Citizen Suburban Times Weekly (CST) 6-21-2023

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation Monday that seeks to protect public and school libraries from pressure to ban, remove or restrict access to books based on “partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias holds his daughter while brandishing a bill

signed by Gov. JB Pritzker Monday that aims to discourage book bans at Illinois libraries. Bill sponsor Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, is pictured at left and Pritzker is pictured at right. (Capitol News Illinois

PHOTO BY ANDREW ADAMS)

New state laws taking effect Jan. 1

Pritzker signs anti-book ban legislation

Minimum wage hike, pets in public housing among new changes

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

First-in-the-

BY PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

– Minimum

wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting Jan. 1, while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets.

Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect in the new year.

nation law ties state funding to open access policies

The minimum wage increase is actually the result of a 2019 law that phases in a state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This year, it will increase by one dollar to $12 an hour.

The law allowing public housing

tenants to keep pets is the result of Senate Bill 154, by Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego. It provides that tenants of multifamily housing units that are acquired, built or renovated with money from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund may keep up to two cats or one dog weighing less than 50 pounds.

Speaking at the Harold Washington Library Center in downtown Chicago, Pritzker said there were 67 attempts in 2022 to have various books removed from library shelves in Illinois, including books about LGBTQ-plus youths, the Black experience and racism.

“The argument for banning books always begins with the claim that it’s about protecting the children, and yes, of course, we all want to protect our children so they’re reading age-appropriate material,” he said. “But banning books from libraries isn’t about that at all. Book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts. Regimes ban books, not democracies.”

It applies to residents of housing units that are designated as affordable housing for low- and very-lowincome families. The bill passed both chambers in its final form on May 30 and Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law Aug. 6.

The bill was an initiative of Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who serves as the state librarian and whose office administers grant programs for local public libraries and school libraries. He described it as the first of its kind in the United States and a needed response to a growing wave of antagonism toward libraries.

“Most of the premise of this bill and our inspiration for this bill was hearing from librarians throughout the state who have never seen a level of intimidation, threats to violence and job insecurity like they have across the state, whether it’s in the western suburbs or whether it’s in downstate Illinois. So that’s been really troubling,” he said. “We should be applauding them, and they’ve never felt this harassed. So hopefully this shows librarians across the state that we support them.”

Other new laws include:

Vehicle taxes: SB58 raises the private vehicle tax, which is a sales tax paid on the purchase of vehicles, by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and by $100 for vehicles priced above that amount. However, the registration fee for trailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds will drop to $36 instead of $118.

House Bill 2789 declares it to be the policy of Illinois to “encourage and protect the freedom of libraries and library systems to acquire materials without external limitation and to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials.”

It also requires that, as a condition for being eligible for state grants, libraries and library systems must adopt either the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or some other written statement prohibiting the practice of banning books or other materials.

Tracie Hall, executive director of the Chicago-based ALA, called the bill signing a historic event.

The bill passed through both chambers of the General Assembly with only Democratic support. Republicans argued that it undercut the authority of local library boards and school boards. Some also argued that it could lead to unintended consequences such as libraries being forced to carry books espousing racism or providing instructions in how to make a bomb.

“That’s got nothing to do with this legislation,” Giannoulias said when asked about this criticism on Monday. “That will not be the case, it will continue not to be the case. Again, what we’re saying simply is a book cannot be removed that’s already currently in circulation for partisan or doctrinal beliefs. It’s very simple, straightforward, and our librarians have begged for this legislation. I could not be more proud of it.”

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

Darrell President / Publisher

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

“I could not be prouder that the American Library Association, founded in 1876, and based for much of its 147 years right here in Chicago, makes its home in a state that is first in the nation to create a law that stands up to censorship and calls it what it is – a threat to education, to libraries, to our individual freedoms, and a threat to our democracy,” she said.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of print and broadcast outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager

College admissions: HB226, establishing the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, prohibits public colleges and universities from requiring applicants to submit SAT, ACT or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, although prospective students may choose to submit them if they wish.

U.S. Department of Education Announces Grant Opportunities to Address Educator Recruitment, Retention, and Career Advancement

CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually). W ritten permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon. For information on subscriptions or advertising call us at (773) 783-1251. Our office is located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

Editorial:

Drug prices: SB1682 requires pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced the availability of more than $368 million in new grant opportunities through the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) program and the Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive program that advance investments in teacher recruitment and retention. These investments particularly prioritize promoting educator diversity and career advancement and leadership opportunities for effective educators tied to increased compensation.

“Teachers shape thriving individuals and communities, as well as the future of our nation. Now more than ever, we need more innovative approaches to supporting the return and retention of outstanding, well-prepared, well-supported educators who meet the needs and reflect the diversity of their students,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education James Lane. “These funds will catalyze more of these approaches in schools across the country.”

to the appropriate school support personnel.

The FY 2023 TSL grant competition is designed to support entities in implementing, improving, or expanding their human capital management, or expanding their performance-based compensation systems. Priorities used in this competition advance the Department’s goal to eliminate educator shortages, including through effective teacher retention efforts such as career advancement opportunities for teachers and improving teacher diversity. The FY 2023 EIR grant competition funds projects that test, replicate, and scale evidence-based practices, and this year’s competition includes priorities for improving educator recruitment and retention. This includes competitive compensation systems; providing more time for planning and collaboration; increasing access to leadership opportunities that can lead to higher pay and improved retention for fully certified, experienced, and effective educators; and expanding the impact of great teachers within and beyond their classrooms. It also supports improving educator diversity.

Editorial:

Editorial:

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FOID card changes: HB562 enacts several changes to the Firearm Owner Identification card law. Among other things, it provides for a streamlined renewal process for FOID cards and Concealed Carry Licenses for people who voluntarily submit fingerprint records. It also allows the Illinois State Police to issue a combined FOID card and Concealed Carry License to qualified applicants, and it establishes a new Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to take enforcement action against people with revoked FOID cards.

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Student mental health: HB576 and SB1577 allow students in Illinois up to five excused absences to attend to their mental or behavioral health without providing a medical note. Those students will be given an opportunity to make up any work they missed during the first absence and, after using a second mental health day, may be referred

Official flags: HB605 requires state agencies and institutions to purchase Illinois and American flags that are made in the United States.

