha Nichols, Manoela Gonçalves, Houston Thomas, and Chicago-based winner Xavier Núñez (Recipient of the Zach Lazar Winning Works Fellowship), each will choreograph an original work created for the Joffrey Academy Trainees and Studio Company, to a commissioned score by a chosen composer collaborator.
Major new AUDITORIUM PHILMS CONCERT SERIES debuts in 2024
Film lovers rejoice as the Auditorium Theatre (Chicago’s landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly announces the debut of the Auditorium Philms Concert Series, a major new multi-media experience presenting five iconic films brought to life with scores performed in concert by the Chicago Philharmonic, the city’s go-to orchestra for film score collaborations. Launching February 17, 2024, with the futuristic classic Blade Runner, the inaugural 2024 Auditorium Philms Concert Series continues with Batman 1989 in its 35th Anniversary year, April 13; the return of Marvel Studios’ Black Panther after Chicago Philharmonic’s triumphant 2022 Chicago Premiere of the film concert, June 22 & 23; the North American debut of Bram Stoker’s Dracula just in time for Halloween, October 26; and the pop holiday fan favorite, Love Actually, December 7. Individual tickets, starting at $59.00, along with Philms series packages for as few as 2 concerts and as low as $106.00 are on sale now.
Rep. Jackson Leads 35 Colleagues in Calling for Increased Broadband Access for HBCUs and TCUs in Farm Bill
Today, U.S. Representative Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01) led 35 of his colleagues in sending a letter to House Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) calling for increased broadband access for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in the Farm Bill’s Rural Development title.
COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER DONNA MILLER AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO CATCH UP ON COVID, FLU, AND RSV VACCINATIONS BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS
Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller hosted a fireside chat discussion alongside two Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) officials -- COO Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck and Chief Nursing Officer Denise Gilbert -- to share information on the updated COVID-19 vaccines, which target the currently-spreading variants. The conversation, which took place at Moraine Community College, was held alongside a pop-up vaccine clinic sponsored by Walgreens, where attendees could receive seasonal vaccines for COVID, flu, and RSV.
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Returns $18.9 Million In Missing Money in October
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office returned more than $18.9 million in missing money during October, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced.
West Side Activist Zerlina Smith-Members Calls on Citizens to Contact their State Officials and Demand they Extend the Invest in Kids Program
West Side Community Activist Zerlina Smith-Members called on her state legislator, La Shawn Ford (D-8th District) and Emanuel Chris Welch (D- 7th District), who is also the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, to vote on the extension of the Invest in Kids program, which expires on December 31.
THE INAUGURAL “CLARK STREET COOKIE CRAWL” IS COMING TO LINCOLN PARK
A balanced holiday diet is a cookie in each hand! The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) is pleased to announce its inaugural Clark Street Cookie Crawl, sponsored by Clark Street Special Service Area (SSA) #23 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Sunday, Dec. 10,. Stretching down Clark Street between Fullerton and Diversey Avenue, participating Clark Street businesses will each feature their own holiday cookie for the crawl along with holiday decorations. Attendees will pick up a bag at the designated check-in location and stop into participating businesses along the street to receive a cookie per stop. Jolly participants will also be treated to an array of activations at participating businesses including pictures with Santa, live carolers, craft stations, hot chocolate, plus some boozy selections for the guardians! Families are invited to wear their most cozy pajamas or festive sweaters to turn this crawl into a real treat. More information on the inaugural Clark Street Cookie Crawl can be found on the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce’s website. Tickets are on sale online for $25 per person with a boozy ticket option for $35. Groups of 4 can attend for $75.
3Arts announces inaugural recipients of $50,000 grants for Teaching Artists
3Arts, the Chicago-based nonprofit grantmaking organization, announced the recipients of its 3Arts Next Level Awards—$50,000 unrestricted cash awards given to past 3Arts awardees—during the festive 3Arts Awards Celebration held last night at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. While 3Arts has in the past awarded three Next Level grants, the roster this year was expanded to include two additional awards for teaching artists; at $50,000, this is the largest no-strings-attached cash award for teaching artists in the world. 2023 Next Level recipients are teaching artists Miguel “Kane One” Aguilar and Regin Igloria and visual artists Dianna Frid, Edra Soto, and Dorian Sylvain in recognition of their outstanding work in the arts and in neighborhoods across Chicago.
CITY COUNCIL PASSES HISTORIC CHICAGO PAID TIME OFF ORDINANCE
Chicago City Council passed the Chicago Paid Time Off ordinance which guarantees up to five days of paid time off and five days of sick time for all of Chicago’s workers. The Chicago Paid Time Off Ordinance is the most progressive paid time off legislation at the municipal level in the United States. “Today is a great day for the workers of Chicago, the businesses of Chicago, and the future of Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “This ordinance, accomplished through compromise and collaboration, is an important step on the path to revitalizing the economy of our great city.
U.S. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS RELEASES NEW CIVIL RIGHTS DATA ON STUDENTS’ ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE PANDEMIC
The U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today released new civil rights data from the 2020–21 school year, offering critical insight regarding civil rights indicators during that coronavirus pandemic year. OCR also released seven data reports and snapshots, including A First Look: Students’ Access to Educational Opportunities in the Nation’s Public Schools, which provides an overview of these data and information.