Many Syrian Children Lacking Educational Opportunities
Many Syrian Children Lacking Educational Opportunities CHICAGO – While many children are now heading back to school in Illinois and around the country, many other children who are victims of the crisis...
View ArticleIL Gov Won't Get Involved in DACA Issue
IL Gov Won't Get Involved in DACA Issue SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Children of undocumented immigrants, the so-called Dreamers, who live in Illinois aren't going to see action by the state protect them when...
View ArticleLatinos van a “College”, pero aún batallan en el mercado...
Latinos van a “College”, pero aún batallan en el mercado laboral SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Un estudio reciente del Centro para la Educación y la Fuerza Laboral de la Universidad Georgetown encontró que un...
View ArticleReport: Children of Color in IL More Likely to Live in Poverty
Report: Children of Color in IL More Likely to Live in Poverty SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – There are disparities based on race when it comes to opportunities for Illinois children, and a new report sheds light...
View ArticleWomen Across Globe March on Polls
Women Across Globe March on Polls CHICAGO – Those trying to call attention to issues such as health care, immigration and women's rights will be filling hundreds of cities across the state, country and...
View ArticleStemming the Tide of Youth in Prison
Stemming the Tide of Youth in Prison SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Seven in 10 juveniles arrested in Illinois have underlying mental health issues, and advocates are urging lawmakers to offer them treatment...
View ArticleIL Lawmakers to Vote on Equality Issues
IL Lawmakers to Vote on Equality Issues SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Human rights dvocates are hoping legislation that would advance the voices of women and the LGBT community will make it as far as Gov. Bruce...
View ArticlePrison-Reform Advocates Urge Rauner to Sign Medical Co-Pay Bill
Prison-Reform Advocates Urge Rauner to Sign Medical Co-Pay Bill CHICAGO – It's been more than a month since legislation that would eliminate co-pays for doctor visits to prison inmates went to Gov....
View ArticleMigrant Detention Centers Probed Over Toxic Wastes
Migrant Detention Centers Probed Over Toxic Wastes SPRINGFIELD, Ill – From the toxic stress of being separated from families, environmental and health advocates say they are now concerned about...
View ArticleGroups Call for More Reforms in Chicago Police Decree
Groups Call for More Reforms in Chicago Police Decree CHICAGO – The public comment period for a consent decree to govern how Chicago Police officers use force and are held accountable ends today....
View ArticleReport says IL Higher Education is Separate but Unequal
Report says IL Higher Education is Separate but Unequal SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Public college students in Illinois are being split into two separate and unequal tracks, according to new research released...
View ArticleBlack Unemployment Rate an Issue for Illinois
Black Unemployment Rate an Issue for Illinois SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – While all racial and ethnic groups are making gains in employment, new data reveals African Americans in Illinois are still falling...
View ArticleIL Kids Struggle with Poverty, Racial Disparities
IL Kids Struggle with Poverty, Racial Disparities SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A new report calls for continued work to ensure Illinois children from all walks of life have the opportunity to thrive. The state...
View ArticleNew Report Notes Concentrated Poverty Disparities Among Illinois Kids
New Report Notes Concentrated Poverty Disparities Among Illinois Kids SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois has fewer kids growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods, but advocates say it's still a troubling...
View ArticleReport Outlines Roots of Illinois' Racial Inequities
Report Outlines Roots of Illinois' Racial Inequities SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — New research says discrimination and segregation continue to plague Illinois and other Midwestern states. According to the...
View ArticleIllinois Lawmakers Hear Pleas to End Jail Bond
Illinois Lawmakers Hear Pleas to End Jail Bond CHICAGO -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently revealed his intention to end the use of cash bail or what is known as "money bond" in Illinois, and it's an effort...
View ArticleDACA Decision at Supreme Court Expected Soon
DACA Decision at Supreme Court Expected Soon SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A decision on the fate of 700,000 so-called Dreamers could come down as soon as Thursday from the U.S. Supreme Court. ...(Read More)
View ArticleCase to End Automatic Adult Court Trial of Juveniles
Case to End Automatic Adult Court Trial of Juveniles SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- New research suggests that, if given time for proper review, Illinois could greatly reduce the number of juvenile cases that...
View ArticleIllinois Faith Leaders Ready to Catalyze the Moment
Illinois Faith Leaders Ready to Catalyze the Moment CHICAGO -- Faith leaders in Illinois are joining others from around the country as prophetic witnesses to respond to the national unrest. The...
View ArticleDual Reports Highlight Health Inequalities Among Illinois Kids
Dual Reports Highlight Health Inequalities Among Illinois Kids SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Dual reports featuring new data on child outcomes reveal persistent health inequalities among children in Illinois....
View ArticleProposed Chicago ICE 'Citizens Academy' Poses Threat to Residents, Critics Say
Proposed Chicago ICE 'Citizens Academy' Poses Threat to Residents, Critics Say CHICAGO -- Starting in mid-September, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will open its first Citizens...
View ArticleTrump's "Proud Boys" Comments Spur Unease
Trump's "Proud Boys" Comments Spur Unease SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Civil-rights advocates are warning President Donald Trump's debate comments about a group known as Proud Boys could encourage far-right...
View ArticleHunger Levels Rise for IL Families as Holidays Approach
Hunger Levels Rise for IL Families as Holidays Approach SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The pandemic is causing massive hardships for Illinois families heading into the holidays. The latest Census Bureau survey...
View ArticleIL General Assembly Approves End to Money Bond
IL General Assembly Approves End to Money Bond SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois is set to become the first state to eliminate money bond, after the General Assembly passed a criminal-justice reform...