Hair styles: SB817 prohibits discrimination in schools against individuals on the grounds of wearing natural or ethnic hairstyles, which include dreadlocks, braids, twists and afros.

its public health authorities from regulating or shutting down lemonade stands or similar operations that are operated by children under the age of 16. Known as “Hayli’s Law,” it was inspired by 12-year-old Hayli Martinez, whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona has announced several actions to Raise the Bar in illustrating the Department’s commitment to transform P-12 education and unite around what is effective—based on decades of experience and research—and advance educational equity and excellence. As part of our Raise the Bar efforts to boldly improve learning conditions, the Department is working to eliminate the educator shortage at every public school and support the educator workforce. The grant opportunities announced today are part of that effort and specifically invest in teacher leadership and career advancement, improved compensation, and teacher diversity—three key strategies the Department is utilizing to eliminate educator shortages.

Lemonade stands: SB119 prohib-

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Teacher leadership models provide experienced and effective teachers with leadership opportunities that allow them to have a greater impact on their school communities while remaining in the classroom and being compensated for taking on additional responsibilities. These leadership opportunities support academic success for students while creating career ladders that support teacher retention. Increasing the diversity of the educator workforce so that it reflects the diversity of our students is tied to improved student performance and, by expanding the pool of future teachers, is critical to eliminating shortages.

Juneteenth: HB3922 recognizes June 19, or “Juneteenth,” as an official state holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the

United States. In June, President Joe Biden also signed a bill designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

To support applicants in applying for these grant opportunities, the Department offers a series of resources, including pre-applicant webinars to provide technical assistance available online at: https:// oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-services/.

Gov. JB Pritzker is shown here earlier this year in a Capitol News Illinois file photo. The governor signed more than 300 bills that become law on Jan. 1. (Capitol News Illinois file photo)

DOVE AND BELOVED CHILDREN’S YOUTUBE SERIES, “GRACIE’S CORNER” CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIR AND CROWN MOVEMENT WITH NEW SHORT, “GRACIE’S CROWN”

The Short Will Kick-off a Series of Celebratory Initiatives Leading up to National CROWN Day on July 3, 2023

#GRACIESCROWNCHALLENGE #PASSTHECROWN

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., PRNewswire -- Dove announced a strategic alliance with “Gracie’s Corner,” a beloved children’s YouTube series, to celebrate the beauty of natural hair and help educate families about the CROWN movement and need to Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. In this special new short titled “Gracie’s CROWN,” Gracie explains the importance of loving your hair and the CROWN Act to her audience and their parents. This short will kick-off a series of celebratory events and initiatives leading up to National CROWN Day on July 3, 2023, a nationwide celebration of Black Hair Independence Day.

“Gracie’s Corner” is a popular YouTube animated sing-along series featuring an adolescent Black girl named Gracie, singing and dancing to catchy tunes on topics ranging from the ABCs to loving one’s hair. The series was created by Gracie, aka Graceyn Hollingsworth, and her parents Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth and Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth, in hopes of creating a space for Black children to be seen on and off the screen. Graceyn’s mother, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth utilizes her psychology background to formulate strategies that aid in the development and education of children who watch the show. “Gracie’s Corner” has surpassed 2 million YouTube subscribers, and viral moments from the brand include songs centered around loving one’s natural hair, celebrating Black history, and respecting others. Featuring sounds and music from the Black Diaspora, “Gracie’s Corner” YouTube channel has been viewed more than 1.2 billion times, which equates to a watch time of more than 111 million hours.

“’Gracie’s Corner’ is an incredible platform for empowering our young children, and we are delighted to work with Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth, and their daughter Graceyn, to help young children of all ages celebrate their beautiful crowns,” said Esi Eggleston Bracey, President & CEO Unilever Personal Care North America. “Together, “Gracie’s Corner” and Dove are on a mission to drive

positive change and inspire a new generation of advocates for equality and representation as part of the ongoing CROWN movement.”

In honor of the upcoming short “Gracie’s CROWN,” there will be a special customizable Instagram filter where parents are able to capture their children and themselves with a celebratory “Gracie’s Corner” background. Parents are invited to participate in the #GraciesCROWNChallenge by using the filter to tell their children how beautiful their crowns are or ask their children why they love their hair. The official Gracie’s Corner CROWN filter can be accessed by searching Gracie’s CROWN Filter under effects on Instagram.

“’Gracie’s Corner’ is built on the foundation of representation and inclusion. We are thrilled to be a part of the work Dove and the CROWN Coalition are doing to speak out against hair discrimination that continues to be a constant conversation across the country,” said Graceyn’s father, Dr. Javoris Hollingsworth.

“’Gracie’s Corner’ is an extension of the conversations we have in our home to pour into our children daily to love the versatility of their hair, rich skin tone and being proud to be Black. We hope the “Gracie’s Corner” and Dove collaboration sparks conversation and encourages parents to take action by signing the CROWN Act petition,” said Graceyn’s mother, Dr. Arlene Hollingsworth.

Since 2018, the CROWN Act and laws inspired by the CROWN Act have passed in 22 states and multiple municipalities, impacting over 30 million Black lives. The CROWN Act movement recognizes that natural hair is a core aspect of Black culture and should be celebrated rather than stigmatized.

Join Dove and “Gracie’s Corner” in taking action to #PassTheCROWN and help end race-based hair discrimination by signing the official CROWN Act petition at Dove.com/CROWN.

The brand ideology is simple, to provide quality, educational content for children from diverse backgrounds while curating songs and videos that make you want to dance. Originated in 2020, and more than 80 videos later, Gracie’s Corner is a safe haven for children of color. The series teaches children nursery rhymes, counting, letter recognition, phonics, Black history, as well as coping skills. To date, Gracie’s Corner has been nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award and an NAACP Image Award. The Hollingsworth family is based in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit www.graciescornertv.com.

Issa Rae Announced as first Keynote Speaker for Black Tech Week 2023

CINCINNATI, PRNewswire

-- Black Tech Week is thrilled to announce that Issa Rae–writer, producer, entrepreneur and founder of HOORAE is headed to BTW23 to share her energy, experiences and insights. Best known for her groundbreaking work as the creator and star of the hit HBO series “Insecure,” Issa Rae is also a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry with a commitment to supporting and amplifying Black and female voices in the space.

“We’re looking forward to hosting Issa Rae as our keynote speaker for Black Tech Week 2023,” said Candice Matthews Brackeen, CEO, Lightship Foundation. “Her dedication to promoting diversity in the tech industry along with her remarkable achievements in entertainment, truly embody the spirits of solidarity and success so central to the Black Tech Week experience. It’s going to be an inspiring and unforgettable event!”

Black Tech Week is an annual conference driving innovation, connection, and collaboration across Black tech culture. Guests attend and participate in panel discussions, workshops and presentations led by industry trend spotters, brand experts, providers of professional services and more.

Get more information about Black Tech Week 2023, view press credentials and purchase tickets at Blacktechweek.com

Lightship Foundation is an impact-driven organization serving remarkable entrepreneurs & ecosystems across the US. By leveraging corporate partnerships, specialized programming and capital investments, Lightship drives sustainable growth within the minority innovation economy. Since 2017, the organization has guided over 200 companies led by women, founders of color and those representing the LGBTIQ and disabled communities to more than $150M in venture funding across the US with programming and events including Lightship Boot Camp and Black Tech Week.

Black Tech Week is a culture driven experience empowered by community and corporate collaboration. BTW connects investors, entrepreneurs, tech professionals and creatives across several days of curated content, social events and incredible energy. Connect with Black Tech Week on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

PRNewsfoto/Dove,The CROWN Coalition

Students from Nehemiah Center, a nonprofit in Sandusky, Ohio that provides after-school programming and mentoring to children, are the first to enjoy Kalahari’s new outdoor pool. The 15,000 sq. ft. pool opens at a special event kicking off the summer season Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 26, 2023 in Sandusky, Ohio. (Kaitlin K Walsh/AP Images for Kalahari Resorts)

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in Sandusky Opens Expansion to Outdoor Waterpark

SANDUSKY, Ohio, PRNewswire -- Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, home to America’s Largest Indoor Waterparks, in Sandusky, Ohio, recently opened an expansion to its Zambezi Outdoor Waterpark. New additions include a 50-foot free fall jump tower, a zipline experience and a new 15,000-square-foot pool with premium poolside lounging.

Although largely known for its indoor waterpark, Kalahari Resorts in Ohio also offers guests the three-acre Zambezi Outdoor Waterpark featuring multiple thrill slides, private bungalows and “Bugs Burrow”, a kid’s area with a pool, swings, and slides. The new 15,000-square-foot pool opened Memorial Day Weekend to kick off the summer season, and holds 365,000 gallons of water, making it the largest outdoor pool Kalahari has ever built across its four resorts. Most of the new pool is 42 inches deep and features tanning ledges on three sides, with lounge chairs set in approximately 8 inches of water. The fourth side of the pool is a zero-depth entry, catering to younger children, featuring fountains throughout the space.

After being renovated, the zipline experience also reopened for the season, featuring four towers at each corner of the outdoor waterpark. The new freefall jump tower allows thrill-seeking guests to leap off a 50-foot-tall tower and experience a freefall for the first 10-15 feet of their fall at which point a jumpbelt catches and lowers them to the ground.

“Summer is the perfect time to experience all the amazing attractions Kalahari has to offer both inside and out, from Ohio’s largest indoor waterpark to the Big Game Room to the new and improved Zambezi Outdoor Waterpark,”

General Manager Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, Sandusky, Ohio. “The expansion of the outdoor waterpark is truly a game changer for our Ohio guests. We recently celebrated 18 years in Ohio, and this is sure to be the best summer yet.”

Summer concerts, festivals, exhibitions and theatre in Bergamo and Brescia during Italian Capital of Culture 2023

BERGAMO, Italy and BRESCIA, Italy, PRNewswire -- A long summer of pop will celebrate Italian Capital of Culture 2023: hundreds of events in Bergamo and Brescia to fill the summer days and nights with life, music and colour.

“The Harlequin’s Cloak”, a theatre and participatory art festival by Bergamo’s Teatro Tascabile until 30 September, features international artists like Kaarina Kaikkonen and Vero Cendoya.

The Centro Teatrale Bresciano marks the centenary of Italo Calvino’s birth with “The invisible cities. The future is a duty”, where 20 artists will perform from 27 June to 9 July in a visionary show.

Thousands of local artists will take part in Festa della Music in Bergamo from 21 June and Brescia from 24 June. Bergamo hosts “Lazzaretto Estate 2023”, fifteen evenings from 27 June to 30 July starring great artists such as Madame (7 July), Snarky Puppy (10 July), Pat Metheny (19 July), Francesca Michielin (28 July), Jethro Tull (28 July). The Cipiesse review will bring to Brescia Mr Rain (July 15), Coma Cose (July 24) and Dardast (July 26), Steve Hackett (6 July).

International artists will perform in Brescia’s Festival Jazz on the road (10-14 July): Jonathan Coel & Artchipel Orchestra; Dave Holland “New Quartet”; Bill Frisell “Four”; Serena Brancale Quartet. Also, the Sub Limen festival (from July 21 in both cities) offers 6 contemporary performances between electronic, pop and experimental music.

Art takes centre stage from 23 June in Bergamo at GAMeC with “Rachel Whiteread… And the animals were sold”, where the celebrated English artist examines relationships between present and past – and “Vivian Suter. Home”, the first exhibition by the Argentinian artist in an Italian museum. Meanwhile, Accademia Carrara is staging “Peaks of light. Naoki Ishikawa on the Bergamesque Alps”, displaying nineteenth-century paintings and contemporary photographs.

Hundreds of films by major contemporary directors and Italian and foreign productions will be screened in outdoor film festivals: at the “L’Eden d’Estate” from 9 June to 8 September in the Parco del Viridarium of Brescia’s Santa Giulia Museum; at the “Esterno Notte” from 15 June to 6 September in Bergamo’s Biblioteca Caversazzi.

Bergamo Brescia Italian Capital of Culture 2023 is supported by main partners Intesa Sanpaolo and A2A, system partner Brembo and area partner Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane and SACBO. The Culture Ministry and Fondazione Cariplo are institutional partners.

For more details: https://bergamobrescia2023.it/

said Brian Shanle,

New additions, now open for the summer, include a jump tower, zipline experience and

Ariana Debose covers Marie Claire’s Ambition Issue

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Future Publishing announces that Ariana DeBose covers Marie Claire’s Ambition Issue, which just went live across Marie Claire’s digital platforms. This digital issue’s theme explores ambition and the intricacies that women have to navigate when they are labeled as such.

“Marie Claire has long been the magazine brand for ambitious women,” says Danielle McNally, acting Editor in Chief. “Ambition has not always served women well, at times branding them ‘try-hards’ or leading them to burnout. That’s why we’re reclaiming the word with our Ambition Issue, and creating a celebration of success in whatever’s most important to you, whether that’s your current career, a completely new one, your home life, or even your well-being. And who better to demonstrate that than our cover star, Ariana DeBose, who has quickly risen from musical theater ensemble player to marquee movie star and weathered the internet storms that come with that.”

