Getting the word out to Blacks and Hispanics in Will County about the safety and efficacy of COVID vaccines has been a priority, according to county health department officials. A campaign involving reaching out to various community groups about the vaccine has been ongoing almost since the vaccines first became available. In March, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 144,149 had received the COVID vaccine in Will County. Black people in Will County accounted for 9,685 (6.72 percent of the total population) vaccines and 3,180 (or 6.87 percent of the total population of Blacks) received both doses of the vaccine. Hispanics in Will County accounted for 15,009 (10.4 percent) and 4,488 (9.69 percent) of Hispanics received both doses of the vaccine, according to the IDPH.
Safety
Joliet Halloween 2021 hours
The City of Joliet is celebrating spooky season with the 2021 Halloween/Fall Décor Map. This easy-to-use map will make finding fiendish and fun Halloween and fall decorations within the City of Joliet simple for everyone.
Will County Health Department, local restaurants partner on pop up COVID-19 vaccination sites
In an effort to encourage residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccination and stop the spread of the deadly virus, the Will County Health Department is partnering with local restaurants to host pop up vaccination sites and give away free food to vaccine recipients. “We are grateful to Golden Corral Buffet & Grill and McDonald’s for the partnership in this important promotion to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Cindy Jackson, Will County Health Department vaccine coordinator. “This is a win-win situation. Receive a free life- saving COVID-19 vaccine and enjoy free food from these restaurants.”
Virtual townhall meeting planned on probe into Joliet PD
A state investigation is underway into possible patterns or practices of unconstitutional or unlawful policing in Joliet and now the public is being asked to weigh in on the matter.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul is inviting members of the public to participate in a virtual town hall meeting discussing the investigation into the Joliet Police Department’s policing practices.
Pritzker announces $327 million in Household Assistance Available for low-income families in Illinois
Governor JB Pritzker today joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and community partners to announce $327 million in Help Illinois Families assistance now available through the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Community Services Block Grant Program (CSBG). The program offers expanded services to support Illinois’ most vulnerable residents with rent, utilities, food and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.
COVID vaccine debate and fear mongering in Will County
Will County is apparently not immune to the unfortunate politics of the COVID vaccine that has spread across the country like… well, a pandemic. Data has shown that most who are now ending up in hospitals suffering from COVID are the unvaccinated and most large numbers of cases are in states with low percentage of vaccinated individuals.
Joliet City Manager responds to police department investigation
TTW Staff Report
Attorney General Kwame Raoul last week announced that his office is launching an investigation into possible patterns or practices of unconstitutional or unlawful policing by the Joliet Police Department. The civil investigation follows requests made by the Joliet mayor and members of the Joliet City Council.
Glasgow to serve on Illinois AG's Organized Retail Crime Task Force
Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow on Monday joined with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, members of the law enforcement community, retail associations, and national retailers in the announcement of a new Organized Retail Crime Task Force established to address the rampant, multibillion dollar organized retail crime industry.
Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow to serve on IL AG’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force
thetimesweekly.com Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow on Monday joined with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, members of the law enforcement community, retail associations, and national retailers in the announcement of a new Organized Retail Crime Task Force established to address the rampant, multibillion dollar organized retail crime industry. Glasgow will be serving on the new Task Force in his capacity as President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association.
Black, brown people may be hardest hit as Pandemic Unemployment ends
Federal unemployment programs, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, came to an end on Sept. 4. All those on unemployment will now receive $300 less in weekly benefits and experts said it will likely hurt Black and brown workers the hardest.
Enhanced UI benefits disproportionately support Black and brown workers who have historically been left behind in recoveries. According to Lindsay Owens, executive director for Groundwork Collaborative, “the historic inequities in the labor market will be laid even more bare” after Monday’s benefits cutoff.
After Labor Day, roughly 7.5 million people lost key pandemic-era unemployment benefits established by the March 2020 CARES Act. Dr. Rakeen Mabud, chief economist at Groundwork, reacted to the impending unemployment cliff with the following statement:
