Taft Elementary students give back

Taft Elementary School Teacher Anne Flaherty’s fourth grade classroom coordinated a school-wide sock collection drive for MorningStar Mission.

TTW Newswire In partnership with the Joliet Fire Department (JFD), State Representative Natalie Manley announced on Tuesday a pilot project that would provide free Deterra Drug Deactivation and Disposal kits to the public to assist community efforts in combatting the opioid crisis. The kits, which safely destroy unwanted and expired medications, are now available at 12 locations throughout the city. “Unused prescription drugs can significantly contribute to the opioid epidemic, creating opportunities for misuse,” said Manley. “Providing a safe and effective way to dispose of unwanted and expired medications is a simple step to combat this crisis. I am thankful to the Joliet Fire Department for stepping up as our first distribution point.” Deterra Drug Deactivation Kits break down prescription and over-the-counter medicines, such as pills, patches, liquids, creams, and films, making them inactive when water is added. The pilot program was implemented with assistance from the Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization (HERO) and Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant. The Joliet Fire Department volunteered to serve as the first distribution agency for the kits, which will be available at front desks of Joliet City Hall, both Joliet Police Department stations, and at the nine JFD stations throughout the city. “We’re proud to be making this life-saving resource available to residents,” said Joliet Fire Department Chief Greg Blaskey. “Opioid addiction impacts every community, and these kits will help ensure that unused medications do not reenter circulation.”

As the new year starts, a number of new laws take effect. Nearly 300 laws will officially be on the books Jan. 1 – from one that gives students excused mental health days, to another that ensures pharmacies are being up front about their prices. The Senate Democratic Caucus outlined 10 of the most interesting laws that will affect Illinoisans in all corners of the state. Those include:

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – A recent increase in the Pell Grant awarded to low-income college students who need financial help paying for their tuition or other educational needs will not be going to the nearly one million students who choose career and proprietary schools. That’s because the Build Back Better bill that passed the House in late November, by a vote of 220-213, mostly along party lines, has a one-line provision tucked away on page 76 of the 2,135-page bill that excludes underserved college students who choose career or proprietary colleges for their academic studies from the $550 increase in Pell benefits. “We need to do more to bring accountability to all sectors of higher education; however, punishing students does not accomplish that objective. Any accountability rules should be focused on institutions, not students,” said a letter signed by 13 Democrats encouraging a change in the bill that would allow the additional students to receive the increase. “Financial aid professionals agree this is not the right policy approach.”

TTW staff
On January 14, the Joliet Central High School Boys & Girls Varsity Basketball Teams will honor Joliet East High School alumni during a doubleheader v. West Aurora. The Varsity Girls play at 5 pm with the Varsity Boys game following at 6:30 p.m. Come see our Steelmen in action as they compete in Joliet East jerseys to represent the Kingsmen pride.