The Ambition Issue, powered by PayPal, will also feature the magazine’s inaugural Hollywood’s Next A-List portfolio, a collection of the performers Marie Claire’s culture editors believe have what it takes to command film and television screens for years to come. The list, headlined by Ariana DeBose also features Maude Apatow, Jennie Kim, Bella Ramsey, Ayo Edebiri, Halle Bailey and more. Look for deep dive stories into aging ambitiously, showcasing how

bio-hacking, metabolic aesthetics, and a niche sect of functional medicine are making it possible to anti-age our insides. An excerpt from Alisha Fernandez Miranda’s recently published book, “My What If Year,” in which she details quitting her job as PR exec at 40 to be an intern, showing readers that it’s never too late to go do what will fulfill you. Along with interviews with experts and anecdotes from real women discussing all of the ways people can be ambitious in their life and career that aren’t obvious. Visit marieclaire.com for additional information.

Future is a global multi-platform media company and leading digital publisher, with scalable brands and diversified revenue streams. Every month, it connects over 500 million people worldwide with their passions, through expert content, world-class events, and cutting-edge proprietary technology.

Every year, Future attracts millions of consumers to its brands’ websites, magazines, events, and social spaces. Its market-leading portfolio of over 250 brands spans technology, games, entertainment, women’s lifestyle, wealth, knowledge, music, photography, sports, home interest, and B2B sectors. Brands include: Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, Gamesradar+, CinemaBlend, Marie Claire, Who What Wear, Homes & Gardens, Kiplinger, The Week, Guitar World, Digital Camera World, Space.com, Smartbrief, and more. Discover more at: www.futureplc.com.

ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCH OF NIKKI GREEN BY DOMINIQUE SIDE

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -Sustainability Expert, Luxury Vegan Lifestyle Influencer and Serial Entrepreneur Dominique Side is announcing the launch of her latest venture, Nikki Green. Nikki Green is a luxury, 100% vegan ready-to-wear apparel line for individuals seeking chic yet sustainable pieces. The collection is black-owned, opulent, and aims to work towards higher levels of sustainability with each collection. Collection previews and showroom appointments can be made at shopnikkigreen.com.

Dominique developed Nikki Green after being frustrated by the lack of variety in higher-end options that are truly 100% vegan. In collaboration with her longtime stylist Christian Allen, they’ve created a line that is sustainably sourced, and expertly combines compassionate living with high fashion.

“I love luxury, I love designer, but I’m constantly searching for quality 100% vegan pieces. I know I’m not alone in this search. I reached out to my longtime stylist Christian Allen, and we created a line that is chic, vegan and luxurious and I’m excited to share it with the world,” Dominique Side, Founder.

The fully vegan line features ready-towear, gowns, tops, pants, denim, and accessories, bringing luxury earth-friendly materials, custom hardware, and figure-enhancing cuts to a new generation of chic, environmentally conscious shoppers.

Dominique is a serial entrepreneur that operates from a compassionate mindset and has developed several successful companies

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that are eco-friendly with fully sustainable practices. Dominique successfully launched Houston’s first vegan supermarket, VegSide Mkt, and is the Co-Founder of VgnBae Studios, a full-service vegan recording and production studio. Dominique is also the Founder of The Luxury Vegan, the world’s leading concierge transition service to an eco-friendlier lifestyle.

The Nikki Green collection retails between $350-$7250 and is currently showing at The Nikki Green Showroom within the Fashion District in Los Angeles, CA, located at 1250 S Los Angeles St. To schedule an appointment, please visit https://www.shopnikkigreen.com/.

Dominique is a serial entrepreneur that operates from a compassionate mindset and has developed several successful companies that are eco-friendly with fully sustainable practices. Dominique successfully launched Houston’s first vegan supermarket, VegSide Mkt, and is the Co-Founder of VgnBae Studios, a full-service vegan recording and production studio. Dominique is also the Founder of The Luxury Vegan, the world’s leading concierge transition service to an eco-friendlier lifestyle. She documents her luxury vegan lifestyle for her 80 thousand-plus followers on her VgnBae handle.

To learn more about Nikki Green and Dominique Side, visit https://www.shopnikkigreen.com/.

Ariana DeBose Cover Star of Marie Claire. PRNewsfoto/Future Publishing.

Founder Dominique Side. Nikki Green

Engaged Media Studios announces slate of new partnerships, projects and progress as the company looks ahead to a successful 2023

(HOUSTON, Texas) – As the tech industry nationwide scrambles to navigate challenges and recalibrate amid the latest headlines, one company, Engaged Media Studios, Inc. (EMS) is trending upward. EMS is on the rise and continuing to progress toward its goal of leading in its space, and making modern Black history and Women’s history an everyday occurrence.

A respected African American and female-owned enterprise, EMS has made several measured and noteworthy power moves to position itself for prominence, service and accomplishment—this year and beyond. Helmed by tech and gaming pioneer, veteran storyteller and international businesswoman Jacqueline Shorter-Beauchamp, co-founder, chairman and CEO, EMS has recently completed relocation from the city of its birth, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to expansive new headquarters offices in Houston, Texas, one of the nation’s fastest growing tech hubs.

The new home base is just steps away from the company’s largest strategic technology partner, Microsoft, a burgeoning ten-year relationship that she carefully engineered, and that both entities are proud of. EMS’ headquarters will house a sprawling studio SaaS, Web3.0,Video Games and VR/MR/AR Immersive integrated products and solutions servicing the Museum, Entertainment, Education, Industrial and Government market segments.

An inspiring feather in her cap, Ms. Shorter-Beauchamp is a valued partner of Microsoft’s Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI),an influential organization conceived to provide support and empower African American tech entrepreneurs and their businesses by leveraging the connections and resources within the Microsoft Partner Network to develop, innovate and publish software solutions. She is additionally a Microsoft One Commercial Partner (OCP), a group that assembles partner-focused teams from across the company to blend their expertise and knowledge in the technical, marketing, business development and programs arenas.

Jacqui-beauchamp

“In the unique work that we do at Engaged Media Studios, I see endless possibility and growth, and it’s exciting. There is promise in telling diverse stories that need to be told, we bring a diverse voice to the table that bridges digital media intersection of technology, storytelling and culture,” Ms. Beauchamp states. “Worlds can be imagined, created and then re-imagined without limitations and boundaries. Utilizing our platform, people are able to envision a new future—a future of open doors and endless opportunity.”

Ms. Shorter-Beauchamp and EMS just recently debuted the new Black History Utah immersive experience in partnership with the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce and Microsoft, during the 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, while also participating as a panel speaker on Women in Gaming hosted by Microsoft and HBCU | D9 Black Excellence, hosted by the University of Utah. Ms. Shorter-Beauchamp was a panel speaker at the SXSW 2023 Conference in Austin, TX on the topic of The Biz of Being Human: Volumetric Humans at Scale.

