CITIZEN SUBURBAN TIMES WEEKLY 1-11-2023

New state laws taking effect Jan. 1

Bills target pawnbrokers for tighter rate limits

Minimum wage hike, pets in public housing among new changes

ent business model.

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By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

BY PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com

SPRINGFIELD – Minimum wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting Jan. 1, while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets.

Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect in the new year.

Legislative Black Caucus calls them ‘predatory’ lenders; pawnbrokers push back

The minimum wage increase is actually the result of a 2019 law that phases in a state minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. This year, it will increase by one dollar to $12 an hour.

The law allowing public housing

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On the first day of a brief “lame duck” session Wednesday, state Sen. Jacqueline Collins and Rep. Sonya Harper, both Chicago Democrats, joined other advocates in accusing the pawn industry of exploiting a “loophole” in a 2021 law known as the Predatory Lending Prevention Act that was aimed at reining in the high-interest, short-term loan industry.

tenants to keep pets is the result of Senate Bill 154, by Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, and Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego. It provides that tenants of multifamily housing units that are acquired, built or renovated with money from the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund may keep up to two cats or one dog weighing less than 50 pounds.

“The PLPA put a stop to many forms of predatory lending in Illinois, but pawnshops convinced a judge to give them a loophole to allow them to continue issuing loans with abusive and excessive three-figure interest rates,” Collins said during a Statehouse news conference.

It applies to residents of housing units that are designated as affordable housing for low- and very-lowincome families. The bill passed both chambers in its final form on May 30 and Gov. JB Pritzker signed it into law Aug. 6.

“We’re already under a 36 percent rate cap. That’s how much interest we can charge, is 36 percent maximum,” said Kelly Swisher, president of the Illinois Pawnbrokers Association. “What we’re allowed by the Pawnbroker Regulation Act is to charge additional fees to help cover the mandated requirements for the pawn industry.”

When a person comes in to pawn something – a watch, a musical instrument or a stereo, for example – Kelly said the pawn shop is required to store those items on the premises, secure them and insure them for twice the amount of the pawn loan.

“And we have police reporting requirements, which, believe it or not, cost money,” he added. “A pawn shop must report to the local police and municipality by noon the following day of all the transactions that we do.”

Pawn shops also must conduct certain customer checks with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, he said.

Other new laws include:

The PLPA passed during the General Assembly’s last lame duck session in 2021, as part of the Legislative Black Caucus’ agenda aimed addressing what its members described as “systemic racism.” The law caps consumer lenders to charging no more than 36 percent interest per year.

But the law did not specifically mention pawnbrokers, who are allowed to charge interest rates and fees that can amount to effective rates as high as 240 percent per year or more when factoring in associated fees, according to the Woodstock Institute, a consumer advocacy group.

Two bills that have been introduced in the lame duck session – Senate Bill 4241 and House Bill 5840 – would close that gap by including pawn brokers within the PLPA.

Vehicle taxes: SB58 raises the private vehicle tax, which is a sales tax paid on the purchase of vehicles, by $75 for each model year where the purchase price is less than $15,000 and by $100 for vehicles priced above that amount. However, the registration fee for trailers weighing less than 3,000 pounds will drop to $36 instead of $118.

“Predatory loans have drained billions from Black, brown and lower-income communities in our state,” Harper said. “The PLPA has stopped this cycle of disinvestment and enabled our community to retain wealth and to invest in jobs instead of padding the pockets of predatory lenders.”

Putting pawnbrokers under a strict 36 percent cap would effectively limit them to charging just $3 per month on a $100 pawn, which Swisher said would not be enough to cover those additional mandatory costs.

As of Wednesday, it was unclear whether there would be enough time to consider the bills during the brief lame duck session, which cannot go beyond Jan. 11, when the newly-elected 103rd General Assembly is sworn into office. But Collins said she believes they will have the support of the Democratic legislative leadership.

“We expect for the speaker and for the president of the Senate to honor the position of the Illinois Black Caucus,” she said.

Speaking separately to reporters, representatives of the pawn industry argued that they need to be treated differently from other kinds of lenders because they operate under a differ-

College admissions: HB226, establishing the Higher Education Fair Admissions Act, prohibits public colleges and universities from requiring applicants to submit SAT, ACT or other standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, although prospective students may choose to submit them if they wish.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide, as well as hundreds of radio and TV stations. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly, published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issues annually). W ritten permission is required to reproduce contents in whole or part from the General manager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibility for nor are we able to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is every Monday at noon. For information on subscriptions or advertising call us at (773) 783-1251. Our office is located at 8741 S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

CST Weekly,published weekly on Wednesdays and distributed in the Township of Bloom, (publishing 52 issuesannually). W ritten permission isrequired to reproduce contents inwholeor part from the Generalmanager or the publisher CST Weekly does not assume the responsibilityfor nor are weable to return unsolicited marterials. Deadline for advertising is everyMonday at noon. For information on subscriptions oradvertising call us at (773)783-1251. Our office is locatedat 8741S. Greenwood Ave., Ste# 107, Chicago, Illinois 60619.

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Drug prices: SB1682 requires pharmacies to post a notice informing consumers that they may request current pharmacy retail prices at the point of sale.

FOID card changes: HB562 enacts several changes to the Firearm Owner Identification card law. Among other things, it provides for a streamlined renewal process for FOID cards and Concealed Carry Licenses for people who voluntarily submit fingerprint records. It also allows the Illinois State Police to issue a combined FOID card and Concealed Carry License to qualified applicants, and it establishes a new Violent Crime Intelligence Task Force to take enforcement action against people with revoked FOID cards.

