Chicagotalks » Ashlee Rezin http://www.chicagotalks.org Community & Citizen journalism for your block, your neighborhood, our city Sun, 13 May 2012 13:23:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Dillard Wins 24th District Senate Race /2012/03/21/dillard-wins-24th-district-senate-race/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/03/21/dillard-wins-24th-district-senate-race/#comments Wed, 21 Mar 2012 23:15:35 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=21288 Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) is celebrating a victory in the changed-up 24th District after carrying both DuPage and Cook Counties. At a party on election night at Gulliver’s Pizza in Oakbrook Terrace, Dillard mingled with volunteers and supporters while watching the election results come in. “I am committed to make Illinois’ economy be one of the most conducive to job creation in America,” said Dillard in an interview. “I’ll use my experience to put this state back on a sound fiscal foot. It’s time to make Illinois work again through job creation, pension reform, Medicaid reform and having a state budget that lives within its means.” There was similar mingling going on at a nearby party at Rancho Viejo in Lombard, hosted by Dillard’s opponent State Rep. Chris Nybo (R-Lombard)–  the room was much quieter, however. “We left it in the hands of the voters,” said Nybo, 34, in an interview. “I’m very happy with the kind of campaign that we ran: we worked until the last minute.” Dillard, 56, who was first elected in 1995 and serves as co-chairperson of the Senate Judiciary Civil Law Committee, bid for re-election in the 24th Senate District, which includes all or part of [...]

Dillard Wins 24th District Senate Race

]]> /2012/03/21/dillard-wins-24th-district-senate-race/feed/ 0 CPS Class Size Reduction a Top Priority for State Lawmaker /2012/03/03/classroom-size-reduction/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/03/03/classroom-size-reduction/#comments Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:00:07 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=20389 A state lawmaker wants to limit the number of students in every Chicago Public School classroom, but she could be facing an uphill battle. State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), vice-chairperson of the Education Committee, has proposed a law that would force Chicago schools to cap classroom sizes. But, Lightford admits she doesn’t know how she would pay for the initiative. The Chicago Teacher’s Union says class sizes are too large system-wide, and in a recent study they found as many as 42 students in at least one elementary school classroom. A 2011 analysis from the Chicago Teacher’s Union found that Chicago Public Schools is now at about 25 students per class at the high school level, which is larger than 99 percent of 504 other Illinois school districts. The study also says there is an average of about 24 students in Chicago kindergarten classrooms. That’s larger than 95 percent of Illinois’ school districts. Lightford has sponsored SB 3362, which limits the maximum number of students assigned to each teacher: pre-kindergarten through grade three classrooms may not exceed 18 students; grades four through eight cannot have more than 22 students in one classroom and grades nine through 12 may not exceed [...]

CPS Class Size Reduction a Top Priority for State Lawmaker

]]> /2012/03/03/classroom-size-reduction/feed/ 0 Lawmaker and former teacher moves to legislate time on task /2012/02/24/lawmaker-and-former-teacher-moves-to-legislate-time-on-task/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/02/24/lawmaker-and-former-teacher-moves-to-legislate-time-on-task/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:00:19 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=20154 SPRINGFIELD – This will be the last year students in Illinois enjoy a short day on the first and last day of the school year, if a state senator gets his way. State Sen. David Luechtefeld (R- Okawville) is hoping to pass SB 2850, which mandates that the first and last day of school be a full, at least five-hour, day of class for Illinois’ schools, giving students two more days spent in the classroom. “It’s a totally wasted day, the first and last day,” said Luechtefeld, who is a retired social studies teacher, athletic director, and baseball and basketball coach from Okawville High School, in Okawville, Illinois. The Education Committee passed the bill Feb. 7, and it’s now under consideration in the Senate. There is no formal opposition to the proposal. When Luechtefeld was a teacher, he said he used the second day of school to pass out books and introduce the curriculum, while the first day was basically just an introduction. The second to last day was used to collect the books, because time would not allow it on the last day of school. “This will give teachers two more days of instruction,” he said. The bill will not [...]

