Chicago, IL

Chicago City Council reaches tentative deal on new ward map with 17 Black wards and 14 Latino wards

Published

2 years ago

May 10, 2022

Chicago City Council reaches tentative deal on new ward map with 17 Black wards and 14 Latino wards

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Metropolis Council has reached a tentative compromise deal on adjustments to the town’s ward map.

The wards are being redrawn in accordance with outcomes from the 2020 census.

The compromise map, which Alderwoman Michelle Harris calls the “Chicago United Map,” would create 17 Black-majority wards, 14 Latino-majority wards and one Asian-American majority ward.

Redrawing Chicago wards map units off battle between Black, Latino caucuses

“I am thrilled my colleagues have come collectively in compromise in what has been a protracted and difficult course of,” Harris stated. “I’m prepared to maneuver our metropolis ahead with the Chicago United Map, because it represents a good map for all Chicagoans. I’ve all the time needed to keep away from a pricey referendum for Chicago’s taxpayers, and at present we achieved that.”

Months of negotiation had yielded little settlement, with numerous proposals generally together with 16 Black-majority wards and 15 Latino-majority wards, generally extra, generally much less. The one Asia American-majority ward was one level of settlement amongst all proposals.

United Working Households launched a press release praising the compromise map, saying, “We commend the elected members of our group for his or her exhausting work to succeed in a compromise on the Chicago United Map and thereby avert a prolonged and divisive referendum. At this time’s settlement will safe 14 Latino-majority wards, create the town’s first Asian-American ward, and keep sturdy illustration for Chicago’s Black communities throughout 17 Black-majority and Black-plurality wards. At this time’s settlement ensures that we can flip our consideration in the direction of the legislative points that matter most to our communities.”

The Individuals’s Coalition Map was not as optimistic, releasing a vital assertion saying partly, “So-called ‘reformers’ made backroom offers and determined that voters should not be allowed to decide on their map, and that is one thing the Individuals’s Coalition Map has all the time stood for. In consequence, Latinos misplaced for the second decade in a row. The biggest minority inhabitants in Chicago will not be pretty and precisely represented as such. The voices of immigrant populations stay on the fringes.”

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Chicago, IL

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

2 women found dead in Englewood home after fire, Chicago fire officials say

ByABC7 Chicago Digital Crew by way of

Wednesday, November 23, 2022 3:26AM

FILE photograph: View of the Chicago Hearth Division, the third largest municipal hearth division in america of America, within the Chinatown neighborhood on Sept. 24, 2014.
Shutterstock

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago hearth officers mentioned two ladies have been discovered lifeless in an Englewood house after a home hearth.

The fireplace broke out Tuesday night at a home within the 7200-block of South Wolcott, Chicago hearth officers mentioned.

The fireplace was struck out at about 9:10 p.m., CFD mentioned.

After the fireplace was out, firefighters discovered two grownup feminine victims lifeless within the wreckage.

It was not instantly clear if the ladies died within the hearth or earlier than the fireplace. No additional particulars have been launched.

The Chicago Hearth Division has not but commented on any potential causes for the fireplace or mentioned in the event that they consider it was suspicious.

Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

HIGHLAND PARK, Ailing. (WLS) — Three ladies and their households had been good strangers up till the second tragedy introduced them collectively within the aftermath of Highland Park’s July 4th parade.

As Thanksgiving approaches, they’re united in goal and in gratitude for probably the most primary of all issues: life.

“I believed I used to be going to die,” Highland Park capturing survivor Liz Turnipseed mentioned. “That I used to be going to put there and I used to be going to bleed out and I used to be going to die.”

WATCH | Highland Park capturing survivor tells her story

“I used to be on the parade with my three grownup kids, my son-in-law and my 2-year-old grand child,” mentioned Debra Baum, with the Highland Park Gun Violence Mission. “Our complete household may have been worn out.”

“July third I had 70 folks at my home and the following day our life bought flipped the other way up,” capturing survivor Lindsay Hartman mentioned. “So I simply know for me, I am attempting to take pleasure in it and never spend an excessive amount of time previously.”

SEE ALSO | Highland Park parade capturing short-term memorial opens subsequent to metropolis corridor

For Lindsay, not spending an excessive amount of time previously means internet hosting Thanksgiving for 30. Liz, who was one of many almost 50 folks injured that day, nonetheless wants a cane to get round, so she’ll be catering the meal and having her complete household fly in. Debra shall be coming along with the identical household she was with on July 4.

“There are numerous households in Highland Park that do not have folks with them this Thanksgiving due to what occurred,” Baum mentioned. “It is a very weighty realization.”

However there’s additionally gratitude for random issues and other people, like for the proper strangers who took in Liz’s 3-year-old daughter for a few hours after she was shot. And the neighbor she’d by no means met earlier than who lent her a step stool for her mattress.

Turning ache into goal is what unites these ladies now as they foyer for an assault weapons ban in Congress. As a result of whereas life for them won’t ever be the identical, it does transfer on.

Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Published

2 years ago

November 22, 2022

Press Room

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

Tuesday, November 22, 2022 8:52PM

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Biden administration is but once more extending the pause on federal scholar mortgage funds, a profit that started in March 2020 to assist individuals who have been struggling financially because of the Covid-19 pandemic, a supply conversant in the plan mentioned.

The Division of Training will announce it’s extending the freeze one other six months with the primary funds due two months after June 30, the supply mentioned, until a Supreme Courtroom resolution on the president’s scholar mortgage aid program comes first.

The administration had beforehand mentioned the latest extension could be the final, and funds have been scheduled to restart in January.

However the administration had additionally meant for its scholar mortgage forgiveness program to start canceling as much as $20,000 in debt for low- and middle-income debtors earlier than January. This system has but to be carried out because it faces a number of authorized challenges.

This story is breaking and can be up to date.