Belvidere native Jeanne Gang to receive Order of Lincoln award
CHICAGO (WTVO) – A Belvidere native is one of six Illinoisans who will receive the state's highest honor for professional achievement and public service this year.
Architect Jeannie Gang will receive an Order of Lincoln award on May 3, 2025, during the 61st Annual Convocation at Krannert Center for the Arts on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
A 1982 graduate of Belvidere High School, Gang is nown for a distinctive design approach that expands beyond architecture's conventional boundaries. Her diverse portfolio across the Americas and Europe includes the Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History; a new United States Embassy in Brazil; and an expansion of the Clinton Presidential Center. She also designed the Beloit College Powerhouse in Beloit.
A MacArthur Fellow and a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Gang has been named one of TIME Magazine's most influential people in the world.
'With world-renowned achievements in athletics, literature, architecture, education, journalism and history, the 2025 class of Lincoln Laureates embody the very best that Illinois has to offer,' Gov. JB Pritzker said in a news release. 'I am proud to uplift their incredible contributions and to award these talented men and women our state's highest honor.'
The other five Lincoln Laureates are Bonnie Blair, the first American woman to win five gold medals at the Olympic Winter Games; Sandra Cisneros, a poet, short story writer, novelist; Janice K. Jackson, CEO of Hope Chicago and former CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS); Carol Marin, a journalist and Emmy Award-winning reporter who's worked for CBS News' '60 Minutes,' and the 'Evening News with Dan Rather;' and Julieanna L. Richardson, founder and president of The HistoryMakers, a Chicago-based nonprofit, that features a digital archival collection of African-American oral histories.
The May 3 ceremony is free and open to the public and will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. A ticketed reception and dinner will immediately follow the ceremony, and tickets must be purchased in advance by April 1.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
DMV Scam Texts Target Multiple States. What You Must Know
A person prepares to enter a New York State DMV on April 28, 2025 in New York City. Credit - Michael M. Santiago—2025 Getty Images Authorities and Department of Motor Vehicles offices (DMVs) officials across multiple U.S. states have released advisories to their citizens to look out for scam texts that are attempting to manipulate drivers into paying a fake 'outstanding toll.' The prevalence of the text scams ramped up throughout May, leading to various states issuing warnings and advice, ultimately telling members of the public to watch out for messages claiming to be from the DMV. 'These scammers flood phones with these texts, hoping to trick unsuspecting New Yorkers into handing over their personal information,' said New York DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder in an press release. 'DMV will not send you texts asking for your personal information.' Here's what you need to know about the DMV scam texts and how you can best protect yourself: The spam texts have spanned across the United States, with Illinois, New York, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Colorado, Vermont, Texas, and California among the states that have issued alerts. Though their advisories differ, all authority boards have made clear that the DMV does not, and will not, send customers unsolicited requests for payments and personal information. In Illinois, Secretary of State Alexander Giannoulias issued a stark warning, stating that the Illinois DMV will only send out text messages for appointment reminders. 'Phishing scams are unfortunately an increasingly prevalent threat in our modern society, seeking to cheat Illinoisans out of their personal information and hard-earned money,' Giannoulias said. In Florida, the state DMV has created a webpage to alert drivers about the scam, reminding locals that the FLDMV 'will never contact you via text message demanding payment or threatening suspension or arrest.' Some local police and civic associations in states like New York and New Jersey have posted warnings across social media, too. The Warren Township Police Department in New Jersey shared a notice on Facebook on May 31, alerting locals of the 'recent increase' in the scam texts. According to screenshot examples placed on government websites, the texts vary state-by-state, but they tend to include a warning that if the recipient does not pay an outstanding traffic ticket, they will encounter a penalty. Recipients are told they could lose their vehicle registration or driving privileges, potentially see a toll booth charge increase, see their credit score impacted, or even risk prosecution. Some of the websites—the "click here" links—listed in the text messages include terms mirroring '.gov' in an effort to appear legitimate. In New Jersey, many of the scam messages have included links involving variations of "ezpassnj." 