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Univstats.com reports for the 2022-2023 academic year, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had nearly 57,000 students. The University of Illinois Chicago ranked second with almost 34,000 and Northwestern University was third with almost 24,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

Tech help comes to the college admissions process

This story is based on reporting by Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.The broadcast version is by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service, reporting …

An Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission year-end report said 388 youths, male and female, were admitted into juvenile detention centers as of December 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Digital court hearings cause uneasiness for young offenders

Online conferencing was a lifeline for school lessons and business meetings during the pandemic. However, there is concern about the effects of …

The Education Data Initiative predicts the average yearly cost of law school tuition between 2024 and 2025 will be nearly $52,000. (Adobe Stock)

A lack of attorneys creates 'legal deserts' in rural IL counties

Labor shortages exist across the country in the medical and teaching professions but not as much is said about the lack of attorneys in some states…

According to the Illinois General Assembly, at least 318 new pieces of legislation will go into effect in 2024 that will impact every area in the state. (Adobe Stock)

New IL laws usher in policy changes in health care, employment, policing

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, Illinoisans will see more than 300 new laws take effect - with changes that impact the state's …

The new rule was originally set to go into effect in December, but the NLRB extended the date into February to accommodate legal challenges. (Rafael Henrique/Adobe Stock)<br />

Advocates: New NLRB joint employer rule a win for workers

The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a rule change that may have wide-ranging impacts for workers and businesses. The update to the …

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago say almost 175,000 people are held in pretrial detention each year in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Backers hope IL 'no cash bail' makes justice equitable, less expensive

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …

The New York Times reports six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades. (Adobe Stock)

IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences

It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …

Illinois state agencies will be required to use the Middle Eastern or North African classification for reporting workforce or hiring data as of July 1, 2025. (Marko/Adobe Stock)

Middle Eastern, North African Race Checkbox Added to IL state forms

Illinois is making history as the first state to collect Middle Eastern and North African representation data on all state forms and surveys…

Backers of the Workers' Rights Amendment, approved by voters in 2022, say it will put an end to the existing gaps and exclusions in labor laws by guaranteeing union rights for all Illinois workers. (WH_pics/Adobe Stock)

New Year Brings Wide Variety of New Illinois State Laws

It's a new year, and more than 180 new laws are going into effect, which Illinoisans need to know about. The 2022 General Assembly passed bills …

A Loyola University analysis of Illinois pretrial incarceration outcomes showed no effects on crime or rates of re-arrest, but did find a 3% rise in defendents' failure to appear in court. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect

Illinois lawmakers, meeting in their annual "Veto Session" in Springfield, are taking a look at the controversial SAFE-T Act one last time before it …

Since recreational marijuana became legal in 2020, sales have grown to $160 million a month in Illinois. (ayehab/Adobe Stock)

Applicants Angry Over Delays in IL 'Social Equity' Cannabis Licenses

Illinois lawmakers are hoping to adjust the state's problem-plagued recreational marijuana law designed to award dispensary licenses on a fair and equ…

Over 300,000 Illinois residents purchased insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchange in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

ACA Open-Enrollment Begins Soon in Illinois

Open-enrollment season for health insurance begins soon and Illinoisans have a lot to consider in attempting to get the right kinds of coverage…

According to the Center for American Progress, the average wealth level for a white household was about $1.17 million in 2020, compared with about $242,000 for Black households. (Adobe Stock)

Barriers Persist for Black Illinoisans Looking to Purchase Homes

Black Illinoisans face entrenched barriers to homeownership, part of a decadeslong legacy of racist housing practices known as "redlining." This …

The Environmental Protection Agency reports the transportation sector is the largest single contributor to America's annual greenhouse-gas emissions, comprising 27% of the total. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Diesel Engines Major Air Polluters in Illinois

Pollution from diesel engines can cause a variety of health issues, and a new report reveals some Illinois communities face higher risks from diesel …

According to the Pew Research Center, about 56% of Illinois residents believe abortion should be legal. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood of Illinois Braces for Potential Surge in Patients

As the future of abortion access is in limbo, Planned Parenthood of Illinois is preparing for a potential surge in patients from surrounding states…

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Department operates five facilities across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Officials Undercount Incarcerated Kids

