With all the violence going on in Chicago, it’s nice to hear some good news. Urban Prep School Sends All Graduates To College If only more schools could follow in their footsteps. According to The Huffington Post: All 167 graduating seniors of Chicago’s Urban Prep Academies are college-bound for the fourth consecutive year. Students of the two Chicago public charter high schools — located in the city’s Englewood and University Village neighborhoods — gathered Thursday morning to celebrate the achievement of their schools, which some have dubbed “Hogwarts in the Hood” for their impressive, seemingly magical rates of success, CBS Chicago reports. Still, Urban Prep’s founder and CEO Tim King says, “the only magic going on at Urban Prep is the magic that these guys put in with their hard work and dedication.” Mayor Rahm Emanuel was on hand at the Thursday celebration and said the network’s students were setting a fine example others should follow, the Chicago Defender reports. “I want everyone in this city, I want everyone in this country to look up here,” Emanuel said. According to Fox Chicago, 85 percent of the students at Urban Prep’s campuses come from low-income families and many of the students start at least two grade levels behind where they should be. All of this year’s graduates are African-American males, as are the majority of the network’s students. We wish the young men well as they pursue higher education. Shutterstock
Over 30 People Injured After Chicago Subway Train Derails A Chicago subway car reportedly jumped the track this morning, leaving over 30 passengers injured and several others emotionally distressed. via Chicago Tribune More than 30 people were injured this morning when a CTA train jumped the platform and climbed up an escalator at the end of the Blue Line at O’Hare International Airport, officials said. “I heard a boom and when I got off the train, the train was all the way up the escalator. It’s a wreck,” Denise Adams, who was riding toward the back of the train, told reporters. “It was a lot of panic because it was hard to get people off the train.” Fire crews scrambled to determine if anyone was underneath the train but no one was found, according to Chicago Fire Commissioner Joe Santiago. All of the injured were aboard the train and were taken in fair or good condition to four hospitals, he said. The operator of the train “was walking and talking as we were investigating,” Santiago said. The eight-car train was wedged near the top of an escalator used by commuters at the Blue Line terminal. CTA spokesman Brian Steele said workers may have to cut up the car and remove it piece by piece, which could take 12 to 24 hours. Six people were listed in fair-to-serious condition and 26 in good-to-fair condition, fire officials on the scene said. All of the injured were passengers on the train, officials said. These people must have been terrified! Thankfully, no deaths have been reported at this time. Continue reading →
These parents say young men should be taught to respect women regardless of how they are dressed and feel that banning leggings teaches them otherwise. Do you agree? Parents Of Girls Dispute “Yoga And Leggings” Ban At Middle School An Illinois middle school is catching some major backlash from parents of female students who are outraged at the school’s dress code policy which forbids girls to wear leggings or yoga pants while on school grounds. School administrators implemented the policy on the basis that leggings and yoga pants are ‘a distraction,’ but many parents feel the dress code is encouraging rape culture among the student body. via Huffington Post Parents at a Chicago-area middle school are speaking out against a purported ban on leggings and tight yoga pants arguing the dress code policy unfairly punishes girls. The Evanston, Ill. school’s dress code, which is posted online, states that shorts, dresses and skirts “must extend closer to the knee than the hip, short shorts or skirts and leggings are unacceptable attire. Pants and shorts must be worn at the waist.” After several female students complained they were told they weren’t allowed to wear leggings and tight yoga pants to school, Haven Middle School parents Juliet and Kevin Bond sent a letter on March 11 to the school’s principal, Kathy Roberson, arguing the policy is inconsistently enforced and “contribute[s] to rape culture.” “We are frankly shocked at this antiquated and warped message that is being sent to the kids,” the Bonds, both educators themselves wrote in the letter which was also posted to social media. “This policy clearly shifts the blame for boy’s behavior or lack of academic concentration, directly onto the girls,” the letter read. Roberson responded to the controversy in a letter sent to parents Tuesday. Roberson claims that leggings have not been banned at the school, even as some parents said their girls were told they couldn’t wear either leggings or tight yoga pants, the Chicago Tribune reports. A Haven Middle School advisory team will meet next Tuesday to review the dress code, according to Roberson’s letter. As leggings continue to dominate casual fashion trends for both women and even some men, schools around the country are determining if the look is “in” or “out” when it comes to dress codes. Kenilworth Junior High in Petaluma, Calif., attracted headlines last year when it banned female students from wearing leggings, tight yoga pants and tight jeans saying they were distracting to boys. A Boston-area high school recently enacted a similar policy — for similar reasons. Parents like the Bonds and others have blasted the argument, with Kenilworth parent Lisa Simond telling local news station KTVU, “It is not our girls’ fault that these boys have quote ‘raging hormones’ they can’t control.” ”Boys need to be taught to respect women no matter what they’re wearing, and that’s a big deal,” Jerelyn Kruljac, another Kenilworth parent, told the station.
Kylie Jenner and Jaden were booed up while leaving Sugarfish Sushi in Calabasas. We guess Jaden isn’t holding her swirly date with a “young mystery fellow” against her. Hit the flip for more pics.
