Chicago, IL

Hines VA hospital shuts down inpatient mental health unit on day of VA secretary’s visit

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2022

HINES, Sick. (WLS) — The Secretary of the U.S. Division of Veterans Affairs met with sufferers on the Hines VA Medical Middle Wednesday as the middle needed to shut down look after some psychological well being sufferers.

Hines VA Medical Middle’s inpatient psychological well being unit was closed after workers members, together with a senior nurse, raised numerous considerations, hospital director James Doelling stated.

“She did not consider the coaching of her new friends is what it must be, so we stated, you recognize what, are you able to give us some examples,” Doelling stated. “She gave us some examples, like one-on-one coaching versus group coaching, as a result of everyone learns otherwise, and you recognize what, she’s proper.”

Doelling stated workers coaching is underway. With the unit closed, Hines moved psychological well being sufferers to Jesse Brown VA Medical Middle.

It unfolded because the VA’s highest-ranking official, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, visited Hines Wednesday. He stated there’s a deep assessment of the unit, which is predicted to re-open subsequent week.

“We hear from our specialists. We insist on transparency,” McDonough stated. “And when one thing just isn’t proper, we resolve it.”

SEE ALSO | Incarcerated veterans in Lake County, Illinois nearly hook up with VA specialists

“There was completely no affected person hurt,” Doelling added. “We now have a workforce of people that adoing a file assessment, simply to verify that now we have discovered nothing. There isn’t a enhance in suicides, now we have not had any inpatient suicides.”

Senator Tammy Duckworth is following the unit closure. Her workplace stated, partially, she “appreciates that the ability is taking these issues critically and taking dramatic motion to switch present sufferers to Jesse Brown.”

Whereas the secretary praised workers for coming ahead, he was additionally at Hines to pay attention and meet with veterans.

As for the way forward for the VA, the secretary does have a plan, however these are solely suggestions at this level. It is a very lengthy, concerned course of that can take years.

The secretary recommends modernizing Hines, which serves greater than 44,000 veterans a yr and is likely one of the busiest VA services within the nation. He additionally stated Jesse Brown VA, which is positioned within the Medical District, could be modernized as nicely.

“Not solely are services going to be modernized, however our outpatient clinics all through the Chicagoland space, as we speak, are being dramatically expanded, and that enlargement will proceed,” he stated.

However once more, these are suggestions. Subsequent, an unbiased fee, which nonetheless must be shaped, will assessment the plan after which the president and Congress will get their say as nicely.

“VA is right here to remain as a result of vets in VA care do higher,” McDonough stated.

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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.