The Department of Veterans Affairs found Black veterans may be more likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder than their White counterparts. However, an internal VA report shows Black veterans were more often denied benefits for PTSD.
Stories by Eunice Alpasan
Former CPS CEO Janice Jackson on Elected School Board, Creating Equitable Access to College
Janice Jackson serves as CEO of Hope Chicago, a two-generation scholarship program that aims to remove financial barriers for thousands of CPS students and their parents by allowing them to attend college debt-free.
Tech Leaders, Policy Makers Weigh Both Risks and Potential of Rapidly-Developing AI Technology
An apparent AI-generated photo went viral on social media Monday showing a fake explosion near the Pentagon. Officials confirmed that the image and accompanying reports were fake. Critics pointed to the as an example of the problems that come along with the promise of artificial intelligence technology.
Catholicism Among US Latinos Continues to Decline, Survey Finds
A Pew Research Center survey found 43% of Latino adults in the U.S. identified as Catholic last year, which is a drop from 2010, when 67% of Latinos identified as Catholic. The survey also found that the share of Latinos who are religiously unaffiliated continues to grow.
Under New Chicago Leadership, Advocates Call for Rebuilding the City’s Approach to Providing Mental Health Services
With Mayor Brandon Johnson vowing to reopen the city’s shuttered mental health clinics, some advocates are looking at the administration to reinvigorate and reimagine the city’s approach to providing mental health services.
With Black Workers Accounting for Only 3.7% of Tech Roles, Company Initiatives Aim to Close Diversity Gap
A study by the Kapor Center and the NAACP finds that between 2014 and 2021, there was only a 1% increase in Black representation within technical roles at large tech companies.
Local Asian American Coalition Advocating for Language Equity Will Gather In Springfield
The Pan-Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition, a coalition of Asian American organizations from across the Chicago area, will come together in Springfield on Tuesday to advocate for legislation to meet the community’s needs.
Volunteers, Community Organizations Step Up to Help Migrants in Chicago as Shelters at Capacity
More than 8,000 migrants have arrived in Chicago since last summer when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first started sending migrants to the city. However, citywide efforts are reaching a tipping point with limited resources and shelters at capacity.
700,000 Illinoisans at Risk of Losing Medicaid Coverage: How to Prepare for Eligibility Checks, Navigate Health Care Resources
Emergency measures designed to ensure people didn’t lose their health care during the COVID-19 pandemic are now being phased out.
‘We Won’t Stand for It’: American Library Association’s Tracie Hall Talks Book Ban Efforts
Tracie Hall, the first Black woman to lead the Chicago-based American Library Association, has been named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2023.
Creating More Diverse Newsrooms in Light of Study Showing Disparities in Staffing, Coverage
A recent Pew Research Center study found that just 6% of reporting journalists were Black in a sample of nearly 12,000 journalists.
Governors State University Faculty and Staff Go on Strike, Joining Chicago State and Eastern Illinois
Governors State University is the third public university in Illinois to go on strike this month. Union members are calling for a cost-of-living adjustment in their wages.
Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson Shows Support to Striking Chicago State Faculty as Labor Disputes Continue at Other Area Colleges
While the Chicago State strike continues, faculty and staff at south suburban Governors State University are preparing to go on strike and instructors at Eastern Illinois University continue a work stoppage that began last week.
Women’s NCAA Championship Controversy Reignites Conversations About Double Standards for Black Women in Sports
Louisiana State University women’s college basketball star Angel Reese has been in the center of conversations about double standards Black women face in sports, in light of the final moments of LSU’s national championship game against the University of Iowa.
How Local Groups Worked to Increase Youth Civic Engagement Ahead of Chicago’s Runoff Election
According to Chicago Board of Elections data, there was a 32% increase from Feb. 28 to April 4 of votes cast by voters ages 18 to 24. Voters ages 25 to 34 increased their votership by 24%.
LaHood, Quigley on Bipartisan Classified Documents Legislation and Donald Trump’s Indictment
U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) recently introduced legislation that would implement stronger enforcement to protect classified documents and impose civil penalties for officials who mishandle those documents.
Chicago’s Next Mayor Faces Pressing Public Education Issues
The next mayor will face a number of education hurdles, including the transition to an elected school board, a new teachers union contract, securing school funding and the end of a moratorium on school closures.
Addressing the Needs of Latino Communities and the Role of ‘Promotores de Salud,’ 3 Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic
This month marks three years since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. More than 2,300 Latino Chicagoans have died from COVID-19 since March 2020, according to data from the Chicago Department of Public Health.
How Illinois’ New Paid Leave Law Might Impact the Latino Workforce in Chicago
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill requiring employers to offer workers a minimum of five days of paid time off. One hour of paid leave is earned for every 40 hours worked.
Thank God It’s Thursday? The Push to Move to a 4-Day Workweek
Talks of a four-day workweek are heating up nationwide. A lawmaker in California has reintroduced a U.S. House bill that would make a 32-hour workweek the national standard. A bill in Maryland proposes tax incentives for companies that try out a four-day workweek.
Traffic Stops by Chicago Police Disproportionately Impact Black, Latino Drivers: Report
A new report found that from 2015 to 2021, the average Black Chicago driver was six times more likely to be stopped than the average White driver. Latino drivers were twice as likely to be stopped than White drivers.
As Emergency SNAP Benefits End, Community Food Organizations Prepare to Meet Increased Demand
Households in Illinois receiving SNAP food benefits will see them decrease in March as a pandemic-era policy giving families additional benefits comes to an end. The average person will receive about $90 less in SNAP benefits per month.
Brandon Johnson on Addressing Crime, Finding a New Police Superintendent
Chicago mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson are off to the races with little more than a month before the April 4 runoff election. Johnson joined “Chicago Tonight” Wednesday for a one-on-one conversation.
Supporting the Success of Black-Owned Businesses in Light of Mielle Organics and P&G Beauty’s New Partnership
When the Black-owned hair care company Mielle Organics merged with P&G Beauty earlier this year, it sparked discourse in Black communities about the potential ripple effects that come as Black-owned businesses gain increased attention and support.
Early Voting Turnout Nearly Triple What Election Officials Saw in 2019, 2015 Chicago Elections
“The steady amount of voting that we’ve seen over the last three weeks really suggests that we’re going to have a high turnout for Election Day,” said Max Bever, director of public information at the Chicago Board of Elections.
Overcoming Barriers, Stigma Surrounding Mental Health Care in Latino Communities
Mental health professionals are continuing to bridge the gap on mental health care in Latino communities by offering more culturally competent care and normalizing conversations about mental health.
