Latest news with #MountProspect
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Police accused of misusing license plate data in hunt for woman who had abortion
A suburban Chicago police department reportedly shared data from automatic license-plate readers with a Texas sheriff who was looking for a woman who had an abortion. Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has asked the attorney general to investigate the matter. He is also creating an audit system to ensure police departments do not violate a 2023 law that bans the distribution of license-plate data to track women seeking abortions or to find undocumented immigrants. The incident highlights the fears that led to the law. There were concerns that states that restricted abortion access after Roe v Wade was overturned would use the technology to follow and possibly prosecute women seeking the procedure by crossing into Illinois, where it is readily available. "License plate readers can serve as an important tool for law enforcement, but these cameras must be regulated so they aren't abused for surveillance, tracking the data of innocent people or criminalizing lawful behavior," the Democrat said in a statement. According to Giannoulias, police in Mount Prospect, 24 miles (39 kilometers) northwest of Chicago, shared license-plate data with the sheriff in Johnson County, Texas, who was looking for a woman whose family was worried because she had undergone a self-administered abortion. Giannoulias says Mount Prospect also shared data outside of Illinois on undocumented immigrants, in violation of the law. Between mid-January and April, there were 262 searches on immigration-related matters in Mount Prospect alone, he said. Telephone and email messages were left for Mount Prospect Police Chief Michael Eterno. Violations by Mount Prospect could result in loss of state funding, deputy Secretary of State Scott Burnham said. The incident was revealed by a website called 404 Media, which reported that the Texas sheriff sent a nationwide request for data from 83,000 cameras operated by the private company Flock Safety, including those in Mount Prospect. At Giannoulias' request, Flock Safety blocked access to 62 out-of-state agencies that have sought data related to abortion or immigration, Burnham said. The company also set up a program to flag the terms 'abortion' and 'immigration' in requests for access and deny those requests. Police agencies will also be required to comply with audits by the secretary of state to mark trends or upticks in certain requests, Burnham said. The Flock Safety cameras take photos of passing license plates thousands of times a day. The technology, called Automatic License Plate Recognition, is helpful in tracking stolen vehicles or carjackings, missing persons and in other authorized cases. The technology allows police agencies to read thousands of license plates per minute from images captured by cameras along roadways.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Texas sheriff's office accessed Mount Prospect license plate data in immigration searches, police say
The Brief The Illinois Secretary of State's Office informed Mount Prospect of their data, as well as other Illinois law enforcement agencies,' was accessed through the National Lookup feature via Flock Safety by other law enforcement agencies for immigration enforcement purposes. The Johnson County Sheriff's Department in Texas utilized the feature, accessing the data from over 83,000 cameras around the country, including Mount Prospect's. Mount Prospect has since opted out of the program. MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. - A Texas sheriff's department accessed license plate reader data from Mount Prospect police as part of immigration enforcement efforts, in violation of Illinois law, authorities said. What we know The Illinois Secretary of State's Office informed Mount Prospect that its data—and that of other Illinois law enforcement agencies—was accessed through the National Lookup feature via Flock Safety by other law enforcement agencies for immigration enforcement purposes. This is a violation of Illinois law, according to authorities. Police said the investigation also revealed that other law enforcement agencies conducted 262 immigration-related searches on Mount Prospect's data. The Johnson County Sheriff's Department in Texas utilized the feature, accessing the data from over 83,000 cameras around the country, including Mount Prospect's. Mount Prospect has since opted out of the program. What they're saying "I am tremendously upset that some law enforcement agencies who agreed to follow Illinois law, in order to gain access to our ALPR data, conducted illegal searches violating the trust of our community", said Chief of Police Michael Eterno "As disappointed as I am with these other agencies, I want to emphasize that no member of the Mount Prospect Police Department shared ALPR data in violation of the law. I realize that this misuse of Mount Prospect's ALPR data violates the trust of our community, and we as a department will continue to work to enhance the Flock ALPR software and ensure this abuse does not occur in the future," said Chief Eterno. Flock Safety said it is tightening access to the Illinois data. The Source Details for this story were provided by the Mount Prospect Police Department.
Forbes
21-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Social Security And Retirement: What You Should Know In 2025
FILE - The U.S. Social Security Administration office is seen in Mount Prospect, Ill., Oct. 12, ... More 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File) Social Security is a cornerstone of the United States' social safety net. Many Americans depend on this program to fund their retirement. The most recent data available from the Social Security Administration highlights the program's critical role in retirement planning. Social Security benefits account for approximately 30% of the income for individuals ages 65 and older. Retirement income was envisioned as a three-legged stool consisting of pensions, personal savings, and Social Security, each contributing one-third. The program was never intended to serve as the primary source of retirement income. The extent of reliance varies significantly by income quintile; note the 1st quintile is the lowest 20% of taxable income and the 5th is the highest 20%: 1st quintile, 64.1% rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income in retirement. 2nd quintile, 47.8% rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income in retirement. All the way up to the 5th quintile, none of whom rely on Social Security for 90% or more of their income in retirement. RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 5: People join in a "Hands Off!" protest against the Trump ... More administration on April 5, 2025 in Riverside, California. Protests against Trump administration policies and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are being held nationwide in what organizers are calling a National Day of Action. (Photo by) The program faces significant challenges. Without reform, Social Security will not be able to pay full benefits by 2033. This presents a critical issue for Congress, as reductions in benefits are politically and socially untenable. Many changes are being made to the program via the Department of Government Efficiency. Further The Social Security Fairness Act was passed into law on January 5th, 2025 and this brought more changes to the program. Despite its importance, many people are unaware of how their Social Security benefits are calculated. Since the Social Security Administration ceased mailing statements in 2011, individuals must proactively set up an online account to access this information. The benefit formula is intentionally progressive, favoring lower-income earners by replacing a higher percentage of their income. For higher-income earners, Social Security becomes less significant as a percentage of their total retirement income. 1. Credits: To qualify, individuals must earn 40 credits. In 2025, one credit is earned for every $1,810 in covered earnings (most often wages), with up to four credits given annually. 2. Average Indexed Monthly Earnings: The AIME figure is based on a worker's 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation. If fewer than 35 years of earnings exist, zeros are averaged in. 3. Primary Insurance Amount: This is the monthly benefit a person receives at full retirement age. PIA is calculated using a formula adjusted annually for inflation. Bend points are critical to the calculation and can be used to ensure you draw as much as possible in retirement. For a retiree with an AIME of $7,391 (This is annual wages of $88,692 in 2025 dollars): • 90% of the first $1,226 = $1,103.40 • 32% of the amount between $1,226 and $7,391 = $1,972.80. • Total PIA = $3,076.20 (before Medicare premiums). To optimize benefits: • Aim for an AIME of at least $1,226, as the first tier yields a 90% replacement rate. • Understand that amounts above $7,391 are replaced at only 15%. Reviewing your lifetime earnings is crucial to ensure accuracy. Errors are far easier to correct early on than later on, when reconstructing decades-old income records may be challenging. Since 1983, up to 85% of Social Security income has been subject to federal taxes, depending on other income sources. This makes the program more progressive but also adds complexity to retirement planning. Consider discussing this with your tax professional and financial planner. When to begin drawing Social Security benefits is a critical decision, particularly for married couples. Meeting with a qualified financial planner may be appropriate. Starting benefits early results in reduced monthly payments, while delaying up to age 70 increases them. Careful analysis and planning are essential to maximize lifelong benefits. Social Security is a vital program for most Americans. Understanding its mechanics and planning effectively can significantly impact your retirement security and should be carefully considered before retirement.
