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Pat Quinn
PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
5:09pm
Tue Apr 2

Local Advocacy Groups Call For Restoration Of State Homeless Student Education Funds

Education

Given the potential record-breaking number of schools closing in Chicago and a recent report showing an increased number of homeless students in Illinois, anti-homeless advocates say it’s more important than ever for the state to restore funding for the education of students with unstable homes.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
8:07pm
Wed Mar 27

Minimum Wage Workers In Illinois Must Work More Than 80 Hours Per Week To Afford Rent

Minimum wage workers in Illinois must work 82 hours per week — more than double the hours of a standard work week — and 52 weeks a year, in order to afford to rent a safe, reasonable apartment unit, according to a recent report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC).

An Illinois renter must earn $17.02 per hour to afford the Fair Market Rent (FMR) price of $885 for a two-bedroom apartment, according to the report. That translates to $2,949 per month in income, or $35,392 annually, to ensure the renter spends less than 30 percent of their income on housing.

But the minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25. Meaning, minimum wage workers must work a staggering amount to avoid destitution.

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
2:58pm
Tue Mar 26

LGBT Advocates Rally Across The Nation As The Supreme Court Hears Same-Sex Marriage Cases (VIDEO)

Marriage Equality

Hundreds of LGBT advocates marched on Chicago’s downtown streets last night, calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of marriage equality as it begins to hear arguments today on two cases that challenge the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8, which both ban same-sex matrimony. Progress Illinois was there for the candlelight march.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
4:10pm
Fri Mar 22

Creative Economy Initiative Could Serve As Economic Boon For Illinois

With hopes of giving a boost to Illinois’ struggling economy, Gov. Pat Quinn rolled out a new initiative this week focused on investing in the arts and strengthening the state’s cultural offerings.

Illinois’ nonprofit arts organizations contribute $2.75 billion to the local economy through direct spending and revenue generation, according to a report by Arts Alliance Illinois and Americans For The Arts.

More than 78,000 full-time jobs are supported through art nonprofits throughout the state, as detailed in “Arts & Economic Prosperity IV.”

Prompted by these statistics, Quinn has launched the Creative Economy Initiative.

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