Illinois news

• Dr. Tyra Urges Chicagoans to Prioritize Health and Celebrate National Nurses Week in May

  11-05-2024 13:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Dr. Tyra L. Dean-Ousley, affectionately known as Dr.Tyra, is on a mission to inspire Chicagoans to prioritize their health for a better quality of life. 
  As National Nurses Week approaches from May 6 through 12, 2024, and National Nurses Month throughout the month of May, Dr. Tyra underscores the pivotal role of nurses in fostering healthier communities.
  Dr. Tyra, EdD, MSN, FPA, FNP-BC is a respected nursing leader, educator, clinician, and consultant with over 30 years of experience. The n
  
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• Viral Man Who Drove During Hearing For Suspended License Claims Innocence

  04-06-2024 21:29 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: X
  The man who went viral for driving during a virtual court hearing for his suspended license case says he should’ve never been charged, per ABC 7 News.
  Last month, a video of Corey Harris’ court virtual court hearing before Ann Arbor, Michigan judge Cedric Simpson went viral as the defendant appeared on Zoom from behind the wheel.
  “Mr. Harris, are you driving?” Simpson asked.
  “Actually, I’m pulling into my doctor’s office,” Harris responded
  
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• Romance and regret, Sondheim style

  04-06-2024 20:48 via chicagoreader.com
  
  The sexual round-robin that swirls through the heart of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s lilting masterpiece A Little Night Music is set in motion by regrets over paths both taken and not. With a dazzling book by Hugh Wheeler (inspired by Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 film Smiles of a Summer Night), the musical’s ravishing, comedic whirl of affairs […]
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• Breaking the code

  04-06-2024 20:30 via chicagoreader.com
  
  The Enigmatist run time is officially 95 minutes, but you’ll want to get there a solid half hour early so you can crack the codes in the “puzzle garden” that greets audiences on the sixth-floor lobby of Chicago Shakespeare Theater. There are four ciphers in the garden, and their solutions figure in the “meta” puzzle […]
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• Daniel Villarreal and Vivian McConnell finally drop an album as Valebol

  04-06-2024 20:19 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Singer-songwriter Vivian McConnell developed a curious problem with Valebol, the effervescent pop duo that she and percussionist Daniel Villarreal founded around seven years ago. Valebol has performed live sporadically since 2019, landing gigs in part on the strength of the members’ pedigrees: McConnell makes gentle indie rock as V.V. Lightbody, and Villarreal is not only one […]
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• Father, Scholar, Peacemaker: A CPS Student’s Astonishing Transformation

  04-06-2024 16:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  More than any other group, the high school graduates of 2024 faced unforeseen challenges that no other students in recent memory have had to face.
  They had to contend with the specter of the pandemic, the unfathomable loss of friends and relatives, either from Covid or other causes, and George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent fallout. They had to adjust to virtual learning while facing the threat of learning loss. 
  Amid numerous and nefarious challenges, many of these 2024 high schoo
  
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• Wrightwood 659 highlights the late Greek American art luminary Chryssa

  04-06-2024 14:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Taken as she was by New York’s in-your-face advertisements and breakneck pace during her first visit there in 1955, Chryssa wouldn’t be satisfied until she left her mark on the city. In the expansive career that followed her initial sojourn—the subject of a retrospective at Wrightwood 659—the mononymous artist made that mark by imbuing the […]
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• J. Pharoah Doss: Misusing MLK moral authority

  04-06-2024 14:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
   Over the last decade, numerous riots have erupted in response to fatal encounters between unarmed Black individuals and police officers. Martin Luther King Jr. famously stated, “A riot is the language of the unheard,” but the activists who condoned the violence used this phrase to cloak themselves in MLK’s moral authority in order to silence others who denounced the riots.
  MLK’s comment described how, when the oppressed felt systemically neglected by the authorities
  
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• City of Chicago Unveils Microsite Highlighting 47 Transformative Creative Placemaking Grant Projects

  03-06-2024 23:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Together We Heal Creative Place promotes racial healing and community development in Chicago neighborhoods
  Mayor Brandon Johnson, The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) proudly announce a new microsite (chicagocreativeplace.com) featuring 47 community-driven creative projects aimed at promoting racial healing and revitalizing neighborhoods. 
  The platform, part of the Together We Heal Creative Place (TWHCP)
  
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• From page to stage: Before It All Goes Dark

  03-06-2024 22:21 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Memorial Day weekend was a resonant fit for the two-performance local premiere of Before It All Goes Dark, composer Jake Heggie and lyricist Gene Scheer’s new one-act opera. Based on investigative reporting from 2002 by former Chicago Tribune music critic Howard Reich, it’s a Cinderella tale gone wrong. Gerald McDonald, a tough but troubled Vietnam […]
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• Weaving art and story

