Chicago, IL

Mayor Lori Lightfoot touts national recognition of Chicago’s violence prevention programs

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot touts national recognition of Chicago’s violence prevention programs

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Lori Lightfoot mentioned Tuesday that Chicago has been investing in methods to stop gun violence within the metropolis, and he or she mentioned it is enjoying a job in a downward development in crime that is now being acknowledged by a nationwide advocacy group.

It comes after 37 individuals had been shot in Chicago final weekend, together with a 6-year-old woman and 7-year-old boy.

Town’s violence drawback has grow to be political fodder throughout an election 12 months. In an try to alter the narrative, Mayor Lori Lightfoot mentioned her administration’s efforts to scale back violence are working.

WATCH | Mayor Lightfoot, Rep. Kelly on Chicago’s gun violence prevention efforts

“We rank third amongst 50 U.S. cities for violence prevention applications, providers and insurance policies,” Lightfoot mentioned. “And this, to us, is a really large deal, we’re grateful for the popularity,”

The popularity comes from a nationwide group, the Neighborhood Motion Fund.

The mayor mentioned this system she began a 12 months in the past makes use of what she calls “a holistic method” utilizing a number of authorities businesses to give attention to 15 of Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods. And, she mentioned it is beginning to repay.

“Take, for instance, the West Facet,” Lightfoot mentioned. “We have now seen vital — 20-30% — declines in shootings and homicides on the West Facet Space 4, which traditionally has been essentially the most violent space in our metropolis.”

And the mayor says homicides and shootings are down by 18% within the metropolis, in comparison with final 12 months. However one in all her greatest critics in Metropolis Corridor would not purchase it.

“There’s not an individual within the metropolis but that believes that narrative,” ninth Ward Ald. Anthony Beale mentioned.

Beale mentioned crime is up in his far South Facet ward after police sources had been diverted to different components of the town.

“You aren’t going to alter individuals’s notion going into an election, pondering issues are OK within the metropolis,” Beale mentioned. “They aren’t, after we are nonetheless in need of 2,000 police within the metropolis of Chicago.”

The mayor insists the town’s conventional method of throwing extra police sources is just a short-term repair.

Lightfoot is satisfied her holistic and hyper-local method to violence will proceed to repay in the long term. The query is: will or not it’s in time for subsequent 12 months’s mayoral election?

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.