Community Unity Shines at Third Annual Juneteenth Village Fest - Illinois news - NewsLocker (2024)

Common performing at It Takes A Village Family of Schools’ Juneteenth Village Fest at Douglass Park (Credit: Ethan Davis).
By Ethan Davis
Last Saturday (June 15), It Takes A Village Family of Schools (ITAV) held the 3rd annual Juneteenth Village Fest at Douglass Park.
The festival on the West Side was headlined by Nola Abde, Bella Bahhz, the rap group Dead Prez, and artist Domani. The lineup included Chicago’s own DJ Boolumaster and Grammy award-winning artist Common. Common performe

J. Pharoah Doss: Disturbing Black generational divide on the demise of Affirmative Action?

The 1996 presidential election was expected to be a landslide victory for incumbent President Clinton due to the strength of the economy. Affirmative Action became a contentious national campaign issue after California’s ballot proposition 209 threatened to eliminate Affirmative Action in the state’s public sector.
Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole publicly endorsed proposition 209, while President Clinton acknowledged that Affirmative Action had flaws but should be &ldq

Mayor Johnson’s Paid Time Off, One Fair Wage Ordinances Go Into Effect

Starting today, Mayor Johnson’s landmark Paid Time Off and One Fair Wage ordinances are in effect, raising the minimum wage to $16.20 per hour. More Perfect Union, a nonprofit media organization, has released a video interview with Mayor Johnson discussing these significant changes and his vision for Chicago’s working families. You can watch the video here.
“It is a new day in Chicago,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Over 60,000 service industry employees just got a r

Local, National Lawmakers Respond to SCOTUS Ruling on Trump’s Immunity

With Monday’s Supreme Court ruling, it’s almost certain that Donald Trump will not face trial for interfering with the 2020 election before November when this country will vote for its next President.
In a 6-3 decision, the high court’s conservative majority declared that former presidents are protected from prosecution for official acts but not for unofficial acts. The case will be sent back to the lower court to decide whether key parts of the indictment are unofficial

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Muddy waters

Walking toward the Canalport Riverwalk, a crane lifts shredded metals as traffic speeds toward a bridge. A flashing sign alerting drivers of pedestrians doesn’t work. Visitors aren’t expected on this stretch of the Chicago River’s south branch. But they’re here. Fishermen, couples on dates, kayakers, rowing teams, even the occasional Jet Ski rider. They all […]
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Starting Today, Illinois Imposes Second-Highest Gas Tax, Enacts New Laws

Starting today (July 1), Illinois will have the second-highest gas tax rate in the nation. The motor fuel tax rises by two cents to $0.47 a gallon. The Illinois Policy Institute reported that with these changes, it will cost drivers $184 more per year to buy gas than it did in 2019.
Aside from the gas tax, there are other notable state laws set to go into effect on July 1, including a minimum wage increase, sports wagering tax increase and changes to the paid time off law.
Minimum Wage Increase

Black Woman Says Burger King Employee Put N-Word On Receipt

Photo: Getty Images
A Texas woman says a Burger King employee put a racial slur on her receipt after the fast food chain got her order wrong, per Fox 7.
On Sunday (June 23), the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said she ordered a fiery wrap and small fry from the drive-thru line at a Burger King in Austin.
“They made my order wrong, so I let them know the food was messed up. ‘Do you mind fixing it, or can I get something else?’ And at first, he was like no, and I was like

Coming In Hot: These Afrobeats Stars Are Set To Light Up The Summer

Afrobeats stars Rema, Amaarae, Asake and Ayra Starr are coming to Afro Nation Detroit (Credit: X, Facebook, Capital FM Kenya).
If Black life had a soundtrack these days, it would be dominated by the pulsating grooves of Afrobeats, a fusion of Black musical styles burning up parties around the globe—from Lagos to Atlanta.
This African export, whose songs range from sultry to celebratory, combines West African rhythms with dancehall, R&B, pop, and Hip-hop. It’s sonic al

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Community Gathers at 31st Street Beach to Pray for End to Violence

On Saturday, community members gathered at Chicago’s 31st Street Beach to pray for an end to the recent spate of violence in the area.
Faith leaders, local business owners, community members, alderpersons, and patrons of Pier 31, a bar located at the beach, showed their support at the beachside gathering. This came after two deadly shootings occurred there last week.
Nikki Hayes, who has owned Pier 31 for 13 years, told ABC 7 Chicago that business has slowed since the shootings. “Whe

