Local News

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON UNVEILS FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET FOCUSED ON INVESTMENT, EQUITY AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson presented the City of Chicago's Fiscal Year 2025 budget, outlining a comprehensive plan that prioritizes strategic and equitable investments in affordable housing, mental health services, public safety and youth employment while maintaining fiscal responsibility and honoring pension obligations.

Understanding Depression in Alzheimer's Patients

Depression is a common companion to Alzheimer’s, affecting up to 40% of those diagnosed, especially during the early and middle stages of the disease. While depression can have a profound impact on quality of life, recognizing and treating it can provide significant relief, improving both mental health and day-to-day functioning for Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.

Chicago Day of the Girl Attended by More Than 350 Girls

The 13th Annual Chicago Day of the Girl was celebrated on Friday, Oct. 11, in Chicago. The event brought together more than 350 girls to celebrate sisterhood on the International Day of the Girl. Girls Like Me Project, Inc. created and produced the Chicago event. Click here for a video recap of the event. Photos of the event can be found here

FLYOVER IN CHICAGO LAUNCHES EXCITING DOUBLE FEATURE

Flyover, one of the city's most exciting attractions to open in 2024, has launched an exciting new double feature that pairs their immersive Believe Chicago experience with the breathtaking Legendary Iceland journey. The two unique experiences will be on a rotating schedule throughout the day, allowing visitors to explore the vibrant urban landscape of Chicago and the stunning natural beauty of Iceland, all in one visit.

WELLNESS WEST FORUM TACKLES FOOD INSECURITY

Nearly 150 people gathered at the Garfield Park Conservatory on Oct. 10 for “Bridging the Equity Gap: Food Insecurity on the West Side” to discuss one of the most critical issues facing underserved neighborhoods in Chicago. The forum was hosted by Wellness West, a coalition of West Side organizations dedicated to creating a transformational continuity of care among hospitals, community health centers, community mental health centers, social services, and other critical points of care.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON ANNOUNCES MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN CHICAGO'S 28TH WARD DURING 'A DAY IN THE WARD' EVENT

Mayor Brandon Johnson joined 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin and community leaders in Chicago's 28th Ward for the latest installment in the "Day in the Ward" series. The event provided an opportunity for Mayor Johnson and members of his administration to engage directly with local officials, businesses, faith leaders, and residents to discuss ongoing initiatives and future plans for the community.

DeVry University Partners with OneTen to Provide Career-Advancing Education and Work-Ready Skills

DeVry University announced today a partnership with OneTen, a coalition of leading employers committed to unlocking opportunity for skilled talent without four-year degrees. This collaboration will provide scholarships to support qualifying DeVry learners in gaining work-ready skills along with access to job opportunities from OneTen coalition members.

ONE SUMMER CHICAGO EMPLOYS NEARLY 28,000 YOUTH IN SUMMER 2024

Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that 27,793 young people were employed through the One Summer Chicago (OSC) program during the summer of 2024, representing a 12 percent increase from the previous year, and a 39 percent increase since May 2023. OSC is a youth employment program offered in partnership with local businesses, community organizations, and city agencies (departments, sister agencies, and aldermanic offices) to provide youth ages 14 to 24 with paid work experiences for six weeks during the summer.

South Suburban College Men's Basketball Ranked #2 Team in the Country (NJCCA Division II Pre-Season Poll)

The 2024 National Runner-Up South Suburban College (SSC) Men’s Basketball Team has received an impressive recognition in the newest NJCAA Division II Pre-Season Poll. Ranked #2 in the country, the Bulldogs are poised to make their mark in the upcoming 2024-2025 season.

Hitting deer could cost you more than a couple of bucks

Scenic drives are a must in Illinois in autumn and with the height of fall colors, people will be spending a lot of time on the road. The Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Department of Natural Resources are reminding the public to be alert for deer, which are entering their peak mating season, especially at dawn and dusk now through December.

Chicago Public Schools Continues to Demonstrate Strong Academic Recovery and Momentum

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez, along with other District and school officials, celebrated the third consecutive year of record-breaking graduation rates and other metrics that reflect the District's standing as a national leader in academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The event at Charles Allen Prosser Career Academy highlighted K-12 achievements, including improved state assessment scores for third through eighth graders, increasing participation in Early College and Career Education programming, as well as the Class of 2024's record-breaking $2.11 billion in college scholarships.

Giannoulias Launches DMV Kiosk Pilot Program

DMV kiosks located inside retail stores across the state will provide Illinoisans with a new option when it comes to renewing their driver’s license or obtaining vehicle stickers, Secretary Alexi Giannoulias announced.

Illinois Library Association Honors Giannoulias in Peoria

Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Alexi Giannoulias received the Illinois Library Association’s (ILA) Robert R. McClarren Legislative Development Award at the association’s 2024 awards program held during its annual conference in Peoria following his administration’s work to protect the “Right-to-Read.”

Baldwin Richardson Foods Names Cara J. Hughes Chief Customer and Community Impact Officer

Baldwin Richardson Foods, a leading custom ingredients manufacturer for the food and beverage industry, announces Cara J. Hughes' promotion to Chief Customer and Community Impact Officer. Since 1992, the company has built a legacy of excellence as one of the industry's largest Black family-owned, women-led businesses. One of the second generation of entrepreneurs leading the company forward, Hughes works in partnership with CEO and President Erin Tolefree to execute the company's accelerated growth strategy. In this elevated role, Hughes has direct oversight of Consumer Insights, Customer Relationships, Culinary Innovation, Sales, Marketing, and Community Impact.

URBAN ONE AND AT&T PARTNER TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF HBCU MENTORSHIP AND CONNECTIONS

One Solution, Urban One's award-winning branded content division is partnering with AT&T to launch the second season of a cross-platform campaign supporting the AT&T Rising Future Makers Showcase. The series creates an opportunity for the talented dreamers of today to become the trailblazers of tomorrow by connecting recent HBCU alumni with influential Black professionals as mentors, echoing the pillars of AT&T Rising Future Makers (RFM). Leveraging the success of the 2023 season and further amplifying AT&T's commitment to supporting the Black community and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), this year's mentors are Founder and CEO of CultureCon and The Creative Collection NYC, Imani Ellis, and Founder of Pensole Lewis College of Business and Design, D'Wanye Edwards.