Engaged Media Studios, Inc. (EMS) is a digital media technology and entertainment production company producing SaaS, Web3.0,Video Games and VR/MR/AR Immersive integrated products and solutions servicing the Museum, Entertainment, Education, Industrial and Government market segments.

With a specialty in, and passion for reaching and respecting diverse audiences with transformational solutions, products and experiences that transcend boundaries, EMS’ leadership team is the first African American Microsoft licensed XBOX game developer to ship on the XBOX 360 console, and stands driven and prepared to be a key leader of the world’s digital future. For more information, please connect with us at www.engagedmedia.net.

Blake-Anthony Johnson, CEO & President of Chicago Sinfonietta, a recipient of the 2023 Harvard Business School Club of Chicago’s Fellowship to attend Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Non-profit Management (SPNM) course

CHICAGO, IL - The Harvard Business School Club of Chicago (HBSCC) today announced “a record eight Chicago leaders will attend Harvard Business School’s Executive Education course, Strategic Perspectives in Non-profit Management (SPNM) July 9-15, 2023.

“SPNM provides case study and team learning for 160 nonprofit leaders from around the world. With eight 2023 attendees, Chicago expects to have the highest cohort of any American city.”

Chicago Sinfonietta Lifetime Board Trustee Michelle L. Collins, Principal of Cambium LLC, who joined the CS Board in 1995 and served as chair from 2001 until 2007 is also a corporate board director, civic leader and past HBSCC President. One of Chicago Sinfonietta’s most creative thought leaders and consistent and generous supporters, she recruited Mr. Johnson. She is quoted in HBSCC’s release, saying “I am so proud of HBSCC to have selected not only the most talented non-profit leaders in Chicago, but also the most diverse, to have the opportunity to experience Harvard’s SPNM Exec Ed Program. I can’t wait to see how these leaders will impact Chicago’s non-profit community when they return!”

HGSCC announced the following nonprofit leaders attending the course this July at Harvard Business School:

Inhe Choi, Executive Director of the HANA Center, an immigrant resource center advocating for and providing aid to Korean and Latino families in Chicago;

Jason Coleman, Co-founder and Executive Director of Project SYNCERE, which provides opportunities for students who have been traditionally under-represented in STEM;

Christa Hamilton, President and CEO of UCAN, which offers programs focused on healing trauma, building strong families, educating youth and preventing violence;

Alaina Harkness, Executive Director of Current Innovation, which works to grow the blue economy, accelerate innovation and solve pressing water challenges;

Cara Hendrickson, Executive Director of Impact for Equity, formerly known as BPI, which combats systemic barriers to equity and to fight for racial, economic, and social justice;

Blake-Anthony Johnson, President and CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, which creates community through dynamic, innovative symphonic experiences, dynamic education and outreach programs, and advocates for inclusivity in all aspects of its work;

Imran Khan, CEO and Cofounder Embarc, an experiential learning program which changes how teachers teach, students learn, and schools become communities and

Carole Wood, CEO of Northwestern University Settlement Association, which disrupts generational poverty by supporting and empowering young people at distinct stages of life.

Since 2005, the HBSCC has advanced 60 Chicago area non-profit leaders to attend the SPNM Exec Ed Program. To learn about the 2024 HBSCC SPNM Scholarship, contact cbarnett@mba1990.hbs.edu To support future SPNM scholars from Chicagoland, donate at https://www.hbsclubchicago.org/

A tenured orchestra and acclaimed cultural leader that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating community through curated symphonic experiences, Chicago Sinfonietta (CS) is a source of community through music, as well as ensuring and inspiring a continued investment in diversity and inclusivity in the genre of classical music to promote fairness and equity. Celebrating its 36th season this 2023-24, the orchestra is recognized as groundbreaking, dynamic and daring, with core values built around being culturally responsive and advocates of inclusivity in all aspects of its work. Chicago Sinfonietta’s unrelenting commitment to being at the forefront of innovation drives its high standard of symphonic experiences. CS takes pride in leading by example with immersive audience engagement activities, impactful

career development, education, and extensive community outreach programs. Learn more about RESONATE, Chicago Sinfonietta’s 36th season, at www.chicagosinfonietta.org

Noted as a “business heavyweight” by Crain’s Chicago Business, arts executive Blake-Anthony Johnson has, throughout his career, extended the artistic, commercial, and technological boundaries of what an orchestra can be in the 21st century through creative leadership, commitment to innovation, and progressive vision. The first African American executive to guide a nationally renowned orchestra, he is President and Chief Executive Officer of the award-winning Chicago Sinfonietta, and has led the acclaimed cultural leader in the field and powerful champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion since May 2020. An active member of numerous organizational boards and committees, Johnson was appointed Co-Chair of the City of Chicago’s DCASE Cultural Advisory Council in January 2023 and serves on the Cultural Arts Council for the City of Chicago, The Sir Georg Solti Foundation U.S., and the League of American Orchestras’ EDI Orchestra Management Committee, amongst others. Recent honors include a 2023 Black Men in Excellence Award by the Black Professionals Network, Chicago Tribune’s 2022 Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music, being named one of 2022’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year by MusicalAmerica. com, and one of Crain’s Chicago Business magazine’s Class of 2022 40 Under 40. An accomplished musician, and a former professional cellist and protégé of Michael Tilson Thomas at New World Symphony, Johnson is the recipient of the 2022 Chicago Community Trust Daniel Burnham Fellowship. Former posts include two terms on the National Endowment for the Arts Music Panel.

38TH ANNUAL STELLAR AWARDS RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS WITH STELLAR+ FAN EXPERIENCE

LAS VEGAS -- The Stellar Gospel Music Awards, Gospel music’s biggest night, is set to return to Las Vegas for its 38th annual celebration. This year, the event is taking its renowned festivities to new heights with the introduction of the ultimate fan experience, the Stellar+ Experience (Stellar+EXP). Co-founders Rhonda Jackson-Sams and Michele Murphy have curated an unparalleled lineup of activities that will showcase the talents, vision, creativity, and innovation of the Gospel music industry.

The Stellar+EXP provides attendees and participants with a completely personalized experience, featuring concerts, discussions, master classes, and much more. As a multi-generational family weekend event, the addition of Stellar+EXP will heighten the festivities and create a unique atmosphere of faith, fellowship, music and fun. Now, fans can enjoy three full days of brand new interactive activities, offering engagement opportunities with their favorite artists, and immersion into the world of Gospel music.

