Today is the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but unfortunately, there isn't much to celebrate lately. Illinois' Department of Human Services will undergo $310 million in cuts, mostly in the disability and mental health services area, according to Progress Illinois. This could affect as much as 70,000 people with mental illnesses in the coming months. The Chicago Reporter also reported today about the mixed results of the ADA, and its cause for both celebration and sober reflection.
- Gov. Pat Quinn named members to his newly formed Anti-Violence Commission
to confront the widespread violence facing many Illinois communities
and help come up with solutions. Members and participants will
include family members of victims, neighborhood groups, authorities
and experts on violence. - The Chicago City Council
finance committee approved a third Walmart, which will be located in the South Side
neighborhood of Chatham, according to the Chicago Reader.
Although this is the second Walmart to come before the city council this summer, there are still major labor concerns among aldermen. - Anti-immigration laws, similar to that of Arizona's, have failed to get legislative support this summer, according to the Progressive States Network. Also, Mexico is bracing for a possible surge in U.S. deportees when Arizona's law is implemented on Tuesday, USA Today.
- Since
the passage of Arizona's anti-immigration law that allows the state to
enforce federal immigration law, there has been a lot of focus on other
anti-immigration laws around the country. However, most of these laws
have failed to pass into legislation largely because of Arizona's SB
1070, according to the Progressive States Network. Also, Mexico is bracing for the effects of Arizona's law when it is implemented on Tuesday, USA Today reports, which could mean a surge of deportees. - Home sales, though the values of those homes are down. The sale of new single-family homes rose by 23.6 percent from May to June, reports the Christian Science Monitor.
However, the average price of selling a new single-family home has dropped
to $242,900, the lowest selling price for June since 2003.
Filed under: Criminal Justice, Employment/Labor, Government and Politics, Health, Housing, Immigration
