The County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant and 12th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy will implement their joint eviction-diversion program to help mitigate COVID-19 related housing impacts. The program, officially titled the Court-Based Housing Stabilization Program, was created to offer tenants facing eviction court one final opportunity to connect with state and local assistance. The initial pilot project was prepared ahead of the expiration of the Illinois eviction moratorium in October 2021.
Thetimesweekly.com A report just released by the University of California Berkeley Labor Center reveals that 39 percent of construction worker families nationwide are forced to enroll in one or more safety net programs to make ends meet. That is higher than the 31 percent of all workers enrolled in such programs. The yearly cost to state and federal governments is a staggering $28 billion. Additionally, 31 percent of construction workers lack health insurance coverage, compared to 10 percent of all workers. Researchers attribute their findings to low pay, wage theft and illegal employment practices in the construction industry.
The Times Weekly newsroom Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow contributed $5,000 to Reclaim13, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end the cycle of sexual exploitation and human trafficking—the practice of exploiting adults and children for use as commodities in conditions of sexual and labor servitude. Glasgow made the contribution on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, observed each year on January 11 during Human Trafficking Month, at the Will County Children's Advocacy Center. Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month of January to raise awareness about human trafficking and educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.
Catholic Charities' Senior Companion Program (SCP) is looking for people 55 years and older who are interested in visiting with another senior who is homebound and living in Will County. This is strictly a friendly visit; no homecare duties are involved. Volunteers who meet income eligibility guidelines will receive a tax-free hourly stipend and a mileage reimbursement for time spent with clients.
Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry announced that Nominating Petition Packets can now be found on her website at willcountyclerk.gov for individuals wishing to run in the June 28, 2022 General Primary Election.
The rolling seven-day test positivity rate for Will County climbed to 23 percent on Jan. 7 (the most recent data available), according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The Illinois Department of Public Health last Friday Friday reported 131,643 COVID cases for Will County, an increase of 1,964 more cases than were reported just a day earlier, on Thursday.
Governor JB Pritzker last week announced his support for SB 3070 in the General Assembly that will increase penalties for individuals who commit crimes against Illinois Department of Childhood and Family Services (DCFS) employees. The legislation, known as the Knight-Silas Bill, comes in response to the tragic deaths of two DCFS caseworkers, Deidre Silas and Pam Knight, who were killed while on the job.
It’s been a year since a mob of Trumpists violently attacked the U.S. Capitol. They wanted to stop Congress from affirming President Joe Biden’s victory. Some of them were out for blood. All of them were motivated by the former president’s Big Lie that he won the election but that his victory was stolen from him and his supporters.
The African American Business Association (AABA) of the Joliet Regional Chamber of Commerce announced on Monday, the election of the new 2022 -2023 board members and new board leadership According to AABA leadership, the association’s mission is to transform the Joliet region into Illinois' most equitable, inclusive, and vibrant local economy. The mission is to remove barriers so that Black entrepreneurs can access opportunities and resources, empowering them with useful information to pursue their life aspirations. We're excited to expand our board with nine new directors who will bring diverse expertise and insight to the chamber work.
The high cost of rent and fierce competition for vacant properties has led to an increase in rental fraud, with many people turning to online social media groups to find apartments, and some even sharing the cost of an apartment with friends or family.