The Stellar+ Experience events will take place at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, from Wednesday to Friday, July 12-14. Limited edition passes are now available for purchase, ranging from $60 to $250, at www.eventbrite.com. For the full event schedule and more information, visit stellarplusexperience.com.

“We’re ecstatic to present Stellar+ Experience week, an incredible extension of the Stellar Gospel Music Awards. Through valuable input from our viewers and industry peers, we’ve curated diverse experiences that embrace community, fashion, comedy, and societal matters,” said Stellar Awards Founder and Executive Producer Don Jackson. “This expansion, alongside our historic flagship show, amplifies gospel music’s influence, culminating in two phenomenal pre-show days. Prepare for an inspiring showcase of talent, uniting gospel music with all facets of entertainment in the vibrant city of Las Vegas.”

The new Stellar+EXP includes several exciting events designed to entertain and inspire. Stellar and the Community, an event partnership with the City of Las Vegas focused on the Arts, will promote the importance of art and

its impact on communities. The Spotify Artist Experience will bring music industry experts to share valuable information with aspiring artists. Stellar Talks will feature intimate conversations with high-profile couples, fostering discussions on love, life, and faith. Additionally, Fireside Chats with special celebrity guests, Stellar Unplugged, Who’s Got Next? Showcase, and the Celebrity Basketball Game will provide thrilling entertainment throughout the weekend. The Legendary Game Changers Lunch, hosted by celebrity fashion influencers J. Bolin and Joyce Sheffield, will recognize trail blazers in fashion and beauty. Sanctioned events that are familiar to Stellar attendees will still be offered, such as Aaron Arrington’s Midnight Gospel Bowling and various Post-Event receptions. Full schedule of sanctioned events is available at www.thestellarawards.com.

Confirmed artists for the Stellar+EXP include Mali Music, Brian Courtney Wilson, Jokia Williams, Jason Clayborn, Titus Showers, Jabari Johnson, Jermaine Dolly, and many more. Each day will bring new announcements, adding to the excitement and anticipation of the event.

Co-Founder Rhonda Jackson-Sams expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Akin to Gospel music, Stellar & Central City Production’s goal is to ensure that people feel encouraged and elevated while also educating our community. We are so excited to bring this special experience to all the loyal fans who have been coming to see their favorite artists at the Stellars for 38 years, as well as those learning about Stellars for the first time.”

Stay tuned for future announcements and follow @ thestellar+exp on Instagram and Facebook for the latest news and updates about the Stellar+EXP week.

The Stellar+EXP merges art, innovation, and music while spreading awareness about pressing issues in today’s society. With over 15,000 participants every year, the Stellar Awards continue to attract a diverse audience. The Stellar+EXP offers additional activities and experiences for guests during their time at the Stellar Awards. For the full event schedule, visit stellarplusexperience. com.

The Stellar Awards is the first and only Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in over 140 markets nationwide. For more information, please visit www.thestellarawards.com.

Central City Productions, Inc. is Chicago’s premier TV Production Company. With 46 years of successful and innovative television production and marketing experience, Central City Productions (CCP) is a leader in minority-targeted television. CCP is a full-service television production company that produces, syndicates, and manages advertising sales for all of its programs.

Jhené Aiko & Sleep Soul Return with Sleep Soul: Relaxing R&B Baby Sleep Music Vol. 3 Out Now

Los Angeles – Sleep Soul, a fresh R&B-inspired take on the traditional baby sleep music genre presented by Jhené Aiko, reveals its latest installment Sleep Soul: Relaxing R&B Baby Sleep Music (Vol. 3).

Curated by Jhené, Sleep Soul: Relaxing R&B Baby Sleep Music (Vol. 3) encompasses 20 soothing tunes crafted to inspire and maintain a good night’s sleep. Vibrant R&B melodies melt into downtempo rhythms encased in warm synths tailored to receptive young ears. “Sleepy Bear Soothing Serenade” opens the album with mesmerizing echoes and ambient rain sounds across a soft soundscape. “R&B Lullaby Dreams” and “Counting Sheep With Brown Noise” pacify and precipitate rest. Finally, “Sweet Dreams With Sleepy” provides a delicate conclusion to the evening with a gentle twinkling piano melody.

About this iteration of Sleep Soul, Jhené commented, “Partnering with Sleep Soul has been an amazing experience and I’m beyond excited to present our latest project Relaxing R&B Baby Sleep Music Vol. 3. It’s been wonderful to see the music resonating and all the positive feedback and support from parents on how much the music has helped them and their babies get much needed rest as premium sleep is essential to wellness for parents and their little ones. Sleep Soul is an

ever-evolving project where we strive to continue finding new ways to help diversify the baby sleep music genre for parents, and I look forward to continuing the journey with you all.”

Expanding the vision yet again, Sleep Soul has introduced a merchandise store with premium infant clothing. The release consists of a baby beanie, onesie, and Sleepy The Bear plushie that gently plays Sleep Soul Vol. 3 album from a hidden speaker inside.

Meanwhile, Sleep Soul recently released physical CD copies of Sleep Soul Volume 2 at Target Retailers across the nation.

Sleep Soul Volume 2 has achieved widespread success since being released in December 2022. It has amassed 30 million global streams and counting, while also inciting applause from That Grape Juice, Vibe, and ThisIsRnB, among others. The latter noted, “The melodies, beat, and instrumentation of the songs have the Jhené Aiko sound and feel from the instrumentation, rhythm, and beats. You’ll almost forget these are lullabies.”

Stay tuned for more to come from Sleep Soul.

Sleep Soul is a fresh R&B-inspired take on the traditional baby sleep music genre. Sleep Soul combines calming R&B melodies alongside white, pink, and brown noise soundscapes sonically engineered to help you and your baby fall and

stay asleep. Our goal is to create more variety and diversity in the baby sleep music space. We aim to help the next generation of parents find the best and most effective methods for putting and keeping their babies to sleep.

Jhené Aiko - Los Angeles-born, six-time Grammy-nominated author, poet, and mother of 2- has been at the forefront of a new wave of contemporary music for over a decade. She is known for experimenting with a range of styles –incorporating sound healing and the use of crystal alchemy sound bowls in her music. Jhené Aiko crowned a breakthrough year in 2020 with over three billion streams worldwide and three Grammy nominations for her album, Chilombo, including the prestigious ‘Album Of The Year.’ Chilombo, now certified platinum with seven gold and platinum singles, topped the charts twice and was nominated for four Billboard Music Awards, an American Music Award for Best Soul/R&B female, two Soul Train Awards, won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album, and was a 2021 BET Award nominee for Best Female R&B Artist. In 2022, Aiko performed “America the Beautiful” at Super Bowl LVI in February, and the City of Los Angeles, with Didi Hirsch, named her one of their mental health ambassadors in April. Currently, she is building an ARK.

