Latest news with #GregHarris
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
AIDS Garden Chicago honors trailblazer and former Illinois Rep. Greg Harris
With just days left in Pride Month, AIDS Garden Chicago took the time Thursday to honor former Illinois state representative and longtime LGBTQ+ advocate Greg Harris. On Thursday afternoon, a plaque dedicated to Harris was unveiled at the entrance to the garden, located near the south end of Belmont Harbor. The space memorializes the early days of Chicago's HIV/AIDS epidemic. Harris spoke about those days, and how he and others helped those with HIV in Chicago. "[We asked], 'Where do we serve? Chicago is a huge city, should we limit this to our neighborhood?'" Harris said Thursday. "And the decision we came to then, like a lot of the other HIV-serving groups, is no — if there are people suffering in this neighborhood, that means there are people suffering all over the city of Chicago." A native of Colorado, Harris came to Chicago in 1977 for a job. Politics was not on his radar at first. "I went to work, I partied at night, and that was fine, until my friends started to get sick and die all around me," Harris told CBS News Chicago's Jim Williams in 2023. The AIDS epidemic was ravaging the gay community, and Harris wanted to serve. He and his friends founded Open Hand Chicago. They cooked and delivered meals for those with AIDS, and provided companionship for many who had been shunned. Harris himself was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, and AIDS in 1990. He thought he had been given a death sentence at the time, and he threw himself into public service. Harris served as the chief of staff to the late Ald. Mary Ann Smith in the 48th Ward in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. In 2006, he was elected to the Illinois House — becoming one of the first openly gay lawmakers in Illinois. In more than 16 years in the Illinois House, Harris served as House majority leader, and sponsored acts that legalized civil unions and later marriage equality in Illinois. When asked how he wants to be remembered for his time in state and city government, he told Williams in 2023, "as somebody who went and in tried to help some other people." contributed to this report.
Axios
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
How Trump's policies could impact Cleveland tourist attractions
Foreign anti-American sentiments fueled by President Trump's policies have caught the attention of Northeast Ohio tourist attractions. Why it matters: Cultural institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Cleveland Museum of Art pride themselves on attracting international visitors, but per recent data shows their travel to the U.S. fell off in March. That is particularly true with tourists from Canada, where Trump's threat of tariffs and insistence that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state has sparked disdain for all things American. By the numbers: Advance bookings for Canada-U.S. flights in April–September are down over 70% compared to this time last year, per aviation data firm OAG. Overall foreign arrivals into major U.S. airports tumbled in mid- to late March compared to last year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, suggesting a sudden reluctance to visit the U.S. isn't a purely Canadian phenomenon. Zoom in: The Cleveland Museum of Art doesn't have data for its recent numbers of foreign visitors, but is keeping a close eye on tourism trends, a spokesperson tells Axios. Meanwhile, the Rock Hall reports seeing a 30% drop in Canadian visitors during the first three months of 2025 compared to last year. Roughly 4% of the museum's half a million annual visitors come from the Great White North. What they're saying:"As the busy summer travel season approaches, we're more excited than ever to welcome visitors from all over the world through our doors," Rock Hall CEO Greg Harris said in a statement. "Between our new 'SNL' exhibit opening Memorial Day Weekend, and Rock Hall Live summer concert series there is no shortage of things going on here at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame." Fewer Canadian visitors could also affect Cedar Point in Sandusky, which is close enough to Canada to see it on a clear day. Cedar Point doesn't release statistics on foreign visitors. Spokesperson Tony Clark told Spectrum News 1 the amusement park is "hopeful Canadians, and roller coaster fans across the globe, will make a visit to Cedar Point this season," which starts in May. The bottom line: Trump's attempt to re-order the global economy is an ongoing saga that could affect international sentiment and travel to the U.S. long-term.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Smoke pours from structure after fire in Sidney
Smoke filled the sky after a structure fire in Sidney early Wednesday morning. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Just after 3 a.m., crews were dispatched to the 200 block of Franklin Ave in Sidney on reports of a structure fire. TRENDING STORIES: Bus pulled over on highway after reports of unsafe driving Woman dead after shooting in Bellefontaine, husband arrested 1 person hospitalized after crash in Greene County A Sidney Police Dispatcher confirmed that units responded to a structure fire. No additional details were immediately available. Video provided by iWitness7 Viewer Greg Harris showed heavy smoke filling the air and a structure engulfed in flames. News Center 7 is working to learn more and will update this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
