Chicago Street Journal
Chicago residents can track the fight against potholes and see a week's worth of CDOT's work on the City's Pothole Tracker application, which shows not only the calls for service, but the number of potholes filled during each site visit. Residents can report potholes in a number of ways, including: Calling the Ward Service Office; Calling 311. Using the City's website at www.cityofchicago.org/311. Using ChiText by texting "Chicago" to 311311 to start the reporting process. (Continued from page 2)
Dept. of Labor grants approximately $26 mil. to improve the long-term labor market prospects of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The “Face Forward” grants are designed to give youth a chance at success by offering support services, and skills development that can help them obtain employment and overcome the stigma of a juvenile record. Approximately 26 grants of up to $1 million each will be awarded to serve juvenile offenders between the ages of 16 and 24. Eligible participants must be between ages 16 and 24, and must have been involved in or currently involved in the juvenile justice system or be candidates for state juvenile diversion programs. The solicitation for grant applications, which includes information about how to apply, is available at http:// www.grants.gov.
Northwestern University will pay the United States $2.93 million to settle claims of cancer research grant fraud by a former researcher and physician
at the university’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center for Cancer in Chicago. Northwestern agreed to the settlement in a federal False Claims Act lawsuit that was unsealed after the government investigated the claims made by a former employee and whistleblower who will receive a portion of the settlement. Northwestern allegedly allowed one of its researchers, Dr. Charles L. Bennett, to submit false claims under research grants from the National Institutes of Health. The settlement covers improper claims that Dr. Bennett submitted for reimbursement from the federal grants for professional and consulting services, subcontracts, food, hotels, travel and other expenses that benefited Dr. Bennett, his friends, and family from Jan. 1, 2003, through Aug. 31, 2010. The allegations were made in by Melissa Theis, a former employee of the Lurie Cancer Center, who will receive $498,100 in settlement proceeds. Northwestern, did not admit liability as part of the settlement. But did agreed to pay the settlement.
Secretary of State Jesse White has awarded nearly $5.5 mil. in FY14 Adult Literacy Grants to help students develop and enhance their reading, math, writing and language skills. Nearly 22,000 students are served by adult literacy programs around the state. More than 8,500 volunteer tutors provide training for students to obtain skills that put them on the path to lifelong learning. Adult Volunteer Literacy Grants provide training for volunteers who tutor adults over age 16 in basic reading, math, writing or language skills. Participating literacy providers may include libraries, volunteer tutoring organizations, community-based organizations, community colleges, regional offices of education, schools (individual and public), pre-school programs, school districts, domesticviolence shelters and correctional facilities. Persons interested in becoming volunteer tutors are encouraged to contact the Illinois Adult Learning Hotline at 1-800-321-9511.
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bad for Democrats given the blue leaning nature of the state,, but it could be a lot worse given where Quinn’s approval numbers are.” As Rauner wants to roll back the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Dillard addressed Gov. Quinn's comments on raising the minimum wage in Illinois and Rauner posit i o n . “I know families are struggling out there, and times are tough. But Governor Quinn is just trying to cover up the fact that since he’s been governor, our state’s business climate has sunk to historic lows. We need to bring good paying, real jobs back to Illinois --- jobs that have a future --- jobs that families can build a life on. Raising the minimum wage as an election-year stunt won’t do that.” For Rauner, Dillard said This is another sign of the times as it relates to some candidates being out of touch with the suffering of the working class people in Illinois. What was this guy thinking? Working class people and the unions have fought hard to bring the minimum wage up to $8.25 an hour and I support increasing the minimum wage. This guy is a billionaire and the only thing he can think about is stepping on the working class people. Everybody earning a minimum wage should boycott this clown.”
March 13-25—19, 2014
laws, but they could not prevent a offer the sell signed a bill for grower or dispensary from setting growing it in Illinois of mari- up shop in town. Marijuana use would be juana for social use; as the City of Chicago decriminalized mari- banned in public, in vehicles, juana use, and Governor Pat around minors and near school Quinn, joining 19 other states grounds. Employers would mainaround the country. The pot would tain their rights to a drug-free work be provided locally by licensed place, meaning someone with a growers and dispensed under strict valid medical marijuana card could state regulations. be fired for using the drug if their The Rule making the way for employer prohibits it. the medical Some in the marijuana bill in medical comApril this year munity think allowing doctors medical marito prescribe as juana's risks much as two-and may out-a-half ounces of weigh its marijuana every benefits, and 14 days to. A some in law patient must be enforcement at least 18 and worry about suffering from potential one of 40 debiliabuse. tating medical However, conditions - like House coMS, cancer, HIV sponsor Chris ...each year, the city of -AIDs. Welch of Chicago stands to gain The patient Maywood undergo es a from $4.5 to $9 million,... p r e d i c t e d criminal backfuture general ground check. There will be 60 assemblies will consider legalizing dispensaries located around Illi- pot for general use. nois. The marijuana will come The Chicago City Council from 22 cultivating centers - pot moving closer to legalizing pot growing warehouses overseen and voted overwhelmingly last year taxed by the state, one for each decriminalize possession, joining a State Police district. wave of states and big cities that Growers and dispensaries will have opted for fines instead of be charged a 7 percent "privilege arrests for small amounts of the tax," which will be used to enforce drug. the medical marijuana law. PaChicago police can issue ticktients will be charged a 1 percent ets of $250 to $500 (Californians tax for purchasing pot, the same tickets are $25) for someone rate that applies to pharmaceuti- caught with 15 grams or less of pot cals. — the equivalent of about 25 cigaPatients and caregivers would r e t t e - s i z e d . M a y o r R a h m be fingerprinted, undergo back- Emanuel's administration did not ground checks and must promise say how much it anticipates raisnot to sell or give away marijuana. ing. But given that more than Workers at grow centers and dis- 18,000 people are arrested for pot pensaries will undergo the same possession in Chicago each year, vetting. the city stands to gain from $4.5 to Exactly where those growers $9 million, depending on the and sellers could locate will be up amount of the ticket officers decide to state regulators. Local commu- to write and how many people nities could enforce strict zoning actually pay what they owe. (Continued from page 1)
Former Cook County Commissioner Joseph Moreno was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for engaging in a series of corruption schemes over a span of three years. Moreno pleaded guilty on July 1, 2013, to conspiracy to commit extortion after he was initially charged in late June 2012, about 18 months after he left public office. Moreno, 61, a lawyer served more than 16 years as a county commissioner until December 2010, was ordered to forfeit $100,000 and pay a total of more than $138,000 in restitution He was ordered to begin serving his sentence on April 21. Judge Feinerman said, Moreno obstructed justice by providing the government with false invoices in an effort to conceal his criminal conduct,” Moreno extort an un-named company that was awarded a contract to improve Cook County Hospital’s revenue cycle into using his friend and co-defendant, Ron Garcia, and his business, Chicago Medical Equipment & Supply, Inc., as a minority subcontractor in return for a $100,000 bribe. Garcia forgave a $100,000 mortgage loan to Moreno in exchange for Moreno’s efforts to steer the sub-contract to Garcia, and Moreno tried to disguise the bribe by claiming that he had repaid the purported loan. Moreno also agreed that he sought to obtain orders of Dermafill bandages from Cook County in return for kickbacks while he and his staffer, codefendant and former Chicago Ald. Ambrosio Medrano, were Cook County officials. He avoided taxes between 2007 and 2010 by misreporting the income from his law office.
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