View ArticleIL Initiative Helps Expunge Cannabis Convictions
IL Initiative Helps Expunge Cannabis Convictions CHICAGO -- A little more than a year after Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational cannabis, legal-aid groups are working to help...
View ArticleChicago Firm Boosts Support for Black Entrepreneurs
Chicago Firm Boosts Support for Black Entrepreneurs CHICAGO - Spurred by protests calling for racial justice over the past year, a Chicago-based tech company that helps entrepreneurs is starting a new...
View ArticleIL Teachers Join Campaign to Improve Outcomes for Black Students
IL Teachers Join Campaign to Improve Outcomes for Black Students CHICAGO -- Many Illinois teachers are joining a national campaign this week, called Black Lives Matter At School, to raise awareness...
View ArticleChicago Ordinance Would Bring Laid-Off Workers Back When Hotels Reopen
Chicago Ordinance Would Bring Laid-Off Workers Back When Hotels Reopen CHICAGO - Legislation pending before the Chicago City Council would require hotels to reinstate workers who were laid off because...
View ArticleReport: Diversity Lacking on IL Corporate Boards
Report: Diversity Lacking on IL Corporate Boards CHICAGO -- Corporate boards of directors in Illinois have a way to go to achieve racial and gender parity in representation. In 2019, lawmakers passed a...
View ArticleEvanston To Provide Housing Grants as Form of Reparations
Evanston To Provide Housing Grants as Form of Reparations EVANSTON, Ill. -- Black residents of Evanston, who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or are direct descendants of someone who did, can...
View ArticleBill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court
Bill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to...
View ArticleSpotlight on Black Women's Contributions to End Sexual Violence
Spotlight on Black Women's Contributions to End Sexual Violence CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- During Sexual Assault Awareness Month, groups are raising awareness about Black women's contributions in the quest to...
View ArticleFederal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate
Federal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate CHICAGO -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers will introduce a package of bills to make the way children and teens are...
View ArticleReport: For Kids, Virtual Court Hearings Put Legal Rights at Risk
Report: For Kids, Virtual Court Hearings Put Legal Rights at Risk CHICAGO -- As courts across the country consider whether to continue holding hearings remotely post-pandemic, juvenile-justice...
View ArticleBill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code
Bill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Racial-justice advocates are urging the state Senate to pass a bill called the TEAACH Act, making Illinois the first state...
View ArticleInteractive Tool Illustrates Incarceration's Impact on Young People
Interactive Tool Illustrates Incarceration's Impact on Young People CLARIFICATION: The name of the organization that developed the tool, Performing Statistics, was added. (1:45 p.m. MST, May 20, 2021)...
View ArticleIllinois to Be First to Ban Deception in Interrogations of Juveniles
Illinois to Be First to Ban Deception in Interrogations of Juveniles CHICAGO - Illinois is set to become the first state to prohibit the use of deception by law enforcement in interrogations of...
View ArticleJuneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval
Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday,...
View ArticleGroups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration
Groups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration EVANSTON, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice reform groups say helping young people with work and life-skills training reduces recidivism more...
View ArticleIL Child Well-Being Improved in Last Decade, Although Disparities Remain
IL Child Well-Being Improved in Last Decade, Although Disparities Remain SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Child well-being in Illinois was looking up in 2019 compared with 2010, but advocates say the full impact...
View ArticleGraphic Novel Spotlights Black Wealth Before 1921 Tulsa Massacre
Graphic Novel Spotlights Black Wealth Before 1921 Tulsa Massacre CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A graphic novel illustrated by a University of Illinois professor aims to serve as a primer for young people to learn...
View ArticleChicago Prepares to Welcome Hundreds of Afghan Refugees
Chicago Prepares to Welcome Hundreds of Afghan Refugees CHICAGO -- In the coming weeks and months, more than 500 Afghans are expected to make their homes in Chicago, following the U.S. withdrawal from...
View ArticleStarting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools
Starting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools Starting Jan. 1, a law goes into effect banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools. Studies have shown one in five Black women working...
View ArticleArt Exhibition Highlights Chicago's Housing Issues, Potential Solutions
Art Exhibition Highlights Chicago's Housing Issues, Potential Solutions An upcoming art exhibition in Chicago aims to provide a new framework to view the city's struggles with housing, past and...
View ArticleGroups Call for Water Infrastructure Testing in IL Prisons
Groups Call for Water Infrastructure Testing in IL Prisons After reports of water contamination in Illinois prisons, groups are calling on the state to conduct a top-down review of the water and sewer...
View ArticleIncreasing Diversity in Nursing to Achieve Health Equity
Increasing Diversity in Nursing to Achieve Health Equity The pandemic put new focus on the shortage of nurses, in Illinois and across the country. But the lack of diversity in the nursing profession is...
View ArticleMalcolm X College, Illinois State U. Offer Nursing Students Dual Enrollment
Malcolm X College, Illinois State U. Offer Nursing Students Dual Enrollment Two Illinois institutions of higher learning are joining forces to create more options for nursing students. Malcolm X...
View ArticleIllinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect
Illinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect Illinois lawmakers, meeting in their annual "Veto Session" in Springfield, are taking a look at the controversial SAFE-T Act one last...
View ArticleReport: Government Program to Protect Farmworkers Failing
Report: Government Program to Protect Farmworkers Failing By Sky Chadde and Johnathan Heddinger for Investigate Midwest, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by...
View ArticleMiddle Eastern, North African Race Checkbox Added to IL state forms
Middle Eastern, North African Race Checkbox Added to IL state forms Illinois is making history as the first state to collect Middle Eastern and North African representation data on all state forms and...
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