'New Jersey State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Final Notice: Enforcement Penalties Begin on May 30,' one spam text circulating New Jersey stated, according to a screenshot shared in a warning by the City of Linden. The scam message continued: 'Our records show that as of today, you still have an outstanding traffic ticket… Please pay immediately before enforcement to avoid license dispensation and further legal disputes.' The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a website with consumer advice, which suggests various steps people can take to protect themselves from text message scams. First, those who receive the text can copy the message and forward it to 7726 (SPAM), which could allow your provider to 'block similar messages in the future.' People can also report it to the FTC directly on the government website. In general, the DMVs of these multiple states advise their citizens to be cautious of all communications they receive, even if those messages come from claimed 'trusted sources,' and to never send personal and sensitive information via text or email. In its public notice, the Warren Township Police Department advised recipients of the text scam to follow four key steps: Delete the message immediately Do NOT click any links or provide any information Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at If you're unsure about your DMV status, visit the official DMV website directly or contact them by phone Generally speaking, scammers are known for creating a sense of urgency, often giving a deadline or listing serious consequences—such as the loss of driving privileges, in this case—in order to prompt a swift response from victims. David Brumley, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told TIME in 2024 that the best way to protect yourself from scams is to be alert and, if you are unsure if a text is legitimate, call the department or business directly to confirm, before taking any further action. Murat Kantarcioglu, a professor of computer science at Virginia Tech, told TIME earlier this year that people should also make sure they are informing their older relatives of any prevalent scams, as they may be less tech-savvy and more vulnerable. 'I think everyone should make it their mission to educate the older people in their family about these issues,' said Kantarcioglu, adding that it's best not to answer text messages from unverified senders or engage in phone conversations with people you don't know. Contact us at letters@
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Illinois lawmakers pass bill that would protect police K9s
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would ensure long-term veterinary care for retired K9s. Illinois State Police are expected to create the Police K9 Care Fund, which would award grants to handlers. The grants would provide up to $1,500 in veterinary care reimbursements. 'These dogs serve bravely alongside our officers and deserve dignity, respect and care after their service ends,' said State Senator Napoleon Harris III (D-Harvey). 'This legislation makes sure we honor their loyalty with the same commitment they've shown to us.' Harris acknowledged how important K9s are for law enforcement. 'We ask a lot of K9s in the line of duty, and caring for them in retirement is the least we can do,' Harris continued. The bill now heads to Governor Pritzker's desk to be signed into law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Gang members sentenced to life for murder of Gwinnett businessman at his home
The Brief A Gwinnett County judge has sentenced two men to life in prison for the murder of the owner of a local check-cashing business in 2019. Investigators say the two members of the "Goodfellas" street gang used a tracking device to follow their victim home in an attempt to rob him that went wrong. One person arrested for the crime died in custody from a drug overdose. The fourth suspect remains unidentified. GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Two men will spend the rest of their lives behind bars after they were found guilty of murder in the 2019 death of the owner of a local check-cashing business. Prosecutors say 37-year-old Daquan Rashad Clarke and 44-year-old Troy Anthony Hunt were among a group of four men who targeted the owner of the DeKalb County business in his home in Gwinnett County. What we know Officials said on Oct. 4, 2019, Clarke, Hunt, Ian Jabar Longshore, and a fourth man followed 55-year-old Sukkee Hong to his Sugar Hill home. According to investigators, the group, all members of the "Goodfellas" street gang, had identified Hong's business, TME Check Cashing, as one of several that they wanted to rob. Clarke's girlfriend, Subriccia S. Moss, bought a tracking device on the internet and distracted Hong while the men put the device on his car. On that night, prosecutors said Hunt and the unidentified man followed Hong into his garage while Clarke and Longshore waited in getaway cars. Video surveillance showed the two men racing out of the garage after firing shots. They took with them a bag from Hong's car that had documents and the victim's cell phone. Detectives say they identified three of the four men using mobile phone data and DNA evidence collected from the crime scene. What they're saying "We stand with the family and loved ones of Mr. Sukke Hong and continue to grieve his loss," District Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson said. "We thank the jury for returning a verdict which gives Mr. Hong's family justice. Violent gang activity is unacceptable in Gwinnett County, and we will always hold those who commit crimes like these accountable to the fullest extent of the law." Dig deeper Earlier this month, a Gwinnett County jury found Clarke and Hunt guilty of two counts of felony murder, aggravated assault, armed robbery, and four counts of violation of Georgia's Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Hunt was also found guilty of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Clarke was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 80 years. Hunt was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 30 years. Investigators are still working to identify the fourth man. The Source Information for this story was taken from a release by the Gwinnett County District Attorney's Office.
