CBS Chicago: A year after the unrest

 

[VIDEO] I hate to share this on Memorial Day weekend where many of us expect things to begin to turn to normal as we're starting to get out of this pandemic. A year ago downtown was hit by rioting and the neighborhoods was hit by looting. 

We see shots of what looks like 95th & Calumet where business owner Shontee Ross' salon was looted the last weekend of May last year. She has deepened her resolve and will reopen her business near 69th & King Drive where we see drone shots from CBS 2 of that particular area. Ross does make the below statement:

“There’s no way that you can look at neighborhoods like this and say looting could have been justified,” Ross said.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy memorial day. 

Capitol Fax: New hybrid Chicago school board plan floated

I found this update at the CapFax yesterday on where a new hybrid school board proposal for Chicago is in Springfield.

New hybrid Chicago school board plan floated https://t.co/bN4ZcYY5Gu

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 26, 2021

A new mask mandate from the state

 This is from Monday and follows guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The advice is for vaccinated individuals however:

Following guidance from the CDC that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing a mask and practicing social distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health have announced that Illinois will align state executive orders with the latest CDC guidance and rescind IDPH emergency rules enforcing masking and distance.

The CDC continues to require masks for everyone in healthcare settings, in congregate settings and on transit. In addition, in line with CDC guidance, the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Department of Public Health require masks in schools. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services requires masks in daycare.

I would urge you all to ask questions of a doctor with regards to any of these vaccines if you're hesitant and especially if you're vulnerable.

Via CapFax

Main Seaway branch of Self-Help FCU has reopened

 Have been knowing for a while that the original main branch of Seaway Nat'l Bank has re-opened as of May 17th. Another longtime Seaway branch just off the expressway at 87th/Dan Ryan or 8652 South Lafayette Avenue will soon be merged with the main branch and is expected to close down by May 31, 2021 (according to the credit union locations page).

Also check out this blog post by Self-Help published on May 13th about the main branch eventual reopening.

To see some of the work Self-Help FCU has done to the branch they did that building justice check out this tweet posted from one of Self-Help's twitter pages.

After a year of construction our Chatham branch in Chicago is open! Our staff is excited to return and welcome back all of our members. The branch is located at 645 E. 87th St., Chicago. You can find branch hours and more information on our website: https://t.co/4oWQcmIFMl pic.twitter.com/Rbj7tw0IOG

— Self-Help Federal CU (@SelfHelpFedCU) May 18, 2021

Bridge Phase begins today

 Well a year later but I'm glad. Check this press release over at the CapFax blog yesterday we're one step closer to a full re-opening if nothing weird happens full reopening will begin June 11, 2021. 

Bridge Phase will begin tomorrow as scheduled https://t.co/HCetbpuNNR

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) May 13, 2021

Also I want to share 50,000 tickets to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois is being offered to those Illinoisans who have been vaccinated. Still do your due diligence as far as the vaccine, however, if you need extra encouragement use this.

CBS Chicago: CPD Responds To Large Group Of Rowdy Teens Moving Through The Loop

 

[VIDEO] Was caught up in some of this last night. In fact some of the teens you might see in this footage took the Red Line back to the south side and made a lot of noise in doing so. It's very unfortunate that on our local news stations this is the image their viewing audience has of our young people.

State Rep. Nick Smith: "I don't have the key, either"

 

[VIDEO] To be fair I'm not always on the lookout for news about 34th district state Rep. Nick Smith, however, it's very cool to see him in a news story. In this case he was in a story that aired on a downstate station with regards to the General Assembly map room which seems like such a highly secure area.

You can see more about this story over at Capitol Fax, however, the story is regarding the process to redraw the state legislative maps. So Rich Miller even notes Rep. Smith's quote, "I don't make the rules. And I don't have the key either". Nice....

BTW, I'm pretty sure in the background holding the door open is state Rep. Marcus Evans which is interesting. I could be wrong on that but that looks just like him. It seems as if whoever was holding the door was telling Smith to come on.

As of Monday Metra is hiring for 100 positions

 

[VIDEO] I've been meaning to share this with you all for a while, Metra is looking to hire for 100 positions for our region's commuter railroad. If you're a railfan at least this would be a great fit, hmmm it gets me to think because I like trains.

Either way you see above a story regarding this that aired over the past weekend on WGN and WBBM-TV noted this also. Applications are only accepted online through Metra's career page.

Metra's hiring is likely as a result of greater traffic being expected once things open up after over a year of coronavirus restrictions. We might be headed towards a bridge phase as soon as next week and after that hopefully society can begin to go back to some form of normal.

And again if you have any questions about the coronavirus vaccine ask a medical profession.

Capitol Fax: Harmon recommends hybrid transition to eventual fully elected Chicago school board

We made it to May and share this quick update about an elected school board via CapFax. A new potential possibility is forwarded by Senate President Don Harmon if this finally gets passed if a hybrid board ultimately transitions to a fully-elected school board. It seems whether or not we're ready a change is coming as far as how this city governs a school board.

Harmon recommends hybrid transition to eventual fully elected Chicago school board https://t.co/WHnhtWFwPW

— Rich Miller (@capitolfax) April 30, 2021

 The state senate is pushing a hybrid school board consisting of both appointed and elected members. While the state house passed a bill calling for a fully-elected school board. What's going on here is both chambers have to hash out a proposal that will ultimately be signed by Gov. Pritzker and take effect in the near future.

Any educators out there have any thoughts?