Latest news with #tradeSchool


CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Chicago trade school students blindsided as federal Job Corps cuts shut school down
Hundreds of students in the Chicago area are not sure where to turn after the federal government pulled funding for their trade school, which is now closing at the end of the month. Students at the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center, 3348 S. Kedzie Ave., said they were blindsided by the decision. Job Corps is a free program for thousands of low-income students across the country who will be affected. Last Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced it would suspend operations at its 99 Job Corps centers due to budget constraints. Thus, students at the Paul Simon Chicago Job Corps Center were seen packing their bags and moving out of their student housing Wednesday afternoon. But it was not because of summer vacation. "It's hard to get opportunities like this," said Charles Wright. Wright and Areeya McNeil are on the school's student government association. They said they came to the Job Corps trade school to get a job with a free education. "I was looking for a change in my life. I wanted to become something better," said McNeil. "I heard about Job Corps, and I signed up." Now they, along with 25,000 students across the country, are losing their housing, education, and career training due to what the federal government calls a "phased pause" in the Job Corps program. "This came out of the blue. We were actually on our first SGA field trip, and we got the news," said McNeil, "and it just hit us — like, we're closing? We're not even done yet." It was last week when the U.S. Department of Labor announced the shutdown of the 99 Job Corps centers across the country — which includes locations in Chicago and Joliet. The department said the decision aligns with President Trump's 2026 budget. The department added that in 2024, the program was in a $140 million deficit, and is expected to cost another $213 million this year. The federal government added that the program has had thousands of serious incident reports — including sexual assaults, drug use, and violence. The Department of Labor said while the pause goes into effect on June 30, there is no hard deadline for students to move out. They say each center to should support the students with that process. "Since we're closing down, I might like go to a shelter and finish college there," said McNeil. "We'll see." McNeil and Wright are two of the 2.2 million people whom Job Corps said it has helped since the program started. They do not want to leave the 33-acre Paul Simon Chicago campus off the Stevenson Expressway. "We have no control over the situation and things like that, and it's really unfair," said Wright. McNeil and Wright said they are using what they have learned so far to try to land a job. Meanwhile, Job Corps said it is suing the Department of Labor.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Diesel Jam 2025 takes over Lackawanna County drive-in
DICKSON CITY, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local community event brought out truck owners and truck lovers in droves Saturday afternoon. Diesel Jam 2025 took over the Circle Drive-In on Saturday. It featured trucks, tractors, and big rigs of all shapes and sizes. The Andrew Mazza Foundation organized the event. Mazza was killed in a DUI crash in Susquehanna County in 2016. The event has been held since 2018 as a way to carry on Mazza's passion for diesel trucks and the trades. New law could legalize fortune telling in PA. Each year, the event raises thousands to give scholarships to local students planning to attend trade school. 'It just meant a lot to actually be able to get the scholarship for two years back to back and help me in my college,' Two Time Scholarship Recipient Chad Honeywell said. 'I think he would be very, very proud to see what this show has become and grown into,' Phillip Mazza, Father of Andrew Mazza, told 28/22 News. The foundation gives out roughly 30 $500 scholarships each year to help support the trades and trade students in NEPA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Fox News
09-05-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Happy Hour: Getting The Dirty Details With Mike Rowe
Time to get your hands dirty! Mike Rowe, mikeroweWORKS Foundation CEO, Host of People You Should Know on YouTube, joins Kennedy for a cocktail featuring his Knobel Whiskey. Together, they discuss the benefits of trade school, the societal stigma surrounding women in trades, and the inspiration behind his whiskey brand. Follow Kennedy on Twitter: @KennedyNation Kennedy Now Available on YouTube: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit