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Kwame Raoul
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:35pm
Tue May 14
1 comment

As Concealed Carry Legislative Deadline Looms, Debate Heats Up

An open and logistical discussion of budding concealed carry legislation in Illinois quickly turned into a heated debate between advocates from both sides of the issue Monday night at the Brother David Darst Center for Justice, Peace, Spirituality and Education.

A part of the organization’s quarterly speaker series, Mark Walsh, campaign director for the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV), came in to discuss the debate in Springfield surrounding concealed carry in Illinois.

As a representative of one of the state’s leading gun control advocacy groups, Walsh’s forum attracted individuals in firm disagreement with ICHV’s position.

“Our concern is that, in every community, more guns don’t make you safer,” Walsh said regarding ICHV’s opposition to a concealed carry law.

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Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:48pm
Tue Apr 30

Education Experts Question CPS Clout List Kept Under The Duncan Administration

A list kept under former Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan’s administration of clout-heavy Chicagoans and public officials looking to get kids into some of the city’s top schools was made public last week.

Some education experts say the log is another example of the intense competition for too few high-quality school seats in the city and the disparity in education and economic investment in Chicago neighborhoods.

“The fact that there’s so many people who want to get into those schools shows that the people really want a quality education, and the system should be responsive instead of disinvesting in various school communities,” said Eric “Rico” Gutstein, faculty associate with the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Collaborative for Equity and Justice in Education.

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PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
6:39pm
Wed Mar 6
1 comment

Quinn's Budget Address Pits Pensions Against Education, Social Services

Springfield

Gov. Pat Quinn turned up the rhetoric on pension reform during today’s state budget address, largely putting the blame on lawmakers for their failure to act.

PI Original
by Micah Maidenberg
4:18pm
Mon Mar 28, 2011

Push For Unified Districts In Political Remap Is On (VIDEO)

Redistricting

The state Senate's first redistricting hearing was held today in Chicago, giving the city's immigrant, ethnic, and minority communities a chance to demand fair representation during the process.

PI Original
by Micah Maidenberg
5:08pm
Mon Mar 7, 2011

Immigrant Communities Key To New Redistricting Rules

Redistricting

Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011 into law today, a bill immigrant leaders say will help ensure their communities' electoral power is not diluted during the all-important redistricting process that is starting to gear up in Springfield