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‘We’ve got to step up and fill a void’: Hotline aims to help those struggling with opioid addiction

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‘We’ve got to step up and fill a void’: Hotline aims to help those struggling with opioid addiction
CHICAGO (WLS) — The opioid epidemic continues to plague the Chicago space and Friday, metropolis leaders introduced efforts to assist these searching for assist.

Town’s prime physician, Allison Arwady, highlighted the staggering statistics.

“For each 3 to 4 Chicagoans that dies of COVID in that first 12 months, one other Chicagoan died of an opioid overdose,” Arwady mentioned.

She added that lately, extra Chicagoans died of deadly opioid overdoses than died of homicides and automotive crashes mixed.

Opioid disaster: US overdose deaths hit report 107K final 12 months, CDC says

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Arwady joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown as they introduced the success of a latest drug trafficking investigation.

A number of members and associates of a Chicago avenue gang have been arrested final week on the West Facet, based on Lightfoot.

These arrested are accused of conspiring to distribute unlawful medicine, resembling heroin and cocaine.

“We arrested greater than 30 offenders. Recovered greater than 15 firearms and ammunition. Over 250 rounds of ammunition. And took medicine, typically laced with Fentynal… off the road,” Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown mentioned.

Police additionally recovered over a number of hundred thousand {dollars} in money, Brown added.

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Ten are going through federal expenses.

“As an entire, this take down is the results of a multi-year, joint federal and native drug trafficking investigation,” Lightfoot mentioned.

The investigation additionally helped shut down three “open-air drug markets” in West Garfield Park, in addition to quite a few weapons taken off the road.

Gov. JB Pritzker publicizes plan to forestall deaths from opioid habit

“However, importantly, we gave the streets again to the individuals who dwell there,” Lightfoot mentioned. “Now that these individuals have been detained, we should step in to additional assist the group with optimistic assets to make it that a lot safer.”

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“We’re giving the residents again what was stolen from them,” Brown added.

Among the many announcement, metropolis leaders additionally revealed town’s new effort to deliver extra security and safety to communities.

“We’re working to rebuild that sense of security and safety till each particular person on this block feels it,” Brown mentioned.

“We have to step up and fill a void,” Lightfoot added.

The plan consists of “complete assist companies.”

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“Visibility, engagement and collaboration is on the coronary heart of our efforts,” Brown mentioned.

“Opioid overdoses are the quantity 5 explanation for our trigger racial life expectancy hole,” Arwady mentioned. “Opioid overdoses land in each a part of this metropolis however they land particularly exhausting on predominantly black communities and particularly exhausting on the West Facet.”

Arwady mentioned a brand new Chicago hotline may help join these battling substance abuse discover the assistance and assets they want. That hotline is: 833-234-6343.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Chicago, IL

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Chicago, IL

3 women united by Highland Park shooting now lobby for assault weapon ban

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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.”

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“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.

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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.

Copyright © 2022 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Chicago, IL

Biden to extend student loan repayment freeze as relief program is tied up in courts

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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.

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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.

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