OAKLAND POST — “We’re not going to accept $90 million in budget reductions from the county,” Oakland Education Association (OEA) President Keith Brown told the Oakland Post this week. “The county has a responsibility to support our district. For the county to say we need more cuts under their watch shows they are not providing proper support for the needs of Oakland Unified.”
Teachers’ Union President Opposes County/FCMAT Takeover of Oakland Schools
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Business, Community, Education, Entertainment, Featured, National, News, NNPA, NNPA Newswire, Sports, Stacy Brown
Phoenix Suns Charities Donates Millions to Children and Families in Arizona’s Underserved Communities
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “Professional sports teams are inherently community assets. As stewards of these organizations, our players, coaches, employees, and owners are duty-bound to provide assistance and support to communities in which we live – particularly those traditionally marginalized and underserved. Our track record in providing this support speaks for itself,” said Phoenix Suns President & CEO Jason Rowley.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Joliet man being held on $5 million bond after being charged with murdering uncle
A 31-year-old Joliet is being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility after being charged with three counts of first degree murder, concealment of homicidal death and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau wins Excellence in Tourism Award from the Illinois Office of Tourism
JOLIET, IL – The Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau accepted an Excellence in Tourism Award for Best Niche Targeting at the 2021 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism this week. The award honored the CVB’s work developing and promoting the Heritage Corridor Ale Trail, a passport program that encourages users to visit the Heritage Corridor’s breweries and other craft beer hot spots.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Preserving the sounds of some of Joliet’s history
Soon anyone will be able to “hear” what life was like 50 years ago in Joliet and it won’t be from someone reading a book, but from people who lived through some of the hard times of the early 20th century. The Joliet Junior College Library and Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM) have teamed to digitize 55 audio recordings that offer first-hand accounts of life in the Joliet area during the first half of the 20th Century. The project, which consists of more than 3,300 minutes of audio cassette reels, was funded by the JJC Foundation, with support from the nonprofit Experimental Sound Studio in Chicago. The audio comes from interviews conducted 50 years ago with residents born near the beginning of the 20th Century. The digitization is an expansion of the library’s recent transcription of the interviews. “Listeners will hear about the hardships faced by individuals and families and also a broader perspective on the Great Depression and the world wars,” said Amy Chellino, archive specialist with the JJC Library. “The interactions are timeless conversations between generations and are reminders of the ephemeral moments we have in our lifetimes.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Rep. Robin Kelly Speaks at First Ever White House Maternal Health Day of Action
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Robin L. Kelly (IL-02) on Tuesday attended Vice President Harris’ first-ever Maternal Health Day of Action at the White House.
Posted in#NNPA BlackPress, Black Experience, Black History, Business, Commentary, Community, Entertainment, Featured, Lifestyle, Media, National, News, NNPA, NNPA History, NNPA Newswire, Press Room, Stacy Brown, The Tennessee Tribune
Rosetta Perry, ‘Queen Mother’ of the Black Press
NNPA NEWSWIRE — “She began as a pioneer in the industry, and she’s been speaking the truth no matter what,” Nashville Mayor John Cooper stated. “That’s why, 30 years later, her words speak to our conscious. She advocates passionately for the future of our city, for affordable housing, for HBCUs, for our communities, and for us to have a better city.”
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Fraternal Order of Police make sure quarantined youth still enjoy the holiday
TTW Staff When COVD threatened to put coal in a Joliet youngster’s stocking this year, Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Lodge 94 made sure the young man was still able to enjoy a happy holiday season. A young man named Dylan was scheduled to participate in the Lodge 94 Shop with a Sheriff event on December 4 but was heartbroken when a family member’s positive COVID test meant he would not be able to take part. Dylan’s mother knew how much the event meant to her son, so she reached out to Morningstar Mission, the event coordinator, to see what might be done.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Joliet’s finance director delivers mostly good news on proposed budget
Road improvements totaling more than $30 million, body cameras for police officers, more revenue from sales taxes and real estate taxes and a reduction in the tax levy. That was some of the good news outlined in the City of Joliet’s proposed 2022 budget presented Monday by Jim Ghedotte, the city’s finance director. Ghedotte presented the budget on behalf of City Manager James Capparelli. It includes revenues of $388.7 million and expenditures of $438.1 million. The estimated $50 million shortfall will be made up by selling bonds to pay for $28 million in water and sewer replacement projects, as opposed to paying for them in cash. Also reserves funds from the current budget are projected to total $250 million. Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk and the city council are expected to take a closer look at the proposed budget and likely make some adjustments prior to putting it to a vote on Dec. 21.
Posted inTimes Weekly News
Local kids will not go without this Christmas
For many families, having presents under the Christmas tree for their children is expected every holiday season. But in some instances, families must decide between giving a toy or putting food on the table for their children. To help with the need in the area, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy counties is hosting a toy drive for families this season on Saturday December 10. The program specifically targets children who are in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
