Chicago, IL

Pennsylvania school district cancels Halloween parades over safety, inclusivity concerns

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2022

Pennsylvania school district cancels Halloween parades over safety, inclusivity concerns

BALA CYNWYD, Pa. — One Pennsylvania college district is canceling its annual Halloween parades at its elementary colleges over security and inclusivity issues.

The Decrease Merion College District in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania has been holding these parades for greater than 50 years.

Nevertheless, college directors despatched out letters to households in any respect six of its elementary colleges final week saying the parades is not going to occur this 12 months.

Some mother and father are upset over the choice, whereas others are relieved.

“They’re nice. They’re enjoyable, and it is the anticipation. … All people talks concerning the costumes that they are going to put on,” mentioned Linda Joseph, a guardian within the college district.

She mentioned she has fond reminiscences of watching her older children within the parades, and he or she’s upset her youngest will not have the identical likelihood.

Chicago Columbus Day Parade returns to Loop amid controversy; Indigenous Folks’s Day occasions deliberate

“I really feel prefer it’s simply crossing the road, and the place does it finish? So, subsequent individuals are going to be offended by pumpkins? So we will take away pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns or pumpkin carving?” requested Joseph.

The district mentioned security is the primary concern. The parades are outdoors, and the district cannot management or display screen who involves them.

“We proceed to reevaluate. We proceed to work with native regulation enforcement and county specialists about what’s finest,” mentioned Amy Buckman, the director of faculty and neighborhood relations for the district.

Buckman mentioned the opposite situation shouldn’t be everybody celebrates Halloween, and people children have needed to sit within the library up to now in the course of the parades.

“We checked out all of that and we mentioned, ‘Are the parades actually that essential to the scholars?’ And the reply we got here up with shouldn’t be actually,” she mentioned.

“There’s hazard in each potential venue in each potential manner. So what are you going to do? Cancel every little thing? I do not know,” mentioned guardian Rachel Gutman.

Some mother and father are upset, saying the parades are nothing greater than a enjoyable exercise for the children. Others, nonetheless, assume the district made the best name.

“I believe it is extra inclusive that there is not a Halloween parade. I completely perceive the place the district is coming from when it comes to the kids’s security and the truth that many mother and father cannot attend the parade,” mentioned guardian Amanda Hershon.

The district mentioned children will nonetheless have the ability to costume up on Halloween. As an alternative of a parade, there will probably be fall-themed actions within the classroom.

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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.