Lawmaker and former teacher moves to legislate time on task

]]> /2012/02/24/lawmaker-and-former-teacher-moves-to-legislate-time-on-task/feed/ 0 Gov. Quinn Echoes President: Raise School Dropout Age /2012/02/12/dropout-age-ashlee-rezin/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/02/12/dropout-age-ashlee-rezin/#comments Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:00:41 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19931 In his State of the Union speech, President Obama called for states to increase the minimum age at which students can drop out of high school, but people are questioning whether it will actually positively influence teenagers to stay in class. At least one student questions whether it will do much good. “Rather than spending time discussing whether they should increase the dropout age, [our administration] needs to have people actually talk to us about what it means to stay in school,” said Ashley Walker, 18, a senior at Lincoln Park High School in Chicago. “They should take the time to tell us what will happen if we don’t go to school.” As it stands, Illinois students can drop out of high school at the age of 17. This was increased from the age of 16 in 2005. Illinois is one of 29 states in which students can drop out before the age of 18. “If kids want to be on the streets they’re going to be on the streets,” said Walker, who will be graduating from Chicago Public Schools in the spring. “They should focus on educating us, and show us what staying in school can do for us. Gov. Pat [...]

Gov. Quinn Echoes President: Raise School Dropout Age

]]> /2012/02/12/dropout-age-ashlee-rezin/feed/ 0 Chicago Schools Hope to See “Race To The Top” Funds /2012/02/09/chicago-schools-hope-to-see-race-to-the-top-funds/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/02/09/chicago-schools-hope-to-see-race-to-the-top-funds/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:11:06 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19933 Illinois is in line to get $42.8 million of  “Race To The Top” grant money from the U.S. Department of Education, and members of Chicago’s local organizations say they hope a sizeable portion goes to Chicago Public Schools. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided $4.35 billion for “Race To The Top,” a program earmarked by the Obama administration. Approximately $4 billion was used to fund federal grants designed to encourage and reward states that are committed to education innovation and reform. Illinois was included in the list of seven states receiving a share of the grant money in phase three of the program. Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Illinois’s largest school system with more than 400,000 students in 675 schools, kicked off the 2011-2012 year facing a $712 million deficit, which resulted in rescinding a scheduled 4 percent pay-raise for teachers. “We have to get extra resources into (Chicago Public Schools’) buildings, so our children can have a chance,” said Wanda Hopkins, 55, assistant director and individualized education program specialist for Parents United for a Responsible Education. Hopkins has three children currently enrolled in Chicago Public Schools. “There needs to be more professional development for teachers so that [...]

Chicago Schools Hope to See “Race To The Top” Funds

]]> /2012/02/09/chicago-schools-hope-to-see-race-to-the-top-funds/feed/ 0 Romney Supporters Watch from Local Watering Hole /2012/01/15/romney-supporters-watch-from-local-watering-hole/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/01/15/romney-supporters-watch-from-local-watering-hole/#comments Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:00:33 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19491 Mitt Romney’s Illinois supporters are enthusiastic about the former Massachusetts governor’s chances in Illinois following his win in the New Hampshire primaries. Romney supporters from Chicago and across the state gathered at the Emerald Loop Bar and Grill in Chicago, Tuesday evening, for a New Hampshire Primary viewing party hosted by State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, chairman of Romney’s Illinois campaign.   The former Massachusetts governor won the Jan. 10 New Hampshire primary with 39 percent of the vote, and is now gaining momentum in South Carolina and Florida, said Rutherford.   Romney’s success in New Hampshire was his second straight victory. A narrow first-place finish in Iowa made Romney the first non-incumbent Republican to win the nation’s first two presidential nominating contests.   Following several key endorsements in Illinois from Rep. Judy Biggert (13th) and Senator Mark Kirk, among others,  Rutherford and other Romney supporters are optimistic about Romney’s success in the Illinois March 20 primary and beyond.     Related articles   Well Known Illinois Republicans Contributing to Mitt Romney’s Campaign (chicagotalks.org)  

Romney Supporters Watch from Local Watering Hole

]]> /2012/01/15/romney-supporters-watch-from-local-watering-hole/feed/ 0 Well Known Illinois Republicans Contributing to Mitt Romney’s Campaign /2012/01/14/well-known-illinois-republicans-contributing-to-mitt-romneys-campaign/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/01/14/well-known-illinois-republicans-contributing-to-mitt-romneys-campaign/#comments Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:00:51 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19459 Though some GOP primary candidates are bound to drop before Illinois’ March 20 primary, Mitt Romney’s campaign continues to woo local Republicans as he hopes for a strong finish in the South Carolina primary, after winning the nation’s first two presidential nominating contests. Romney has found solid support among Illinois’ Republicans and reported raising about $680,000 in Illinois as of Sept. 30, 2011—more than double what second-place fundraiser Texas Governor Rick Perry has netted from state residents. “In the state of Illinois, it’s getting down to the point where organization and financial resources will play the most important role,” said Illinois Treasurer Dan Rutherford, Romney’s Illinois campaign chairman. “Romney has a good opportunity to put all of that together and a good shot to win this thing. I’m going to work very hard to help make that happen.” Besides a strong fundraising presence in Illinois, Romney’s campaign was the first campaign to file for a place on the Republican primary ballot. Provided there are no snags or mistakes in Romney’s filing, he will have the coveted first position on the ballot. Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich secured spots on Illinois ballot Jan. [...]

