Illinois Representative to discuss changes to ‘harmful' school mascots
Indiana tourism project to add over 1,800 new jobs to Tri-State
West introduced House Bill 3527, which creates the Prohibition of Discriminatory Disability Mascots Act and would require public schools to phase out any problematic name, logo, mascots or other relevant material. In the bill, 'discriminatory disability mascot' is defined as any name, logo or mascot which is derogatory or representative of an individual or group based on disability, as defined by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
Representative West says the bill 'is a critical step toward ensuring all individuals are empowered to embrace diversity, respect, and cultural understanding. We believe that this important measure will help foster a more inclusive future for Illinois, one that honors the dignity of every community.' If passed and implemented impacted schools would need to have adopted a new mascot identity by September 1 of 2028.
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Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
The US-Russia summit marks Putin's first trip to the West since the war in Ukraine began
For most of his quarter-century rule, President Vladimir Putin visited Paris, London, Vienna and New York. Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, however, his destinations have been places like Minsk, Pyongyang, Hanoi and Beijing, as the West sought to turn Russia into a pariah. Russia has countered Western attempts to isolate it by bolstering its ties with ex-Soviet allies and other developing countries. Putin's travel also has been limited by an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in 2023 that has prompted him to avoid visits to places that recognize the court's authority. The U.S. isn't a member of the court and thus doesn't have an obligation to arrest him. The trip to Alaska will be Putin's first to the United States since 2015, when he attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York. It's also his first visit to a Western country since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Here's a look at some foreign trips Putin has made since the start of the war in February 2022: 2022 June 28-29, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan — Putin's visit to the two ex-Soviet nations was his first after launching the Ukraine war. In Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Putin attended a summit of the Caspian Sea nations to discuss regional cooperation. July 19, Iran — Putin met with leaders of Iran and Turkey, focusing on the situation in Syria. Sept. 15-16, Uzbekistan — In Tashkent, he held a summit of the eight-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group dominated by China and Russia. Putin met on the sidelines of the summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, their first encounter since the war began. Oct. 13-14, Kazakhstan — Putin attended a conference aimed at promoting peace and security in Asia. Nov. 23, Armenia — Visiting Yerevan, Putin attended a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated group of nations that once were part of the former Soviet Union. Dec. 9, Kyrgyzstan — Putin attended a Bishkek meeting of the Eurasian Economic Council, an economic alliance of several ex-Soviet nations. Dec. 19, Belarus — Putin met in Minsk with President Alexander Lukashenko, Russia's neighbor and staunch ally that was a staging area for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 2023 Oct. 12-13, Kyrgyzstan – Putin returned to Bishkek for a summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States, a grouping of ex-Soviet nations. Oct. 17-18, China — Putin attended a forum of China's Belt and Road Initiative in a trip that underscored Beijing's support for Moscow. Nov. 9, Kazakhstan -- A visit by Putin to Astana, Kazakhstan, was part of his efforts to cement ties with the ex-Soviet neighbor and major economic partner. Nov. 23, Belarus — Putin attended a summit in Minsk of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated security grouping of several ex-Soviet nations. Dec. 6, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — The Kremlin leader made a working visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in a lightning tour intended to raise Moscow's profile as a Middle East power broker. 2024 May 16-17, China — Putin visited Beijing to emphasize Russia and China's burgeoning strategic ties and his own personal relationship with Xi as they sought to present an alternative to U.S. global influence. May 23-24, Belarus -- Putin visited Belarus in another of several foreign tours to kick off his fifth term in office. May 26-28, Uzbekistan -– On a visit to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Putin signed an accord for Moscow to build the Central Asian country's first nuclear power plant. June 18-19, North Korea -– Putin made his first visit in 24 years to Pyongyang, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked. North Korea later sent its troops to Russia to help fight an incursion by Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region. June 19-20, Vietnam — After North Korea, Putin visited Vietnam and signed a dozen deals with President To Lam, seeking to bolster ties with a Soviet-era ally. July 3-4, Kazakhstan – Putin and Xi joined the leaders of other countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, for an annual meeting of the security group created by Moscow and Beijing to counter Western alliances. Aug. 18-19, Azerbaijan – Putin made a state visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, where he met President Ilham Aliyev to secure trade routes and retain Moscow's clout in the South Caucasus. Sept. 2-3, Mongolia — Putin made an official visit to Mongolia, where he got a red-carpet welcome as the country — a member of the International Criminal Court — ignored calls to arrest him on a warrant for alleged war crimes stemming from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Oct. 11, Turkmenistan – Putin visited Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of an international forum and discussed the situation in the Middle East. Nov. 28, Kazakhstan — Putin traveled to Astana for a summit of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated security grouping of several ex-Soviet nations. Dec. 6, Belarus — In Minsk, Putin and Lukashenko signed a security pact that for the first time put Belarus under Russia's nuclear umbrella, including the potential use of Russian tactical nuclear weapons to respond to an aggression. 2025 June 27, Belarus -– Putin traveled to Minsk for a summit of the Eurasian Economic Council, an economic alliance of several ex-Soviet nations.
