AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/author/suzanne-mcbride/)
The only way to determine if someone’s name is in the database is to submit a Freedom of Information Act request to the police department – something more than 120 people have already done. Earlier this month, a FOIA workshop was held to help Austin residents learn how to submit a FOIA request.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth introduced the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act with the aim of reducing the costs of phone calls made by the 2 million people incarcerated across the U.S. and their families. The lawmaker and others pushing for the legislation, including the American Jail Association, say the current system lacks competition and results in high and unreasonable rates.
In its first year, the campaign to improve Austin garnered $13 million in investments. That includes a record $10 million gift from BMO Bank. “It’s been a really momentous year. There’s been a lot of success,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together. The nonprofit, launched in 2010, is the driving force behind the quality-of-life plan.
The nine sites that are open to the public are Assumption Greek Orthodox Church (901 S. Central Ave.); Austin Community Family Center (501 N. Central Ave.); Austin Town Hall Cultural Center (5610 W. Lake St.); Catholic Charities Father Augustus Tolton Peace Center (5645 W. Corcoran Place); Columbus Park Refectory (5701 W. Jackson Blvd.); Fraternite Notre Dame (502 N. Central Ave.); Kehrein Center for the Arts (5618 W. Washington Blvd.); St. Martin’s Episcopal Church (5700 W. Midway Park); and Third Unitarian Church (301 N. Mayfield Ave.).
High school seniors can start completing the Free Application for Financial Student Aid form. All seniors attending Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School are required to fill out the FAFSA, apply to at least 10 colleges and submit at least two scholarship applications.
Suggestions were offered this past weekend at a community meeting organized by the independent monitoring team put in place as part of a federal court consent decree the Chicago Police Department is under. Sitting at tables in the Austin Town Hall auditorium, about 30 people answered two questions: What are your hopes for the consent decree, and what are your concerns?
One of the main aims of the Westside Community Triage and Wellness Center, located at 4133 W. Madison is reducing the population of the Cook County Jail. Parents, grandparents and community residents are invited to a May 23 discussion about how to keep children safe this summer.
The three-day event will be held at 5051 W. Chicago Ave. Friday’s hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday’s hours will be 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday’s hours will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
State Rep. La Shawn Ford and Congressman Danny Davis brought together representatives from a number of groups fighting the opioid epidemic on the West Side.
Five teens were awarded college scholarships by a panel of judges in BUILD Chicago’s 14th annual speech contest.