A new report revealed in 2019, young people in the United States were locked up in juvenile facilities nearly a quarter million times, and current …

Black students are more likely to be suspended for discretionary reasons such as dress code or hairstyle. (simona/Adobe Stock)

Starting Next Year, Hair Discrimination Banned in IL Schools

Starting Jan. 1, a law goes into effect banning hair discrimination in Illinois schools. Studies have shown one in five Black women working in …

Illinois codified the right to abortion in June 2019. (gistavofrazao/Adobe Stock)

IL Reproductive-Rights Groups Protest Abortion Bans Before SCOTUS Session

CHICAGO -- Reproductive-rights advocates took to the streets across Illinois and the U.S. over the weekend to protest the new Texas law banning …

Roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants reside in the United States. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

IL Immigrant Allies Urge Congress to Pass Pathway to Citizenship

CHICAGO -- Advocates for immigrants and refugees in Illinois traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to push for a pathway to citizenship for up to …

This year, May 31 was the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, when a white mob killed an estimated 300 Black residents of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, Okla. (Susan Vineyard/Adobe Stock)

Graphic Novel Spotlights Black Wealth Before 1921 Tulsa Massacre

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A graphic novel illustrated by a University of Illinois professor aims to serve as a primer for young people to learn about the …

During his visit to McHenry County Community College, President Joe Biden talked to 200 students and teachers about the importance of investing in child care and education among other things. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Biden Visit to IL Highlights Investments in Community Colleges

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. - President Joe Biden visited McHenry County Community College in Crystal Lake yesterday to promote his economic proposals - for …

Approximately 28% of Illinois kids lived in households with a high housing cost burden in 2019, compared with 42% in 2010. (Darren Baker/Adobe Stock)

IL Child Well-Being Improved in Last Decade, Although Disparities Remain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Child well-being in Illinois was looking up in 2019 compared with 2010, but advocates say the full impact of COVID-19 is yet to …

More than 450 students have completed the Curt's Caf� three-month workforce training and life-skills curriculum. (ibravery/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice reform groups say helping young people with work and life-skills training reduces recidivism more effectively than …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

Around 42% of respondents to a survey of Amazon workers reported pain or injury from their job that caused them to miss work. (Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)

Report: Amazon Employees Face High Workplace Injury Rates

WAUKEGAN, Ill. - A new report finds that Amazon's focus on speed comes at a cost to the company's workforce. An analysis of OSHA data by a …

A bill to teach more Asian American history in schools has gained traction in the wake of an uptick in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the United States. (Sam Cheng/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Add Asian American History to IL School Code

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Racial-justice advocates are urging the state Senate to pass a bill called the TEAACH Act, making Illinois the first state to …

In 2019, about 76,000 children were prosecuted in the adult system, and more than 80% of them were racial minorities, according to a report from Human Rights for Kids. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate

CHICAGO -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers will introduce a package of bills to make the way children and teens are treated in the federal cri…

18-year-olds who commit misdemeanors are currently charged in adult court, but a bill seeks to change that. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to juvenile court …

The city of Evanston is providing what it calls reparations in the form of housing grants to Black residents, the first program of its kind. (Fabio Balbi/Adobe Stock)

Evanston To Provide Housing Grants as Form of Reparations

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Black residents of Evanston, who lived in the city between 1919 and 1969 or are direct descendants of someone who did, can start …

Students with daily school-day tutoring in the Chicago Public Schools were able to progress two to three times faster than their peers. (vlorzor/Adobe Stock)

Report: High School Not Too Late to Improve Student Outcomes

CHICAGO -- As school districts grapple with the pandemic's academic fallout, new research shows intensive in-school tutoring could help bridge the …

Trees reduce the energy consumption for cooling homes in the United States by 7%, according to estimates from the U.S. Forest Service. (Donovan Cole/Trees Forever)

IL Nonprofits Aim to Make Access to City Trees More Equitable

By Breanna Draxler for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Lily Bohlke for Illinois News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Black people are especially under-represented on corporate boards of directors; 33 companies reported having zero African-American or Black directors. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Report: Diversity Lacking on IL Corporate Boards

