Illinois

A new Illinois re-entry guide includes resources for LGBTQ+ people after incarceration | Illinois Public Media

Published

2 years ago

March 1, 2024

A new Illinois re-entry guide includes resources for LGBTQ+ people after incarceration | Illinois Public Media

CHAMPAIGN — Stephanie Zarate is both transgender and formerly incarcerated. Zarate says being transgender makes it difficult to find resources after incarceration — especially housing.

“Unlike cisgender, straight people, it’s difficult for us because we don’t have the support that they have,” she said.

That’s why the latest re-entry guide from the Education Justice Project includes information on how to get involved in community organizations after incarceration and other resources for LGBTQ+ people.

Lee Ragsdale, the director of the re-entry guide, said EJP received input from Pushing Envelopes, a Chicago re-entry group for LGBTQ+ people returning from incarceration.

“They said, you know what, why don’t you have a chapter on this?” Ragsdale said. “And we said, that’s a great question. You know, that’s, frankly, been an oversight.”

The new LGBTQ+ chapter includes resources for housing, employment, healthcare and substance use — tailored to transgender, gender-nonconforming and queer people.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are incarcerated at a rate three times higher than the general population, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.

It’s often harder for transgender people to find housing because halfway houses are usually sorted by gender and LGBTQ+ people often can’t rely on family or religious charities because of their identities, Zarate said.

Zarate added that even when resources are specifically made for LGBTQ+ people, restrictions often exist that limit access for certain individuals, like those with a criminal record or who are HIV-positive.

Lydia Vision, a transgender woman, fought for years to receive gender-affirming care and hormone therapy while incarcerated in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities.

When Vision got out, Pushing Envelopes made sure she could continue her treatment — which is a challenge for many transgender people coming out of incarceration.

“Within three days, they helped me with getting medical insurance and making sure I was covered because I’m on hormone replacement therapy,” Vision said. “They don’t sell it over the counter. So I had to get it together.”

Connecting formerly incarcerated people to resources like housing is especially important, Vision said, because, without it, getting parole and leaving prison isn’t an option.

“If you don’t have a place to go from prison, you don’t get to leave,” Vision said. “They will hold you until your parole time’s up. So essentially, due to lack of a house and place to go, I may have had to stay in prison for almost three more years.”

The new re-entry guide is currently being distributed through prisons throughout the state.

Ragsdale said each year the guides get more inclusive and accessible to more formerly incarcerated people throughout Illinois.

“One of our alumni said, ‘This guide was our internet,’” Ragsdale said. “That just shows you how comprehensive, useful, and we hope, empowering, the guide is, that somebody can come to it and get information on any re-entry-related topics.”

Farrah Anderson is a journalist and student at the University of Illinois. Follow her on Twitter @farrahsoa.

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Illinois

Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

Published

6 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Teacher strike threats highlight fact that Illinois allows such walkouts

Illinois is among the minority of states allowing teachers to strike. None of Illinois’ neighbors allow it.

Illinois teachers unions officially threatened strikes 188 times from 2010 to 2025, according to state records.

That’s the number of times unions provided the Illinois Educational Labor Relations a required 10-day notice to before going on strike. So that doesn’t include the number of times the unions threatened walkouts without filing that notice.

While no teachers unions went on strike in 2025, eight filed strike notices, according to the board. Unions have walked out 58 times since 2010.

That’s a reminder that Illinois is in the minority in allowing teachers unions to walk off the job. The state is one of only about a dozen that allow teachers to strike. None of Illinois’ neighboring states permit teacher walkouts.

And among the 10 largest school districts in the U.S., Chicago is one of just two that allow strikes.