Photo Courtesy of Central City Productions

African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund Announces $3.8M in 2023 Grants

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In recognition of Juneteenth, the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announced $3.8 million in grant funding to protect and preserve 40 sites representing African American history. With more than $95 million raised, the Action Fund is the largest resource dedicated to the preservation of African American historic places.

“The Action Fund’s investment in and celebration of 40 historic African American places illustrates our belief that historic preservation plays an important role in American society,” said Brent Leggs, executive director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president, National Trust for Historic Preservation. “The history embodied in these places is emblematic of generational aspirations for freedom, the pursuit of education, a need for beauty and architecture, and joys of social life and community bonds. That’s why the Action Fund believes all Americans must see themselves and our shared history in this year’s grantee list if we are to create a culturally conscious nation.”

Since 2017, the Action Fund has received an unprecedented total of 5,638 funding proposals requesting $655 million. The program has supported 242 grantee projects through its investment of $20M.

“The Action Fund and the local preservationists it supports across the nation are leading crucial work to protect and promote undervalued places and stories that are an essential part of our shared American history,” said Justin Garrett Moore, program officer for the Humanities in Place program at the Mellon Foundation. “Grants supporting projects

designed by Black architects and at HBCUs will better acknowledge the power and creativity of those who have shaped and stewarded spaces and experiences that build more just communities. By elevating these places through much-needed organizational capacity, technical assistance, capital funding, and programming, these projects will help tell a fuller American story.”

New to this year’s list is a targeted focus on conserving modernist structures designed by Black architects. In its first grant round, eight historic structures will receive $1.2M to help advance long-term preservation planning. This funding is part of the Conserving Black Modernism partnership led by the Action Fund with support from the Getty Foundation.

“Our understanding of modernism in the United States will remain incomplete until we recognize the extraordinary contributions of Black architects and designers, whose buildings speak to the experience of Black communities in this era,” said Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. “These grants will preserve important sites, deliver training to the people who care for them, and reveal new stories for all of us about the talents and resiliency of Black architects in twentieth century America.”

The preservation of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) across the country is also a focus of this year’s grant announcement. Through the Action Fund’s HBCU Cultural Heritage Stewardship Initiative , six HBCUs will receive nearly $700,000 funding to ensure the protection of their cultural assets.

The Action Fund’s 2023 list of grantees’

expand the American story by including sites like: Idlewild’s Hotel Casa Blanca (MI), Calfee Training School (VA), Watts Happening Cultural Center (CA), McAfee Swimming Pool (KS), Dew Drop Inn (LA) and more.

As our nation honors Emancipation and Juneteenth, the Action Fund asks the public to learn more about these sites, consider donating to their specific fundraising needs and make certain the full American story is told.

Together, we can honor the contributions of those who came before us while ensuring that future generations can connect with their roots, draw inspiration and lessons from the past, and appreciate the cultural, architectural, and social legacies of the world they will inhabit.

With amounts ranging from $50K to $150K, Action Fund grants support preservation efforts across four categories:

Building Capital: Supporting the restoration and rehabilitation of cultural assets important to Black history

Increasing Organizational Capacity: Providing leadership staff positions within nonprofits stewarding Black heritage sites

Project Planning and Development: Funding planning activities tied to the development of preservation plans, feasibility studies, and fundraising

Programming and Education: Advancing storytelling through public education and creative interpretation

Learn more about the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund at www.savingplaces. org/actionfund.

Jackie Jackson Kilwins Chicago

Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 on Cardiovascular Disease

MISSION, Kan., PRNewswire -- (Family Features) Now, more than three years from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impacts can be seen more clearly.

For example, the rise in the number of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, represents the largest single-year increase in CVD deaths since 2015 and topped the previous high recorded in 2003, according to the latest available data from the Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics –2023 Update from the American Heart Association.

The biggest increases in CVD-related deaths were seen among Asian, Black and Hispanic people, populations most impacted in the early days of the pandemic and brought into focus by increasing structural and societal disparities.

“We know COVID-19 took a tremendous toll and preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show there was a substantial increase in the loss of lives from all causes since the start of the pandemic,” said Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H.,

FAHA, American Heart Association volunteer president, who is also the Walter A. Haas-Lucie Stern Endowed Chair in Cardiology, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) and admissions dean for UCSF Medical School. “That this likely translated to an increase in overall cardiovascular deaths, while disheartening, is not surprising. In fact, the Association predicted this trend, which is now official.

“COVID-19 has both direct and indirect

impacts on cardiovascular health. As we learned, the virus is associated with new clotting and inflammation. We also know many people who had new or existing heart disease and stroke symptoms were reluctant to seek medical care, particularly in the early days of the pandemic. This resulted in people presenting with more advanced stages of cardiovascular conditions and needing more acute or urgent treatment for what may have been manageable chronic conditions. Sadly, this appears to have cost many their lives.”

According to Albert, who also is the director of the CeNter for the StUdy of AdveRsiTy and CardiovascUlaR DiseasE (NURTURE Center) at UCSF and a leader in health equity and adversity research, the larger increases in the number of coronary heart disease deaths among Asian, Black and Hispanic adults appear to correlate with the people most often infected with COVID-19.

“People from communities of color were among those more highly impacted, especially early on, often due to a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension and obesity,” Albert said. “Additionally, there are socioeconomic considerations, as well as the ongoing impact of structural racism on multiple factors, including limiting the ability to access quality health care.”

To learn more about the impacts of COVID-19 on CVD, visit Heart.org/statistics.

New research from the Stowers Institute reveals the start of Huntington’s disease

KANSAS CITY, Mo., PRNewswire -- Devastating neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s are all associated with protein deposits in the brain, known as amyloid. Despite extensive research investment into the cause and toxicity of amyloids, deciphering the first step in formation along with effective therapies has remained elusive.

For the first time, scientists at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research have uncovered the structure of the first step in amyloid formation, called the nucleus, for Huntington’s disease. The study published in eLife on June 13, 2023, from the lab of Associate Investigator Randal Halfmann, Ph.D., proposes a new, radical method for treating not only Huntington’s but potentially dozens of other amyloid-associated diseases—preventing the initial, rate-limiting step from occurring.

Co-first authors Tej Kandola, Ph.D., and Shriram Venkatesan, Ph.D., uniquely identified the structure of the amyloid nucleus for huntingtin, the protein responsible for Huntington’s disease, discovering that the nucleus forms within a single protein molecule.