CHICAGO -- Corporate boards of directors in Illinois have a way to go to achieve racial and gender parity in representation. In 2019, lawmakers …

In 2020, the Chicago area saw an employment drop of more than 30%. Thousands of the city's hospitality workers were laid off. (Unite Here Local 1)

Chicago Ordinance Would Bring Laid-Off Workers Back When Hotels Reopen

CHICAGO - Legislation pending before the Chicago City Council would require hotels to reinstate workers who were laid off because of the pandemic to t…

Educators are kicking off Black History Month with a week dedicated to sharing educational resources to fight racial bias and injustice in curricula and schools. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

IL Teachers Join Campaign to Improve Outcomes for Black Students

CHICAGO -- Many Illinois teachers are joining a national campaign this week, called Black Lives Matter At School, to raise awareness about structural …

A Chicago tech company aims to close the wealth gap by supporting Black entrepreneurs. (Adobe stock)

Chicago Firm Boosts Support for Black Entrepreneurs

CHICAGO - Spurred by protests calling for racial justice over the past year, a Chicago-based tech company that helps entrepreneurs is starting a new …

Since recreational use of marijuana became legal in Illinois in 2020, 700,000 minor cannabis records have become eligible to be expunged. (Victor Moussa/Adobe Stock)

IL Initiative Helps Expunge Cannabis Convictions

CHICAGO -- A little more than a year after Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational cannabis, legal-aid groups are working to help …

If Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the criminal-justice package passed by the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois will be the first state to end cash bail. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

IL General Assembly Approves End to Money Bond

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois is set to become the first state to eliminate money bond, after the General Assembly passed a criminal-justice reform …

Banking with Community Development Financial Institutions can help underprivileged communities. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

A Unique Way to Give Back During the Holidays

CHICAGO -- Many people make charitable donations during the holiday season, but there's another way they can help their communities. Folks can make a …

Researchers say Black communities are disproportionately affected by the bail-bond system. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Ending Cash-Bond System

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois lawmakers have the chance to ensure poverty is never the reason a person stays in jail. The Pretrial Fairness Act has …

Police say no arrests were made during Wednesday night's

Election Aftermath in Illinois: Speak Out, Avoid Violence

CHICAGO - Social-justice groups are reminding Illinoisans about their rights when it comes to defending democracy. Historic numbers of voters cast …

In Illinois, Black men ages 18 to 24 are nine times more likely to be jailed than their white peers. (Adobe Stock)

Criminal Justice Report: 18-Year-Olds Don't Belong in Adult Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A new report puts some weight behind arguments that young adults should not be prosecuted in adult court in Illinois. The …

Trump's "Proud Boys" Comments Spur Unease

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Civil-rights advocates are warning President Donald Trump's debate comments about a group known as Proud Boys could encourage far-…

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will build a new detention facility in the Chicago area.(Adobe Stock)

Proposed Chicago ICE 'Citizens Academy' Poses Threat to Residents, Critics Say

CHICAGO -- Starting in mid-September, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will open its first Citizens Academy, a six-week program …

Alderman Roderick Sawyer of Chicago's 6th Ward introduced an ordinance that would end the Chicago Public Schools' security agreement with the Chicago Police Department. (VOYCES)

"We Demand Change": A Call to Get Police Out of Chicago Schools

CHICAGO -- Amid the intensifying appeals to rethink the role of police in cities across the country, there's a new push to end the police presence in …

Black ministers on the front lines of racism and police violence say the nation is at a catalytic moment in history. (AdobeStock)

Illinois Faith Leaders Ready to Catalyze the Moment

CHICAGO -- Faith leaders in Illinois are joining others from around the country as prophetic witnesses to respond to the national unrest. The …

Research shows that automatic transfer laws disproportionately impact youth of color. (AdobeStock)

Case to End Automatic Adult Court Trial of Juveniles

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- New research suggests that, if given time for proper review, Illinois could greatly reduce the number of juvenile cases that are …

An estimated 250,000 people are jailed in Illinois awaiting trial, largely because they can't afford to pay the cash bail amount that was set. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Lawmakers Hear Pleas to End Jail Bond

CHICAGO -- Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently revealed his intention to end the use of cash bail or what is known as "money bond" in Illinois, and it's an …

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IL: Social Justice