The Chicago Teachers Union, the state’s largest local teachers union, has a history of putting its agenda ahead of students. It has walked out on students five times over the past 14 years:

In 2012, a strike during contract negotiations kept kids out of classes for seven days.
On April 1, 2016, the union conducted an illegal one-day strike in response to alleged “union-busting” efforts of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and former CPS CEO Forrest Claypool.
In 2019, a strike during contract negotiations closed schools for 11 days.
In January 2021, classes were canceled when CTU refused to return to school for in-person learning following COVID-19 closures.
In January 2022, CTU walked out on schoolchildren for five days. Parents were notified of the strike after 11 p.m. on a school night, leaving them just hours to plan after the union decided not to show up for Chicago’s children.

Last year CTU came close striking once again after rejecting recommendations from a third-party fact finder in its negotiations with Chicago Public Schools. That rejection caused CTU and CPS to enter a legally required 30-day “cooling off” period before the CTU was allowed to vote to strike.

Claypool has called for Illinois to ban teacher strikes, noting in a LinkedIn post the detriment walkouts bring to parents and children.

Teacher strike threats create uncertainty for parents and children. Illinois should place kids first and join the majority of states that ban teacher strikes.

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Illinois

Vanderbilt vs Illinois predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

Published

18 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Vanderbilt vs Illinois predictions, picks, odds for NCAA Tournament Second Round

The Second Round of the women’s 2026 NCAA Tournament continues Monday with a slate featuring No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Illinois on the eight-game schedule.

Here is the latest on Monday’s March Madness matchup, including expert picks from reporters across the USA TODAY Sports Network.

USA TODAY Sports has a team of journalists covering the women’s NCAA Tournament to keep you up to date with every point scored, rebound grabbed and game won in the 68-team tournament.

USA TODAY Studio IX : Check out our women’s sports hub for in-depth analysis, commentary and more

Join the USA TODAY $1 million Bracket Challenge

No. 2 Vanderbilt vs No. 7 Illinois prediction

Heather Burns: Vanderbilt
Mitchell Northam: Vanderbilt
Nancy Armour: Vanderbilt
Cydney Henderson: Vanderbilt
Meghan Hall: Vanderbilt

No. 2 Vanderbilt vs No. 7 Illinois odds

Opening Moneyline: Vanderbilt (-1000)
Opening Spread: Vanderbilt (-13.5)
Opening Total: 153.5

How to Watch Vanderbilt vs Illinois on Monday

No. 2 Vanderbilt takes on No. 7 Illinois at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on March 23 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The game is airing on ESPN2.

Stream March Madness on Fubo

2026 Women’s NCAA Tournament full schedule

March 18-19: First Four
March 20-21: First Round
March 22-23: Second Round
March 27-28: Sweet 16
March 29-30: Elite 8
April 3: Final Four
April 5: National Championship

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Illinois

Illinois Secretary of State’s Office warns of ‘new surge’ in scam texts

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

Illinois Secretary of State’s Office warns of ‘new surge’ in scam texts

The Illinois Secretary of State’s Office is warning residents of a “new surge” in scam texts claiming to be from the DMV and demanding money.

According to a press release from Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, residents are receiving text messages falsely claiming to either be from his office or a DMV, threatening suspension of license and vehicle registration if “fines” are not paid.

The messages often include links that can be used to steal residents’ information, and Giannoulias’ office is reminding residents to use vigilance and caution when receiving such messages.

“These text messages look legitimate and are designed to frighten people into acting quickly before they have time to think,” Giannoulias said. “Our office will never send a text message demanding payment or threatening to suspend someone’s license. If you receive a message like this, remember it’s a scam – plain and simple. Do not click the link and please report the message to scamalert@ilsos.gov.”

According to his office, the messages often reference fake regulations or deadlines, and cite an upcoming enforcement date to add an air of urgency to the texts.

“These schemes are designed to create panic and trick individuals into surrendering money or personal information,” the Secretary of State’s Office said.

If a motorist receives a text, they are urged:

-NEVER to click a link

-Do not reply

-Do not provide personal information

-Forward the message to the SOS’ scam alert email.

The only legitimate text messages the Secretary of State’s Office sends are to remind motorists of upcoming appointments at DMV facilities.

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