Local News

Reps. Kelly, Espaillat, Lee Introduce Bill to Recognize Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency

Today, Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Vice Chair of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust, alongside Reps. Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) introduced the Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency Act, which would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to produce an annual report on gun violence, its public health effects, and action taken by the federal government.

PROPERTY VALUES FOR PALOS TOWNSHIP RELEASED

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi released the initial assessments of residential and commercial properties in Palos Township.

Cook County Clerk’s Office To Host Back-To-School Birth Certificate Days

With the first day of school fast approaching, the Cook County Clerk’s Office will offer extended weekend hours on select Saturdays in August for families seeking to obtain birth certificates to complete their child’s registration for school, Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough announced Tuesday.

The Honorable Xavier Becerra a Featured Speaker at NMA’s 121st Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly: "Accelerating the March Toward Health Equity"

he National Medical Association (NMA) is hosting its 121st Annual Convention and Scientific Assembly, themed "Accelerating the March Toward Health Equity," July 29 – August 2, 2023, in the culturally rich city of New Orleans, LA at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Each year, thousands of African American physicians and other health professionals from across the country convene to participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances and to advance our health policy agenda for the coming year. This is the foremost forum on medical science and African American health in the country.

Biden-Harris Administration to Provide 804,000 Borrowers with $39 Billion in Automatic Loan Forgiveness as a Result of Fixes to Income Driven Repayment Plans

The Department of Education (Department) today will begin notifying more than 804,000 borrowers that they have a total of $39 billion in Federal student loans that will be automatically discharged in the coming weeks. In total, the Biden-Harris Administration has approved more than $116.6 billion in student loan forgiveness for more than 3.4 million borrowers.

BLACK PUBLIC MEDIA AWARDS OVER $160,000 FOR VACCINE EQUITY PROJECTS

Black Public Media (BPM) has selected three projects — two short films and a podcast — for a total of more than $160,000 in funding for vaccine equity works targeting vaccine hesitancy in Michigan and North Carolina. The projects are scheduled for completion this fall in time for expected spikes in COVID and flu cases.

OFFREY ACADEMY OF DANCE, OFFICIAL SCHOOL OF THE JOFFREY BALLET, LAUNCHES A NATIONAL CALL FOR ALAANA ARTISTS

The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, is seeking ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists to submit applications for the Joffrey Academy’s Fourteenth Annual Winning Works Choreographic Competition. The goal of the award is to recognize talented and emerging ALAANA choreographers whose unique perspective will ignite creativity in the form of original works of dance. The deadline for application is July 31.

REPLAY LINCOLN PARK INVITES LOLLA LOVERS TO REPLAYPALOOZA

Festival season is in full gear, and Chicago’s favorite pop-up bar Replay Lincoln Park, 2833 N. Sheffield Ave., is making sure to bring the vibes with its latest Lollapalooza inspired pop-up: Replaypalooza. Running through Sunday, August 6, this pop-up will bring to life the incredible artists and bands that make up today’s diverse music scene, with live DJ sets throughout the month, along with festival-inspired photo-ops throughout the entire bar and music-themed cocktails. Each of the weeks have an exciting, new theme, allowing for an experience where everyone’s taste in music is satisfied.

Chicago Public Schools Continues Support of New Students with Welcome Center Pilot

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Pedro Martinez announced Monday, July 17, that the District will continue providing enrollment support for new students at schools across the city and through a pilot Welcome Center at Roberto Clemente Community Academy High School which will provide enrollment services for new arrivals living in the West Town and Humboldt Park communities. The new Welcome Center builds on the District’s ongoing work to support new arrival students and families as they enter CPS classrooms.

Rep. Kelly, with Reps. Clarke and Watson Coleman, Introduces The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act

Congresswoman Robin Kelly joined her fellow co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, Congresswoman Clarke and Congresswoman Watson Coleman, to introduce the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research And Education Act of 2023, which would revolutionize uterine fibroid care in the nation and acknowledge fibroids as the serious health crisis it is.

Treasurer Frerichs Invites Nonprofits to Apply for $200,000 in Charitable Trust Grants

Small nonprofits that help people with housing or workforce and economic development assistance are encouraged to apply for funding through the Charitable Trust Stabilization Program, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today. Grant applications will be accepted through Sept. 30.

City Treasurer Launches “Empowerment Scholarships” for New College Students

Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin announced the Chicago Treasurer’s Office (CTO) will award its first-ever Empowerment Scholarships to first-year students entering a two or four-year accredited institution in the fall of 2023. The one-time, $5,000 award to students residing in Chicago will be presented during the CTO’s “Financial Youth Symposium and Step Show” program at Chicago State University on August 31.

Project HOOD and Pastor Corey Brooks to Host World's Largest Baby Shower

Project HOOD, a non-profit organization led by Pastor Corey Brooks, is set to host the World’s Largest Baby Shower from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. This monumental event will take place at the New Beginnings Church, located at 6620 S. King Drive.

The Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Announces $1M Investment in Chicago-Based Organizations Supporting Boys and Young Men of Color This Summer

The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, announced that 33 Chicago-based organizations have been named Freedom Summer 2023 grant recipients. The Freedom Summer grant program aims to support local organizations that are working to reduce violence in Chicago communities this summer by creating and expanding spaces and programming where boys and young men of color can safely learn, play, and engage. The My Brother’s Keeper Alliance’s investment, coupled with its dedicated training and programmatic support efforts, will build safer and more supportive communities for Chicago’s boys and young men of color, where they feel empowered and are inspired to reach their full potential.

MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO CLOSE CHICAGO’S DEVICE GAP

Mayor Brandon Johnson, in partnership with World Business Chicago, announced the launch of a month-long campaign encouraging Chicago’s business community and large organizations to donate computers and laptops no longer in use to be refurbished and given to families who need a device.