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Chicago migrant shelter opens amidst rising eviction problems
CHICAGO — City of Chicago and Cook County leaders took to the Northwest Side this evening to celebrate the opening of a new migrant shelter at Portage Park’s St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, which came as the process transitioning new arrivals out of shelters has reached even more difficult heights.
Tempers flare in Harvey, Illinois as business owners complain of unfair fines
HARVEY, Ill. (CBS) -- South suburban Dolton has made headlines lately for chaotic confrontations at its village hall—as ongoing investigations of overspending often cause blow-ups between Mayor Tiffany Henyard and residents.On Thursday, tensions similarly boiled over in south suburban Harvey. Business owners there say they are being slapped with unnecessary fees—but city leaders said they need the money.Benecia Gonzalez is among the business owners complaining."To us, it might be a small shop, but for us, it's where everything started," she said.Gonzalez has not been able to open her auto repair business, the Harvey Auto Center, since May."From one day to...
Illinois' minimum wage isn't going up July 1, but several locations will see a change
Illinois' minimum wage may not be going up at the start of July, but some locations will still be seeing a raise. That's because both Chicago and Cook County are set to see hikes in their minimum wages. Statewide, a 2024 minimum wage increase took effect on Jan. 1, when...
Illinois License Plate Cameras Are Violating People's Constitutional Rights, Says New Suit
Can state police track drivers everywhere they go via hundreds of license plate cameras? A new lawsuit says that Illinois' widespread use of such cameras—called automatic license plate readers (ALPRs)—violates the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable searches because it breaches citizens' reasonable expectations of privacy. The complaint—filed by...
IL lawmakers hear testimony on potential prison closures
JOLIET (WGEM) - A group of Illinois lawmakers are expected to weigh in on an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) plan to close and rebuild two prisons. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) met Tuesday night in Joliet to hear from prison leaders and employees. They discussed IDOC’s...
Lawyer Handcuffed in Cook County Courtroom Sparks Inquiry, Judge's Conduct Questioned
Tensions in a Cook County courtroom escalated to an unusual level last month when attorney Brad Schneiderman was handcuffed to a chair following an order by Judge Kathy Flanagan to have him removed. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the incident occurred on May 7 during a civil case hearing at the Daley Center, leading to an inquiry by the Judicial Inquiry Board after a referral from Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans.
Tiffany Henyard faces more accusations • Riot Fest gets a makeover • New Chicago migrant shelter
WEDNESDAY NEWS FLASH - The head of the Dolton Park District claims embattled Mayor Tiffany Henyard is playing political games with their efforts to improve the town's parks. Dolton Park District President Cleo Jones said Henyard is retaliating after the park district allowed four of her political opponents to use a field house for meetings. Jones said part of the retaliation came in the mail last week.
Restaurant owner buys downtown Schererville property for mixed-use development
Schererville is another step closer to getting a mixed-use development downtown. The owner of Little Italy restaurant in Dyer has agreed to buy an acre of land at 22 West Joliet Street from the town, according to Schererville Director of Operations Andrew Hansen. "This is the property located just west...
Some Stateville employees push back against prison closure and reassignment plans
CREST HILL, Ill. - Workers at Stateville Correctional Center are criticizing the state's plans to close the facility while a new prison is being built. Some staff workers said that the state's plans to demolish and rebuild Stateville will unnecessarily disrupt their lives as the facilities they'd be re-assigned to would require commutes of up to two hours each way.
Cook County devotes millions in federal funds for behavioral health
(The Center Square) – Cook County has devoted $44 million in federal American Rescue Plan tax funds to behavioral health grants. The money is going to 53 organizations as part of the county’s Stronger Together Initiative, which aims to address behavioral health inequities. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the grantees are doing significant work in the behavioral health space. “Providing financial support to these organizations helps us increase...
At Stateville Closure Hearing, Agreement Over Poor Conditions Yet Questions Remain on Path Forward
A sea of green AFSCME shirts dominated a packed hotel ballroom in Joliet. Members held signs reading “safety first–stop the closure” and “save our jobs.”. “Everyone you see back here is my family,” said Stateville Correctional Center employee Dorsy Peldonia. Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday...
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