Chicago, IL

Cook County alternative program helps people get clean from drugs, avoid criminal behavior

Published

2 years ago

May 19, 2022

Cook County alternative program helps people get clean from drugs, avoid criminal behavior

CHICAGO (WLS) — An alternate program helps individuals get clear from medication and keep away from a return to legal conduct.

Now, different counties want to copy this system due to its success.

Congratulations and tears of pleasure had been seen in an uncommon place Thursday — a Cook dinner County legal courtroom.

Six individuals with drug expenses graduate the Cook dinner County Drug Courtroom Program after 24 months of counseling, coaching, testing and help companies.

This system goals to assist them get clear, and Thursday, they’d their expenses dismissed.

“I not must stroll with my head down,” mentioned graduate Lillian Jackson. “Stroll with my head up.”

After many years of combating drug habit, she landed in Decide Charles Burns’ courtroom. Now, Jackson resides in a brand new place, working and received a full faculty scholarship.

“They are saying God places individuals in your life for a motive and this was the explanation — for me to get clear and sober and begin my new life,” Jackson mentioned.

Drug courtroom is certainly one of 20 problem-solving courts in Cook dinner County. There’s additionally veterans courts and psychological well being courts.

Did the fentanyl disaster thrive as a result of the US ignored opioid abuse?

Nevertheless, these courts had been acknowledged nationally and can change into fashions for different jurisdictions.

Decide Burns mentioned after seeing tons of graduate, these alternate options scale back recidivism.

“It is a win-win for everybody,” Decide Burns mentioned.

Decide Burns has overseen Rehabilitative Various Probation Drug Courtroom on the Leighton Courthouse since 2010.

“If you consider in them, they alter their lives. That’s so inspirational for all of us. It retains us motivated and it retains us giving the subsequent individual an opportunity due to the successes of our graduates,” he added.

This yr, a graduate alumni affiliation was created to assist the graduates keep on their paths. This graduate alumni affiliation can be anticipated to be replicated in different areas.

“I wish to give again and assist any individual like any individual helped me,” Jackson mentioned.

As for Jackson, she mentioned the one means she is going to return to a legal courtroom is to presumably work there sometime when she will get her diploma in knowledge science. She begins faculty within the fall.

Click to comment

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.