  03-06-2024 19:45 via chicagoreader.com
  
  From a young age, Ryuan Johnson was taught how to care for and nourish her coily natural Black hair. “I learned very early that my hair is fragile and that it always needs to be styled,” said the 24-year-old hair artist. Johnson transformed her daily hair care routine into rituals, leading her to develop it […]
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• Khy McGhee: Overcoming Adversity And Defining His Future

  03-06-2024 16:48 via chicagodefender.com
  
  As a young Black male navigating the complexities of life between school and neighborhood, how does one maintain a steadfast focus on personal goals during outside distractions? 
  Khy McGhee embarked on his educational journey at Avalon in kindergarten, temporarily transferred out in 6th grade, returned in his 8th-grade year, and still stands as one of Avalon Park’s distinguished graduates.
  What transpired in McGhee’s life during his transfer and subsequent return to Avalon Park
  
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• Eric Benét To Perform At The 2024 UNCF “A Mind Is….” Gala, June 15

  03-06-2024 16:23 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Four-time Grammy Award-nominated R&B/neo soul singer- songwriter and actor Eric Benét will take the stage, no doubt setting hearts aflutter in the process, to provide the evening’s entertainment at the 2024 UNCF (United Negro College Fund) “A Mind Is…” Gala on June 15, at 7 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 E. Wacker Dr. 
  The event is a part of UNCF’s 80th anniversary celebration.
  Renowned for his romantic music, Benét will croon tunes f
  
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• Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer

  03-06-2024 15:55 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: Getty Images
  Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D) says she’s been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
  On Sunday (June 2), Lee announced her pancreatic cancer diagnosis and noted that she was currently undergoing treatment.
  “My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year,” Lee said in a statement. “I am confident that my doctors have developed t
  
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• Why the ADHD Surge and Punishment of Black Students Could Be Linked

  03-06-2024 15:29 via chicagodefender.com
  
  This article was originally published on Word In Black.
  What some teachers see as disruptive behavior in Black children closely tracks broader symptoms of attention-deficit disorder 
  By Joseph Williams, Word In Black
  When a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report last week revealed that 1 in 9 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, experts said the data reflects a surge in cases since 2016 — and a growing understanding of how th
  
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• Expand The Classroom makes reading a community practice

  03-06-2024 14:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Nestled along Milwaukee Avenue in Bucktown, Life on Marz Community Club hosted the April iteration of the monthly Expand The Classroom book swap. Bookish Chicagoans filled the space, seamlessly blending into the 70s decor of the brewery. Amidst the intimacy of a noon start time, attendees gathered around a table with pens and cardstock that […]
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• CSO Mead Composer Jessie Montgomery Strikes Chord Within the Classical Academy

  02-06-2024 16:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery (Credit: Todd Rosenberg 2021).
  From Grammy win to inspiring future talent, Jesse Montgomery reflects on her tenure as CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence and the impact of her groundbreaking work.
  Jessie Montgomery was surprised to hear her name called during the 2024 Grammys for the Best Contemporary Classical Composition category.
  “I was genuinely surprised because it was my first nomination and such a huge category a
  
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• CPS Student Duchara Moody Earns Golden Apple Scholarship and Heads to U of I

  02-06-2024 16:15 via chicagodefender.com
  
  More than any other group, the high school graduates of 2024 faced unforeseen challenges that no other students in recent memory have had to face. They had to contend with the specter of the pandemic, the unfathomable loss of friends and relatives, either from Covid or other causes, and George Floyd’s murder and the subsequent fallout. They had to adjust to virtual learning while facing the threat of learning loss. 
  Amid numerous and nefarious challenges, many of these 2024 high schoo
  
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• A lesson on dissent from a Vietnam War protester who joined the US military – and then faced execution after his protest didn’t stop

  02-06-2024 15:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Anti-Vietnam War demonstrators raise their fists during a rally in New York on April 27, 1968. Bev Grant/Getty Imagesby Rodney Coates, Miami University
  During the late 1960s, when protests against the Vietnam War erupted across the country, college campuses emerged as places of more than intellectual debate over U.S foreign policy and the country’s deeply racist history.
  Unlike the protesters against the Israel-Hamas War, many of the college-age demonstrators back then faced the very real
  
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• South Carolina Supreme Court Set To Have No Black Justices

  02-06-2024 14:45 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Photo: Getty Images
  South Carolina’s Supreme Court is set to have all-white justices for the first time in nearly two decades.
  According to reports, South Carolina will be joining 18 other states whose Supreme Courts are entirely white following next week’s election for a new justice.
  The report comes amid Chief Justice Don Beatty, South Carolina’s only Black justice, leaving the bench as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 72. Circuit Judge Jocelyn Newman was the only B
  
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• Innocent Man Freed After 12 Years: Darien Harris Fights for Justice and Accountability