GUEST OP-ED: Black Americans Are Embracing a New Era of Financial Inclusion

By US Rep. Jonathan Jackson
In a country where wealth disparities persist, financial inclusion is still the road that leads to equity. Black Americans have historically faced barriers to wealth generation and investment opportunities. Today, the tide is turning, and technology is paving the road to education, access, and empowerment.
A myriad of new technologies continue to create more opportunities for our historically underserved communities to participate in the financial system, including in

Marriott Theatre Opens Summer Season with ‘BEEHIVE: THE 60’S MUSICAL’

Grace Bobber, Lucy Godinez, Miciah Lathan (Photo Courtesy Liz Lauren).
The Marriott Theatre has opened the summer season with “BEEHIVE: THE 60’S MUSICAL,” a vibrant homage to the music of the 1960s.
Directed and choreographed by Deidre Goodwin, known for her work on Broadway and in film, and featuring music direction by Jeff Award Winner Ryan T. Nelson, this production celebrates the influential female voices of the era.
Women’s experiences in the 1960s were transfo

Mom Facing Charges After Allegedly Running Over 16-Month-Old Son

Photo: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
A Florida woman is facing charges after she allegedly ran over her 16-month-old son and boyfriend following an argument, per PEOPLE.
On Monday (June 24), 27-year-old Aaliyah Ross was arrested on charges including child abuse, neglect, domestic battery, and leaving the scene of a crash in connection to an alleged attack on her boyfriend and child.
According to police, the incident stemmed from an argument between Ross and her boyfriend over how to discipl

Mayor Brandon Johnson Launches Workers’ Rights Campaign For Creative Workers

Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events launched a new workers’ rights campaign for creative workers, “Art is Labor.”
The multi-department effort was designed with input from stakeholders including 3Arts, Arts Alliance Illinois, Chicago Cultural Alliance, Lawyers for the Creative Arts, Mezcla Media Collective, other cultural and community organizatio

BIN President Tony Coles ‘Lock It and Store It!’ Gun Safety Message

Tony Coles is President of Multi-Cultural Business and Development for iHeartMedia as well as President of BIN: Black Information Network, the first and only 24×7 comprehensive national audio news service dedicated to providing an objective, accurate, and trusted source of continual news coverage with a Black voice and perspective. His work leading BIN has earned him several industry-leading accolades and awards, including being named as a 2021 Billboard Magazine Change Agent and receivin

1-800-TruckWreck Awards $37.5K in Scholarships to Chicago High School Students

Law firm has now pledged a total of $165,000 to local Chicagoland students in 2024 for scholarships and educational programs (Photos provided courtesy of Witherite Law Group).
To continue its commitment to giving back to the Chicago community and uplifting area youth, 1-800-TruckWreck, powered by Witherite Law Group, brought the Witherite Law Group Making a Difference Scholarship back to the city for the second time by awarding 15 students $2,500 each, for a total of $37,500 in new scholarships.

A Tiara Made with Rubies dripping Blood, Do You Want It?

By Umnia Khan
The post A Tiara Made with Rubies dripping Blood, Do You Want It? appeared first on Chicago Reader.

‘Black Boys Cry’ Stage Play Shines Light on Joy, Brotherhood, and Healing

The touring play Black Boys Cry, now at the City Lit Theatre, explores the emotional journeys of seven Black men (Photo Credit: 1989 Dreams production).
“Black Boys Cry,” a touring stage play, is at the City Lit Theatre. This compelling and humorous narrative follows the lives of seven Black men navigating their journeys toward experiencing joy.
Addressing themes such as healing from childhood trauma, addiction, and abandonment and exploring aspects of sex and sexuality, these

Prison death, scrap metal permit, mask ban

Deadly heat, dangerous conditions in Illinois prisons About 100 people packed into a classroom at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law on Tuesday, June 25, to remember Michael Broadway, who died a week earlier while incarcerated at Stateville Correctional Center in Chester Hill. Family, friends, and advocates took turns sharing heartbreaking remembrances, fiery condemnations, and […]
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COLUMN: Trump’s Debate Remark on ‘Black Jobs’ Exposes His True Nature

In a Presidential debate more cringeworthy than a straight-to-Tubi movie, one of the more uncomfortable moments occurred when the “Black people” portion of the program commenced.
President Biden and Donald Trump were asked how they would address the needs of Black voters.
That’s when Trump remarked that he would stop immigrants from taking “Black jobs.”We have a question for former President Trump: What is a “Black job?” #CNNDebate pic.twitte

Chicago’s REACH Pathways wins $20K Prize at Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition

