Opinion

Improving education in Illinois

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Legislation signed into law last week by Gov. J.B. Pritzker expands already required Black history coursework to include pre-enslavement of Black people, why Black people came to be enslaved and the American Civil Rights renaissance. The new law – a key part of the Illinois Black Caucus’ legislative agenda – also increases the percentage of grant funds prioritized for Black males and incorporates consideration of financial need in awarding grants, among other improvements to higher education.

health

9 things to know about the vaccine

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State Rep. La Shawn Ford shares this information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the COVID-19 vaccines are given to healthcare personnel and nursing home residents. Essential workers and those 75 years and older will be able to get the shots next.

Opinion

Will Blacks, Latinx people see the need to get vaccinated? Austin lawmaker hopes so

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Many in the African American and Latinx communities remain wary of immunization and the medical establishment at large, writes state Rep. La Shawn Ford. That’s why “we have to make sure that people trust the vaccine will work, and we need to do everything that we can to bring an understanding to our community about how important it is to take the vaccine and to be able to trust it,” Ford says.

Community

Vote now

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There are early voting sites across the city and on the West Side; they’re open seven days a week. If you have registered yet to vote, you can do so at any of these sites. If you prefer to vote by mail, you can drop off your sealed and completed ballot at a secure lock box any any Chicago early voting site. Election Day is Nov. 3.

Opinion

Abolish teaching history – until we get it right

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Important parts of our history have not been told or taught because it hasn’t been believed it actually happened, writes state Rep. La Shawn Ford. Until they saw it on their TV screens, the dominant White culture didn’t believe that Blacks could be treated like John Lewis was treated – and many did not believe that so many Blacks are victimized by police until they saw the last 8 minutes and 46 seconds of George Floyd’s life.

Opinion

Let’s stop gun running from Indiana

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Although Illinois has one of the country’s tougher gun laws, the neighboring Hoosier state doesn’t, which means illegal guns keep flowing into Chicago, says Austin lawmaker La Shawn Ford. He’s pushing legislation to stop the flow of illegal guns from nearby states.