First-time felons in Illinois could escape prison time and get a fresh start under a new proposal, but prosecutors and victims rights organizations say it may not ease the stress of a strained court system or protect victims.
State Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) introduced SB 2607 on Jan. 21.It would allow offenders who either plead...
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Community Concerns
New Probation Bill Raises Questions of Resources, Victim Safety
State Government Requires Schools to Waive Millions
Illinois public universities gave away a record $13.5 million last year in free tuition to more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students through a controversial legislative scholarship program, according to the Illinois Board of Higher Education’s annual tuition and fee waivers report.
The 164 members of the Illinois General Assembly who participate in the program...
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Listening to the People, Officially
Access Living, governed and staffed by people with disabilities, is Chicago’s only center for independent living that focuses on full equality, inclusion and empowerment of all people with disabilities.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Access Living will host a Historic Six-City Listening Tour organized by the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). ...
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Munoz continues reign in 1st District
Sen. Antonio “Tony” Munoz continues to reign in the 1st District, keeping alive his 10-year streak in the Illinois Senate with a win in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
The incumbent received 69 percent of votes, giving him an overwhelming majority against his challenger, Adolfo Mondragon.
Munoz, who was not available for comment during the week leading up...
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Steans Wins Big Amidst Quiet Controversy in the 7th
Incumbent state Sen. Heather Steans easily held onto her 7th District seat in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, with scant numbers of voters braving the cold and snow to choose her over challenger Jim Madigan.
Steans, who is currently serving her first senate term, tallied more than 13,900 votes, or 65 percent of her district, according...
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Burke Faces Opposition, Narrowly Holds House Seat in 23rd District
State Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago) didn’t breathe easy until early Wednesday morning, when it became official that he had indeed held off Rudy Lozano, Jr. to secure his name on the November ballot.
It was the first time Burke had faced a challenge in a primary in nearly two decades of representing the 23rd House...
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State Deficit Drains Before- and After School Programs in Chicago
With the Illinois state budget deep in the red, it’s not just schools that are feeling the pinch – before- and after-school programs are in peril as well, educators say.
Illinois has reduced funding for early childhood education, including before- and after-school programs, by 10 percent, said a spokesman for state Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago),...
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Food Pantries Meet Demand in Englewood
By Deborah Alexander, LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program
Joyce Brown is no stranger to people in need. As the project coordinator for the Englewood Food Network, she’s been organizing food pantries and serving up meals to hungry clients for a long time.
But during the past year, she’s seen a pronounced difference in the people who...
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Election Special for Feb. 2, 2010 Primary Election
Don’t be a dope when it comes to issues that affect you every day. Politicians influence your health insurance costs, whether you get unemployment insurance, how much you can get in student loans, and what taxes you pay for a coffee or soft drink. How much lower might your rates be if the Cook...
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Local Artist Stands Up for Rights, Might Go to Jail
Chris Drew is a master of the silkscreen. He runs a youth art program at Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center and has for years. Drew’s program at UM-CAC works “to promote the multicultural diversity of Uptown and Chicago by bringing together artists of many ethnic backgrounds to establish art exhibitions and workshops.” Read more...
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