REACH Pathways, a startup from Chicago, won the top prize at this year’s Summerfest Tech Pitch Competition, earning a $20,000 cash award. Sponsored by Molson Coors and in partnership with Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF) and Young Enterprising Society (YES), the event highlighted a shared commitment to supporting emerging tech, innovation and entrepreneurship.
Milwaukee-based Roddy Medical secured the second-place prize of $10,000, while Chicago’s Liff Happens won a $5,000 award

When people are under economic stress, their pets suffer too – we found parts of Detroit that are animal welfaredeserts

Poverty, fiscal stress and abandoned homes have fueled a long-standing stray dog problem in Detroit.AP Photo/Carlos Osorioby Laura A. Reese, Michigan State University
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. households have at least one pet. More than ever before, companion animals are a part of life – particularly in cities, where the majority of Americans live.
Cities offer access to many resources, but often it’s not distributed evenly. Some scholars describe parts of U.S. cities with few

Bally’s Chicago Casino Celebrates 1 Millionth Visitor

Just nine months after opening its temporary location in the historic Medinah Temple, Bally’s Chicago Casino welcomed its 1 millionth visitor, Don Neushwander and his partner, Hwa, from Morris, IL, who walked in together and were awarded the grand prize.
Bally’s Chicago has consistently had the second most admissions of any casino in the state since its opening in September 2023. Monthly admissions increased 48 percent between September 2023 and May 2024, and the number of new

A decade of Freelance Wrestling: where high-flying moves meet raw talent

“Two thousand sixteen was the year of my first Freelance Wrestling match. [That] was also the year I was gonna hang it up,” said professional wrestler Mustafa Ali in front of fans at the Logan Square Auditorium in April. A circle of local independent wrestlers who just finished a night of putting their bodies on […]
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Intergenerational connection is radical

In my 18 years of teaching college students, I have found that many LGBTQ+ young adults do not realize that older gay, bi, trans, nonbinary, or queer people exist. A significant number believe that they themselves won’t live past 40. Earlier this year, a 20-year-old transgender student began crying in my class as they described […]
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Grails’ adventurous rock is for the people

Grails are a band meant to be experienced live. Their recordings serve up a heady shot of 70s-flavored instrumental guitar rock, but when the musicians can be corralled onto a stage (they live in five different places across the U.S.), they reveal a chemistry that can’t be neatly distilled. In an interview with Willamette Week […]
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Swiss group L’Eclair spin pop’s past into funk’s future

Six-piece Swiss ensemble L’Eclair specialize in a style of instrumental funk that sounds unstuck in time. Their smooth, precise breaks evince the far-reaching influence of hip-hop, but their dreamy, hypnotic melodies sound like they might’ve been assembled from the same mythical trove of forgotten private-press recordings that DJ Shadow mines for his kaleidoscopic beats. Last […]
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Etran de L’Aïr bring the world the happy desert blues

Nigerien band Etran de L’Aïr (“Stars of the Air”) aren’t as well-known in the West as Tuareg desert-blues superstars such as Tinariwen, Mdou Moctar, and Bombino. But in their hometown of Agadez, where bandleader Aghaly Migi formed the group in 1995, they’re long-standing legends. They started out playing local weddings and have since drawn international […]
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Teen on Home Confinement Charged with Murder of Retired CPD Officer

Sixteen-year-old Lazarius Watt, who turned himself in over the weekend, has been charged as an adult with first-degree murder for the shooting death of retired Chicago Police Officer Larry Neuman.
During a hearing, a Cook County judge described Watt’s alleged actions as “heinous” and deemed him a danger to the entire neighborhood before remanding him to custody.
Prosecutors said Watt was on home confinement at the time of the murder and violated his electronic monitoring

The music industry can be a harrowing place that chews people up and spits them out, but it remains attractive to plenty of artists pursuing commercial success. R&B songstress Teairra Marí Thomas, who makes music as Teairra Marí, has had her share of ups and downs in the unforgiving universe of labels, hit records, and […]
The post <i>Love & Hip Hop</i> star Teairra Marí gets back to basics appeared first on Chicago Reader.

Experimental composer Whitney Johnson duets with cellist and sound artist Lia Kohl at Kilbourn Park

Whitney Johnson makes music that asks to be excavated. On the Chicagoan’s latest solo album as Matchess, 2022’s Sonescent (Drag City), she sculpts two long-form pieces that patiently evolve into dreamy fantasias. She begins “Almost Gone” with a piercing sine tone that acts as a palate cleanser and a directive for the casual listener: proceed […]
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