Chicago Tribune
5 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
Karen Tamley: Don't let Chicago's transit crisis erase decades of progress for people with disabilities
Public transportation for people with disabilities is the difference between a life of isolation and full independence. Right now, for those who live in the Chicago region, independence is on the line. Our region faces a looming transit funding 'fiscal cliff,' staring down a projected $771 million shortfall that would start in early 2026. The CTA, Metra and Pace are preparing for service cuts of up to 40%, mass layoffs and fare increases that would have a devastating impact on our communities, including people with disabilities who live here. For disabled residents, especially those who can't drive or afford their own wheelchair-accessible vehicle, public transit is the foundation of daily life — a way to get to work, attend school, access medical care, visit family and be part of the community. The 60,000 eligible paratransit riders with disabilities across our region will face higher fares, longer wait times and inconsistent service. If PACE cuts bus routes in the suburbs, the corresponding door-to-door paratransit services will also be cut for those unable to ride the fixed route buses. Across Pace, Metra and CTA, disabled people and seniors took more than 1.5 million rides in May alone. Service cuts will result in people with disabilities being isolated in their homes, potentially losing jobs, missing medical appointments, and being unable to shop and participate — with independence — in their communities. I have used a wheelchair all of my life and moved to Chicago to build my life, my family and career. It was an intentional choice, driven in part by Chicago's robust public transit system. I know numerous other disabled people who have made similar life decisions due to the availability of transit accessibility in our city and our region. I am now raising a disabled teenager, who does not drive, but proudly and frequently rides the CTA, Metra trains and PACE buses to navigate — getting to college and work, meeting up with friends, and maintaining the independence all teenagers seek. The disability community has fought for decades to access public transportation across our nation. As a teenager, I was unable to ride the public bus in my hometown with my friends because every bus had stairs and lacked ramps. Accessing most rail systems anywhere in the country was virtually impossible due to a consistent lack of elevators to platforms. Everything began to change in 1990 with the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, whose 35th anniversary we celebrated on July 26th. This milestone anniversary also coincided with the opening of four newly renovated CTA stations along the Red Line that are now accessible with elevators, making them available to people with mobility disabilities for the first time since the stations were constructed more than 100 years ago. This is such an important milestone, yet we still have more than 80 stations between Metra and CTA needing elevator access and even more stations needing other accessibility improvements. Unless our state leaders act, the progress we've achieved and the work to be done toward greater transit accessibility and better service on the CTA, Metra and PACE will stall. The transit systems that give independence to hundreds of thousands of people living with disabilities will be severely diminished. Some may be cut off from the system entirely. My organization, Access Living, in coalition with other transportation advocates, has been bringing attention to this looming crisis through the media, educational town halls, speaking at transit funding rallies and by directly engaging our lawmakers in Springfield. A world-class city is an accessible city that is usable for everyone — now and in the future. We need everyone's help to call on their state elected representatives to act now to fully fund our transit systems, our future, and the dignity and independence of the people who depend on public transit across our region. We must not let decades of hard-won progress get left at the station. Karen Tamley is president and CEO of Access Living, a Chicago-based disability rights and service organization. She previously served as commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities under three administrations.
NBC News
18 hours ago
- NBC News
Trump administration live updates: National Guard deployed to Washington, D.C., in federal anti-crime push
State Rep. Josh Turek, a former Paralympian with two gold medals, announced he is running for Senate in Iowa, joining a crowded Democratic primary for the seat held by GOP Sen. Joni Ernst. 'When I was a kid, there was a senator from Iowa that made sure that the doors were open for kids like me,' Turek, who uses a wheelchair, says in his launch video, referencing former Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin, who authored the Americans with Disabilities Act. 'Now, the senator from Iowa is just closing doors, taking away health care, making it harder for parents to feed their kids. All just to give tax breaks to billionaires. And her explanation? 'Well, we all are going to die,'' Turek adds, referencing a viral moment from an Ernst town hall earlier this year when she defended cuts to Medicaid in Trump's sweeping tax cut and spending bill.