Chief Keef recently complete a rehab program in California for his dope habit. Obviously, the Chicago rapper is back on Instagram showing off pics of him smoking…what probably is weed…. Continue
Siblings Awarded $37 Million In Brutality Lawsuit Against Chicago Police Officers A brother and sister from Chicago are finally getting some well-deserved justice to the tune of $37 million after enduring a wrongful arrest and brutal beating at the hands of Chicago police officers when they were teenagers nearly a decade ago. via Chicago Tribune A federal jury has awarded $3.7 million to two brothers and a sister who said they were beaten and falsely charged by rogue Chicago police officers who were assigned to a corrupt Special Operations Section kin 2004. The case stemmed from the arrest of Seneca Adams, 20, in front of his home on Sept. 14, 2004. His brother, Tari Adams, 18, and his twin sister, Sicara Adams, went to check on him and found that he was being held by members of the department’s Special Operations Section in a secluded area behind the Cook County Jail, according to their lawsuit. When the brother and sister attempted to ask the officers about their brother, Tari Adams was punched by an officer and she and her younger brother left the jail, the lawsuit stated. As they sat at a stop light blocks from their home, a squad car rammed into their car, they contended. They were able to make it home, but officers quickly arrested both of them, according to the lawsuit. Both Seneca Adams and Tari Adams said they were beaten in the officers and produced photographs taken later that night and the next day showing bruises and cuts on their faces. While beating Seneca Adams, officers repeatedly called him a “monkey” and a “n—–.” Senaca and Tari Adams accused the officers of filing false charges against them. Seneca Adams spent 204 days in Cook County Jail before raising enough money to be bonded out. Tari Adams was jailed for 46 days. “They are happy, relieved,’’ lead attorney Christopher R. Smith said of the brothers and sister. “This is a great moment for them but it’s not over by any stretch. Their lives were flipped on end.’’ Seneca and Tari now reside in Arizona. Their sister Sicara still lives in Chicago with her two children. She was four months pregnant with one of them when the officer hit her car, he said. She and the child did not suffer any physical injuries, Smith added. “These young people were amazing in how they dealt with this situation and how they were victorious. This is a mountain to climb,’’ Smith said. “They felt so dehumanized by the whole process.” Nice to know justice is served in SOME part of the country.
My name is Rebecca. I am fifteen years old and I live in Chicago, Illinois. My life changed forever on July 8, 2013 when I got the email that I have been praying for. I was notified that I have been picked as a winner for the BieberFever contest at 7:59 PM the night before my concert. I was literally crying and shaking as I read that I was going to meet Justin the very next day. I have been supporting him since early 2010, and this would be my first time meeting him. The next morning my younger sister, my mom, and I took the train downtown and rode a taxi to the United Center. We quickly made some friends who were other winners, and waited around in line after line. Finally, we were taken to the very last line. There we saw many familiar faces such as Kenny, Scooter, Alfredo, Dan, Jen Laski, Hot Chelle Rae, Carlena Britch, Elysandra Quinones, Johnny Erasme, and Luke Broadlick. Before I knew it, we were next in line to meet Justin. I was shaking at this point. Just before going in security told us, “No hugs. No kisses. You are in, then you’re out.” When I got my first glimpse of Justin, I said (louder then I should have), “Oh my gosh! He doesn’t even look real!” Justin smirked at me and giggled a little. I went in and claimed my spot in the picture right next to Justin, and my sister stood next to me. My sister lost it and started to cry, so Justin leaned over towards my sister and said, “Don’t cry honey. This is a happy moment,” with a big smile on his face. When he comforted my sister, he was literally INCHES from my face. Then Mike the photographer said, “Ok stop crying. We need to take the picture.” Everyone was in place for the photo and my hand was on Justin’s waist, and he was rubbing my back. I had always imagined what I would say at my M&G, but how could you think straight when Justin Bieber is rubbing your back? After the picture, I asked Justin if I could please have a hug and he replied, “Of course sweetheart,” and he pulled me in really close and squeezed me tightly in his muscular arms. I held on to him until security tapped my arm, and hinted it was time to go. When he let go, Justin looked into my eyes and said, “Enjoy the show.” As I walked out I said, “I love you!” and he smiled really big at me again. As soon as I walked out, I completely lost it and balled my eyes out. We found our seats in section 315, and had a blast. Justin performed an amazing show, of course. His vocals were spot on, and all the creativity that goes into Believe Tour was nothing short of incredible. I met the boy on the posters in my room, and nobody can take that away from me. No amount of teasing can take away the fact that he held me in his arms and pulled me in close. I am eternally grateful that I have had this opportunity. If you’re reading this and thinking you don’t have a chance to meet Justin, I know it sounds cheesy, but never say never. I didn’t think I would ever get my chance to write a My Bieber Experience, but I promise if you keep working hard at it, you will get your chance as well. -Rebecca See the article here: My name is Rebecca. I am fifteen years old and I live in…
How the hell did no one know this kid was day for almost a week?! University Of Chicago Student Found Dead In Dorm Via USAToday Staff and students at the University of Chicago have been horrified to learn that a student lay dead in his dorm room for an unknown amount of time until the smell of decomposition was noticed. It’s not clear when 20-year-old Nicholas Barnes died, but before his body was found, face-down on the floor on Saturday afternoon, it had been eight days since he used his key card to enter the university residence, reports the Chicago Tribune. But school officials note a key card isn’t required to gain access at all hours of the day, so the time span could have been shorter than that. An autopsy failed to reveal the cause of death but police say foul play is not suspected. Toxicology testing still needs to be carried out. Barnes, a Pittsburgh native, was a third-year student specializing in Germanic studies, and the school says it is “making every effort to understand the circumstances surrounding” his death, NBC Chicago reports. Students say they are disturbed that Barnes’ death could have gone unnoticed for so long. “It’s just strange,” says a freshman from Tennessee. “How the hell was he there that long? That’s frightening.” Not exactly an environment conducive to learning… Image via Shutterstock
