New year to bring new laws in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – By now, almost everyone in Illinois has heard that Jan. 1 will mark the beginning of a significant change in the state’s criminal justice system – the elimination of cash bail. It’s an issue that dominated the 2022 campaigns and has been both praised and criticized on editorial pages in newspapers across the […]
Lawmakers hear more pleas for assault weapon ban
SPRINGFIELD – A legislative committee on Thursday heard more witnesses call for a ban on high-power, semi-automatic rifles and large-capacity magazines, but some experts said that alone won’t solve the problem of violent crime in Illinois. During its second hearing on a proposed assault weapon ban, an Illinois House committee, meeting in Chicago, heard from […]
Abortion access, COVID disruptions, health inequities – Side Effects’ top stories of 2022
The third year of a global pandemic. An uncertain future for reproductive health care. Persistent health care inequities. This year, Side Effects Public Media reporters delivered high-impact, in-depth stories from across the Midwest and beyond, exploring 2022’s leading health concerns. Side Effects reporters and collaborators shed light on health care disparities, looked for solutions and […]
Spanish-speaking families struggle with language barriers at home
Ariana and Andres Loor grew up in Champaign. Throughout their childhood, they were placed in dual-language classrooms to help them learn Spanish. Now a 20-year-old student at Parkland College, Ariana said she is still learning the language. “I am still trying to learn Spanish because I mean, you can only get better,” Ariana said. Even […]
217 Today: Spanish-speaking families face language barriers within families
Thursday, December 15, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois’ former public health director told federal lawmakers on Wednesday that required paid time off is a good policy, especially during a pandemic. The percentage of Asian-American lawmakers in the state legislature has increased sharply in recent years, but the rate still lags behind the general population. The Urbana school […]
Urbana’s school board paused its vote for one Spanish-English school. Now, dual language parents and teachers are setting a deadline.
URBANA – The Urbana school board will reconsider in January how to establish a fully dual-language elementary school for Spanish and English. This comes after renewed pressure from dual language teachers and families. The district currently has two schools with partial-building, dual-language programs. “White privileged families and community members can and do fight for justice […]
