Local News
ATTORNEY GENERAL KWAME RAOUL URGES COURT TO STRENGTHEN HYUNDAI, KIA PRIVATE CONSUMER CLASS-ACTION SETTLEMENT
Attorney General Kwame Raoul, along with seven attorneys general, is urging a federal court to strengthen a private, consumer class-action settlement with Hyundai and Kia by requiring the companies to recall or buy back the theft-prone vehicles and equip them with engine-immobilizer technology.
Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation Creating a Grant Program for Students Majoring in Technology Fields
Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 1378, which will create the Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Act to establish a new program that allows students majoring in technology fields to receive tuition grants. The iGROW program will be administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) and will be open to students enrolled in associate or bachelor’s degree programs at public or private colleges and universities. Students in IT fields can receive a grant amount up to the total cost of attendance.
Gift Through Philanthropist Steve Ballmer's Foundation Helps Communities In Schools of Chicago Expand Critical Supports Program to Students at Eight Chicago Public Schools
Hundreds of students at eight Chicago public schools will benefit from a major donation from philanthropist and former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. His Ballmer Group has made a $165 million donation to the nonprofit Communities In Schools National, which will help grow a critical program of the local CIS affiliate. CIS of Chicago will receive more than $1 million over a three-year period as its share of the total Ballmer Group gift. That funding will enable CIS of Chicago to increase by more than 25% the number of CPS schools served by the organization's Intensive Program.
Olive-Harvey College and the Chicago Police Department Partner to Offer No-Cost Associate Degree in Criminal Justice In One Year with CPD Academy Entrance Exam Waived
The “One Year and Out” City Colleges of Chicago Criminal Justice program offers Chicago residents the opportunity to earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree with a focus in Criminal Justice, at no cost, in as little as 12 months, and then apply to the Chicago Police Academy (CPD) with the ability to waive the Department's entrance exam.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR THE JOFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE
The Joffrey Academy of Dance, the Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, has opened class registration for the 2023-24 year. Classes at the Joffrey Academy are available for adults and children alike, offering world-class training for students of all ages, levels, and abilities, reflecting Joffrey’s mission to create a Joffrey for All. The Academy’s Pre-Professional, Children's, Dance Lab, Adult Open, and Adaptive Dance classes start Tuesday, September 5, at the Joffrey Tower (10 E. Randolph St.) and South Loop studios (1920 S. Wabash Ave). To register, visit https://joffrey.clubautomation.com/.
Gov. Pritzker Announces Mental Health Center Renamed for Elizabeth Packard
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced a new name for the McFarland Mental Health Center. By executive proclamation, it is now officially the Elizabeth Parsons Ware Packard Mental Health Center. On signage and in common use, it will become known simply as the Packard Mental Health Center. Located on the south side of Springfield, the psychiatric hospital employs more than 250 staff and supports over 120 patients with serious mental illness on a 24/7 basis.
Jackson State University's 2023 Day of Giving raises over $650,000 for student scholarships
Jackson State University's 9th Day of Giving raised more than $689,000, surpassing its $650,000 fundraising goal for the event, which kicked off on Friday, July 14. The event featured a virtual video presentation themed "B.E.T. on JSU," aka "Black Excellence at Thee."
Advancing Black Wealth Tour Coming to Chicago in Aug. 26
JPMorgan Chase is excited to announce the return of its Advancing Black Wealth Tour. The multi-city event series, now in its second year, delivers financial health education, home-buying and real estate workshops, wealth building seminars and other vital financial insights to Black communities nationwide.
GLCU Continues Technology Investments with Rollout of AI Bot “Olive”
Great Lakes Credit Union (GLCU) has partnered with Silicon Valley-based interface.ai to introduce “Olive,” a call center bot that leverages conversational AI to route calls, conduct phone banking transactions, and decrease member wait times.
Federal judge issues preliminary injunction removing fiduciaries of Chicago-area employee benefit plan alleged to have misappropriated more than $2.8M
A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against the fiduciaries of a Chicago-based multiple employer welfare arrangement to protect the fund’s remaining assets after a Department of Labor investigation alleged its fiduciaries and counsel misused more than $2.8 million in fund assets, and that they continue to mismanage the fund.
BILLIONAIRE BUSINESS MOGUL AND PHILANTHROPIST DR. TRISHA BAILEY ANNOUNCES MULTI-CITY BOOK TOUR THIS FALL FOR HER MOTIVATIONAL MEMOIR “UNBROKEN: THE TRIUMPHANT STORY OF A WOMAN’S JOURNEY”
The Former Stockbroker Turned Self Made Business Mogul Shares Tips and Tools for Entrepreneurship and How She Transformed the Trauma from Abuse into a Billion Dollar Empire (Orlando, Fl. September 15, 2023) Billionaire business mogul and philanthropist Dr. Trisha Bailey, the ultimate overcomer, will embark on a multi-city book tour this fall for her motivational memoir “Unbroken: The Triumphant Story of a Woman’s Journey,” with visits to cities including New York, Atlanta, and LA. Bailey’s message to aspiring entrepreneurs and survivors of abuse is “Let your healing fuel your success.”
Stackwell and Fintech in Action Announce Financial Wellness Pilot Program with Spelman College Students
Stackwell, the digital investment platform designed to eliminate the racial wealth gap, and Fintech in Action, a social impact initiative that accelerates progress, innovation, and opportunity for Black talent in finance and fintech, announced the launch of a new financial wellness program supporting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) students. The pilot program will provide a cohort of Spelman College students with a finance and investing course plus a seeded Stackwell account to begin building wealth during their college careers.
34th Annual African Festival of the Arts Featured Artiust brings acclaimed "Urban Warriors" series to Chicago
There is something special about Stuart McClean's "Urban Warrior" series that moved him to admit, "It's amazing!" With child-like zeal, McClean, the featured artist for the 34th Annual African Festival of the Arts held Labor Day Weekend in Washington Park, sprang from his chair during our ZOOM conversation to point out the exquisite detail he gave to the sneakers worn by a Breakdancer depicted in the large-scale painting that loomed behind him as a background image.
HARVEY CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES
Chief Cameron Biddings of the Harvey Police Department (HPD) presented a significant proposal for the enhancement of public safety services during the City Council meeting held on Monday, August 14, 2023. The proposal, which received unanimous approval from the City Council, outlines a comprehensive Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Harvey PD and the Illinois State Police (ISP).