Well Known Illinois Republicans Contributing to Mitt Romney’s Campaign

]]> /2012/01/14/well-known-illinois-republicans-contributing-to-mitt-romneys-campaign/feed/ 2 Romney Hits A Bump In Iowa /2012/01/04/romney-hits-a-bump-in-iowa/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/01/04/romney-hits-a-bump-in-iowa/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:10:42 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19204 Just a few votes separated former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney from former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum in the 2012 GOP Iowa caucuses. Earlier in the day, Romney held a rally in downtown Des Moines as his volunteers worked the phones at campaign headquarters. Nearly 122,000 Iowans turned out to vote. It was the closest GOP caucus race Iowa has seen in decades. The Iowa GOP released certified vote totals on Jan. 20 that showed Santorum edging out Mitt Romney as the victor. The revised numbers reversed the results announced on caucus night, stripping Romney of an eight-vote win and the historic distinction of winning both Iowa and New Hampshire. The narrow win by Santorum leads one to wonder which way the campaigns will go in the March 20 Illinois primary.

Romney Hits A Bump In Iowa

]]> /2012/01/04/romney-hits-a-bump-in-iowa/feed/ 0 Supporters of Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Hope His Surge in Iowa Will Continue After the Caucuses /2012/01/03/supporters-of-presidential-candidate-rick-santorum-hope-his-surge-in-iowa-will-continue-in-iowa/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2012/01/03/supporters-of-presidential-candidate-rick-santorum-hope-his-surge-in-iowa-will-continue-in-iowa/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:58:06 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=19040 DES MOINES – A prominent evangelical leader in Iowa may be spreading his message in Chicago if GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum’s popularity surge continues beyond the Iowa caucuses. “We have thousands of supporters, and were very blessed to have many people in Iowa and across the country who really believe in what were doing,” said Bob Vander Plaats, president and chief executive officer of The Family Leader. In the weeks leading up to the Jan. 3rd Iowa caucuses, Vander Plaats and Chuck Hurley, president of the Iowa Family Policy Center, personally endorsed Rick Santorum. Vander Plaats said he’d campaign for Santorum beyond Iowa if the candidate needs or wants his help. That means Chicagoans could hear from Vander Plaats in the weeks before Illinois’ March 20th primary. “I am mostly doing media interviews leading up to the caucuses. I think that’s how I can best serve him right now,” said Vander Plaats. “If Santorum wants me to play a role throughout his campaign, I’ll be open to whatever role he wants me to play: I’m already trying to work my contacts in New Hampshire, South Carolina, and Florida.” Over the years, The Family Leader has taken a lead on several controversial issues, speaking out against abortion and [...]

Supporters of Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum Hope His Surge in Iowa Will Continue After the Caucuses

]]> /2012/01/03/supporters-of-presidential-candidate-rick-santorum-hope-his-surge-in-iowa-will-continue-in-iowa/feed/ 0 Northwest Mental Health Clinic Slated to Close /2011/12/21/northwest-mental-health-clinic-slated-to-close/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed /2011/12/21/northwest-mental-health-clinic-slated-to-close/#comments Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:00:44 +0000 Ashlee Rezin /?p=18512 Northwest Mental Health Clinic will close next year along with five other city-run facilities across Chicago, leaving therapists worried about what will happen to their Spanish-speaking patients. “I think this is a big loss to the community,” said Ava Navarro, clinical therapist at the Logan Square clinic. “We’ve been here a long time.” The Latino population will especially be impacted, Navarro said. “I don’t know if they’re going to be able to receive services in their language,” she said. “They’re going to have to travel out of the neighborhood that they feel safe in, and they will have to start fresh with a new therapist.” Under the unanimously approved 2012 city budget, the Chicago’s 12 mental health clinics will be consolidated into six, as a part of the $7.2 million reduction in funding for the city’s Department of Public Health. Northwest, located at 2354 N. Milwaukee Ave., is one of the few mental health clinics that caters to the Hispanic population. It will merge with the Lawndale Mental Health Center, located at 1201 S. Campbell St., in North Lawndale. Northwest, which opened its doors in 1972, has four permanent employees, three of which are bilingual. There are 360 active clients at [...]

Northwest Mental Health Clinic Slated to Close

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