AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/category/news/)
Chicago residents can vote at any one of 51 sites that are open from now through Monday, March 16 – the day before the Illinois primary. Voters will be casting ballots in a number of races, including president, U.S. House and Senate, Cook County state’s attorney and local judges.
Twenty-nine Austin community groups will receive more than $100,000 in grants from the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities program. The Austin organizations are among 164 grops throughout the West and South sides selected to receive a total of $1 million in grants.
All but four Chicago Public Schools in Austin could see an increase in their budgets for the 20-21 school year. The Chicago Board of Education still needs to approved the school district’s $2.8 billion budget; that’s expected to happen sometime this summer.
West Side residents can be tested for the coronavirus at Loretto Hospital at 645 S. Central Ave.; PCC Community Wellness Center at 330 N. Lotus Ave.; and at the former Walgreens at 1606 N. Mobile Ave.
Catalyst Circle Rock School teacher Nicholas Tomasso is one of 26 middle school teachers to be selected to participate in a national science teaching fellowship.
Elijah Adams and Yafae Cotton, sophomores at Michele Clark Academic Prep Magnet High School, have been producing a weekly podcast since the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools across the state.
SEIU Healthcare Illinois said workers delivered strike notices this week to administrators at The Austin Oasis, at 901 S. Austin Blvd.; Symphony of Chicago West, at 5130 W. Jackson Blvd.; and Mayfield Health Center, at 5905 W. Washington Blvd.
Eighty-two Austin residents have died since the pandemic hit earlier this spring, health officials said Saturday. The residents have ranged in age from 26 to 97 years old, with most deaths being of those over 60.
Austin is the only West Side neighborhood city officials are targeting in the campaign, which aims to address the disproportionate impact the global pandemic has had on African American communities. The city will host a tele-town hall for Austin residents this Saturday, April 25 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Austin Coming Together (@act.chicago) will live stream the town hall through its social media platforms.
The coronavirus has hit Austin businesses hard. Many are having trouble paying their bills and wonder if they’ll be able to reopen once the state’s stay-at-home order is lifted.
There are programs available in Austin for people who want to continue treatment or seek help for the first time. Austin native Jerome McNutt, who’s been sober for 19 months, says he’s taking things one day at a time and encourages others to do the same. “This is a good time to get your life right.”