Proteins are the cell’s factory workers constructed from unique sequences of 20 amino acids, their building blocks. Some proteins have repeats of one of these amino acids—glutamine (abbreviated as Q). Huntington’s and

eight other diseases, collectively called “PolyQ diseases,” occur when certain proteins have a repeat that is too long. Somehow, this causes the proteins to fold into a specific structure that starts a chain reaction that kills the cell.

A paradigm shift and potential therapeutic method

These new findings are potentially a paradigm shift for how we view amyloids. The results from this research suggest that it is the early committed steps of amyloid formation, right after the nucleus forms, that cause neuronal cell death.

Along with uncovering the key structure that begins polyQ amyloid formation, researchers found that it only formed in isolated molecules of the protein. Clumping the proteins together in cells stopped amyloids forming altogether. This is a novel therapeutic avenue the team plans to explore further in mice and brain organoids.

A new technique

A technique recently developed by the Halfmann Lab, Distributed Amphifluoric Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (DAmFRET), shows how a protein self-assembles in single cells. This method turned out to be crucial for observing the rate-limiting amyloid-forming nucleation event.

Designing and testing specific patterns of Qs enabled the team to deduce the minimum structure that could

form amyloid—a bundle of four strands each with three Qs in specific locations. This tiny crystal inside a single molecule of the protein is the first step in a chain reaction that results in disease.

In essence, this work provides a molecular model to investigate the structure of any amyloid nucleus. Additionally, the correlation between aging and amyloids suggests that this method may ultimately uncover molecular mechanisms that cause aging. The preemptive approach to eliminate or at the very least to delay nucleation provides hope for people with pathologic PolyQ proteins.

Additional authors include Jiahui Zhang, Ph.D., Brooklyn Lerbakken, Alex Von Schulze, Ph.D., Jillian F Blanck, Jianzheng Wu, Ph.D., Jay Unruh, Ph.D., Paula Berry, Jeffery Lange, Ph.D., Andrew Box, Malcolm Cook, and Celeste Sagui, Ph.D.

This work was funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (award: R01GM130927) and by institutional support from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

REALESTATE

AC 6-7-2023

IN THE CIRCUITCOURTOF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPARTMENT- CHANCERYDIVISION SERVIS ONE, INC. DBABSI FINANCIALSERVICES Plaintiff, -v.- RENACUNNINGHAM, KENNYATTASOUTHALL, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA- SECRETARYOF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, LAKE LYNWOOD MARINAHOMES ASSOCIATION, INC.

Defendants 2022 CH 11989 19605 LAKE PARK DRIVE LYNWOOD, IL60411

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 3, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 17, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 19605 LAKE PARK DRIVE, LYNWOOD, IL60411 Property

Index No. 33-07-206-022-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOTbe open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHTTO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRYOF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclo-

sure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff's Attorneys, 15W030

COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPARTMENT- CHANCERYDIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Plaintiff,-v.-TRINAE D. SUMMERS, DESMOND SCOTT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA- SECRETARYOF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENTDefendants 2022 CH 11658 246 GENTRYSTPARK FOREST, IL60466 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 15, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30

AM on July 10, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 246 GENTRYST, PARK FOREST, IL 60466 Property Index No. 31-24-428012-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. The property will NOTbe open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the fore-

closure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHTTO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRYOF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff's Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIALSALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-08681 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 11658 TJSC#: 431216 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff's attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 11658 I3221859

AC 6-21-2023 IN THE CIRCUITCOURTOF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPARTMENT- CHANCERYDIVISION US BANK NATIONALASSOCIATION; Plaintiff, vs. WILLIAM GETTINGS AKA WILLIAM R. GETTINGS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 4800 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause

Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, July 24, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 31-26420-006-0000. Commonly known as 337 Winnebago St., Park Forest, IL 60466. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence.

If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOTbe open for inspection. For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 6766-184463 ADC INTER-

COUNTYJUDICIALSALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

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It’s BBQ Season. Do You Know Where Your Beef Came From?

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(StatePoint) As barbecue season heats up, you may be wondering how to square your love for T-bone steaks and spareribs with your concern for the environment. The good news? Science is delivering new, game-changing solutions to tackle the environmental footprint of the beef and livestock industries.

The Problem

Approximately 9 million dairy cows, 90 million beef cattle, 60 million swine and billions of poultry in the United States produce more than 100 times more organic waste than humans; but where human waste makes its way to a septic tank or sewage treatment plant, livestock waste is usually spread untreated on the ground as fertilizer.

While this practice has short-term agricultural benefits, it’s ultimately a major contributor to a number of environmental and health issues. Phosphorous, nitrogen (mostly as ammonia), pathogens and bacteria from manure run off the soil and pollute waterways. This nutrient runoff fuels increasingly toxic algae blooms in fresh, estuary and coastal salt waters, creating areas where most aquatic species can’t survive. What’s more, the highly mobile and volatile nitrogen from ammonia in animal waste can become airborne, a difficult and expensive to control problem that poses significant health risks to humans.

Finally, the 1.5 billion tons of manure generated in the United States annually also plays a major role in climate change. Manure emits carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, all of which are potent greenhouse gases.

New Solutions

An advanced livestock waste collection, treatment and recycling system from Bion Environmental Technologies Inc. is transforming manure from a liability to an asset. It starts with an innovative barn design that houses the livestock, collects waste, and feeds the treatment system on a continual basis. This patented technology not only provides comprehensive waste treatment that neutralizes pathogens, bacteria and ammonia and minimizes greenhouse gas emissions, but also produces superior organic, and climate- and water-smart, fertilizers with a low carbon footprint, as well as generates clean water and renewable natural gas.

Typical beef production uses an extraordinary amount of water, particularly from crops for feed. With Bion, 30% of the waste stream is processed into recycled, clean water. And, thanks to precise application of organic and climate-smart fertilizers produced by the system, the resulting soil is healthier with a better balance of nutrients. In short, more abundant crops are produced, less water is used and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

Along with environmental stewardship and resource efficiency at the forefront of the technology’s design, experts have been retained to ensure that animal accommodations, hygiene, care and feeding are all optimized for animal health and welfare. To learn more, visit bionenviro.com.

“Today’s consumers want sustainable, transparent and ‘better for you’food,” says Bill O’Neill, Bion’s CEO. “Through innovation, we are bringing real beef to tables that is both sustainable and ethical.”

PHOTO SOURCE: (c) MagicBones / iStock via Getty Images Plus