Chicago, IL

New Navy Pier exhibit ‘Stories of Survival’ showcases stories of genocide survivors

Published

2 years ago

April 8, 2022

CHICAGO (WLS) — Immaculee Songa survived the Rwandan genocide 28 years in the past. A lot of her relations didn’t, together with her husband and two younger daughters.

“There may be goal in surviving. Now we have an obligation to inform the story and let the world know concerning the 1994 genocide in opposition to the Tutsis,” she mentioned

Songa is featured within the “Tales of Survival” exhibit at Navy Pier in collaboration with the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Schooling Heart. The exhibition showcases what folks took with them after they left their international locations due to persecution.

In Songa’s show, she has images of the clothes her daughters had been carrying after they had been killed.

“For me it’s heartbreaking after I see them,” she mentioned

Ralph Rehbock and his household fled Germany.
“My father purchased this practice set in order that we might have a toy, all the opposite issues had been packed as much as be shipped in a container,” he mentioned.

Whereas preventing in World Warfare I, Eleanor Merar mentioned a bit of shrapnel went by way of his pockets. Twenty years later she and her household had been compelled to go away Germany like so many Jewish folks. She selected to show a photograph of her father’s pockets.

“Here’s a man in Germany who fought for Germany, 25 years later was instructed we do not need you anymore,” she mentioned.
In these tales of the previous, many see parallels to the current, together with the Russian warfare in Ukraine.

“I feel the world is in such a tragic form,” mentioned Sharrel Titlebaum, daughter of Holocaust survivors.

“We mentioned so many occasions no extra, by no means once more. However these phrases are meaningless as a result of it is repeating,” mentioned Bosnian genocide survivor Mirsad Causevic.

The exhibit can be on show at Navy Pier by way of June 30.

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Chicago, IL

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

Published

1 year 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

1 year 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

1 year 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.