  02-06-2024 00:22 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Wrongfully convicted at 18 due to false testimony, Darien Harris endured years of abuse in prison. With the help of the Exoneration Project, he now seeks to hold the system accountable and assist others facing similar injustices.
  By Ashleigh Fields
  Darien Harris was 18 years old when Chicago police arrested him on homicide charges.  
  Due to the false testimony of a blind man, Harris, a first-time offender, was charged as the shooter in a murder case. Star witness Dexter Saffold lied ab
  
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• The Chicago Defender Official 2024 #SummerTimeChi Calendar

  01-06-2024 19:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  We made it. 
  SummerTimeChi is here, and we’re like the guy from the movie “Shawshank Redemption” when he raises his arms in the pouring rain because he has finally broken out of prison.
  We’re free.
  Now that the gloomy Winter and chaotic Spring is finally behind us, we get to indulge in another memorable season of festivals, concerts, block parties, day parties, night parties, rooftop parties, beach parties, museum openings, movies in the park, conventions, barbecues,
  
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• Marian Robinson, Beloved Mother of Michelle Obama, Passes Away at 86

  01-06-2024 16:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Marian Lois Shields Robinson, mother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, passed away on Friday at the age of 86.
  Her family members, including Michelle and her brother Craig Robinson, announced her passing in a statement, telling her story via a post on the Medium publishing platform.
  “As a mother, she was our backstop, a calm and nonjudgmental witness to our triumphs and stumbles. She was always, always there, welcoming us back home no matter how far we had journeyed, with that deep and
  
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• In Low-Wage Jobs, Working While Black Means Showing Up Sick

  01-06-2024 15:30 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Because they were deemed essential workers, grocery store clerks got paid sick leave — temporarily. Now, they’re forced ot make a tough choice: work while they or a loved one are sick, or lose a day’s pay. (Credit: MART PRODUCTION/Pexels)
  This article was originally published on Word In Black.
  By Jennifer Porter Gore
  Overview:
  The states that mandated paid sick or family leave for hourly workers are in mostly-white states. Given that nearly 20% of low-wage workers are Blac
  
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• Chicago Bears to Star on ‘Hard Knocks’

  01-06-2024 15:15 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Fresh off being the talk of the sports world and securing quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears will continue their reign in the spotlight. 
  The team will be featured on the revered HBO production “Hard Knocks: Training Camp” for the first time.
  As usual, the highly popular sports docu-series will introduce die-hard fans, casuals and every soul in between to the team through its coaches and players. Williams and fellow first-roun
  
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• COLUMN: Breaking the Silence on Mental Health in the Black Community

  01-06-2024 00:22 via chicagodefender.com
  
  As Mental Health Awareness Month ends, we reflect on the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues and embracing therapy and support within our community. It’s time to prioritize our psychological and emotional well-being
  As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, I hope you’ve encountered a news segment, an insightful article, or a meaningful conversation with a friend, family member, or colleague about mental health within our community. 
  For far too long, ment
  
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• Review: Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza (Miniseries)

  31-05-2024 18:40 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Paramount+ debuted its docuseries lionizing Lollapalooza while HBO rolled out the belated sequel to its celebrated 2015 true crime documentary The Jinx. I’m not sure who makes for a more unreliable narrator: Robert Durst, the convicted murderer at the center of The Jinx, or the producers of Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza. The festival’s long-standing […]
  The post Review: <i>Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza</i> (Miniseries) appeared first on Chicago Reader.
  
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• Web3 is here, but where’s the diversity?

  31-05-2024 18:12 via chicagoreader.com
  
  In the age of artificial intelligence (AI) available for all, women business founders may have the most to gain—and lose—by understanding how to leverage the new technologies. AI is already replacing employees in many industries and, with some jobs more easily automated than others and existing gender distribution in the job market, women are often […]
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• Recapping the Illinois General Assembly’s spring legislative session

  31-05-2024 17:00 via chicagoreader.com
  
  Money, money, money After blowing past a self-imposed May 24 deadline to wrap up the state budget for the 2025 fiscal year, lawmakers closed out the spring legislative session in the early hours of Wednesday morning. It took state representatives three tries, but the House finally signed off on the $53.1 billion spending plan just […]
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• Bentley Evans Brings Laughter and Heart in New Comedy ‘Mind Your Business’

  31-05-2024 16:00 via chicagodefender.com
  
  Bentley Evans is at it again in his executive producer seat. But this time, he wants you to “Mind Your Business.” 
  He’s brought America some of its favorite characters from renowned and iconic shows! So, if you’ve seen “The Jamie Foxx Show” or “Martin,” you do not want to miss Bounce’s original series, produced by Harvest Studios, “Mind Your Business.” 
  “Mind Your Business” is a comedy based in Chicago, IL, w
  
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