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Student mental health: HB576 and SB1577 allow students in Illinois up to five excused absences to attend to their mental or behavioral health without providing a medical note. Those students will be given an opportunity to make up any work they missed during the first absence and, after using a second mental health day, may be referred

(Matteson, IL) Mayor Sheila Chalmers- Currin and the Village of Matteson are thrilled to welcome another new area business to Matteson. Harbor Freight Quality Tools is among the most highly anticipated new companies within The Southland community. The new quality hard-ware store is set to attract thousands of CDL drivers, plumbers, electricians, and many other various contractors. Harbor Freight will offer low prices on power tools, generators, jacks, and more. With having over 1300+ locations nationwide, Harbor Freight is excited to expand out into the Chicagoland south suburbs. The new quality hardware store comes as a needed asset to the many developers and local small businesses that travel on Lincoln Highway. Residents like Brad Walsh are excited to have a new hardware store to help expand his business.

purchase Illinois and American flags that are made in the United States.

Hair styles: SB817 prohibits discrimination in schools against individuals on the grounds of wearing natural or ethnic hairstyles, which include dreadlocks, braids, twists and afros.

“As a contractor that does diverse handy work from painting, snow removal, lawn care,

Lemonade stands: SB119 prohib-

its public health authorities from regulating or shutting down lemonade stands or similar operations that are operated by children under the age of 16. Known as “Hayli’s Law,” it was inspired by 12-year-old Hayli Martinez, whose lemonade stand in Kankakee was shut down by local officials.

With nation-ally averaging about 25,000 employees, they’re excited to gain new employees. Among truck drivers that might need a jack or screws to get them by in travels, residents are hoping it will be a great place to help them create dreamy home beauty upgrades with “DIY” tools they can purchase, like paint sprayers. Mayor Sheila Chalmers- Currin believes this will be an incredible addition to even local interior designers and premier home decorators.

United States. In June, President Joe Biden also signed a bill designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

and construction, I’m grateful to have a local hardware store that is being added to the community. Quality equipment at affordable prices is one of the most needed items for small business owners like myself. I can’t wait to see what Harbor Freight has in store,” says Brad Walsh. Harbor Freight is anticipated to bring several new jobs to the Village of Matteson.

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Juneteenth: HB3922 recognizes June 19, or “Juneteenth,” as an official state holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the

“It’s always refreshing when a new business joins the Village of Matteson. It’s essential to have quality businesses in the heart of your community that offers affordable rates for our residents and small business owners. We’re excited for the future of Harbor Freight as they join our village. We look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and welcome them,” says Mayor Sheila Chalmers- Currin.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government and distributed to more than 400 newspapers statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

For more information and store business hours for Harbor Freights Tool, visit their web at https://www.harborfreight.com/ or call (708)-874-8585.

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Gov. JB Pritzker is shown here earlier this year in a Capitol News Illinois file photo. The governor signed more than (Capitol News Illinois file photo)

Discussing Slavery in Classrooms -- #1 New York Times

Bestselling Author’s New Book Shows the Way

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- On January 3, 2023, Kwame Alexander, the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of “The Crossover, The Door of No Return and The Undefeated, kicked off a national tour at Judy Blume’s in Key West, Florida for “An American Story,” a bold children’s picture book that explains American slavery through the voice of a teacher who is struggling to help her students understand its place in history.

Told through lyrical writing and stunning illustrations, the powerful, multilayered narrative by Alexander and artist/ sculpturist Dare Coulter will take educators, parents and young people from fireside tales in an African village, through the passage across the Atlantic and the backbreaking work in the fields of the South to eventual emancipation.

“I wrote this book after a rather difficult parent-teacher conference back in my daughter’s fourth grade school year,” said Alexander, whose book The Crossover is a forthcoming Disney+ television series. “An American Story is for all teachers and par-

ents trying to find their voices, trying to share a lesson that we all find so difficult to discuss. It is a story for readers of all ages — a story of a people’s struggle, strength, horror and hope that needs to be told and understood by all of us.”

Coulter, a longtime sculpturist and illustrator, said: “I want there to be these big assemblies of beautiful, hopeful kids reading this book, to whom we can say, ‘Yes, this did happen, yes, it is

National Museum of African American History and Culture Announces Honorary Chairs for Living History Campaign

(Black PR Wire) The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African History and Culture has selected the honorary chairs of its $350 million Living History Campaign to build the museum’s endowment and support its ongoing programs and digital initiatives. The honorary chairs include President and Mrs. George W. Bush, President and Mrs. Barack Obama, museum council chair Ken Chenault, television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes and multimedia and entertainment icon Oprah Winfrey.

The late Gen. Colin Powell also agreed to serve as an honorary campaign chair before he died in October 2021.

“It’s really crucial to launch this fundraising campaign now—when the study and understanding of the African American experience are so often under attack,” said Kevin Young, Andrew W. Mellon Director of the museum. “We are the guardians of that history, and we need everyone’s help to ensure this history is told accurately as part of the American story. This campaign will help us build our endowment to keep the museum going in perpetuity and will also provide support for our programming, exhibitions, collections and digital capabilities, so that around the nation and the world, any time of day, people can have this history in their hands.”

“One of the reasons I love this museum so much is because you must know from whence you come....I think about all those who came before me and didn’t have the opportunities or choices my generation was given,” Winfrey said. “I think I owe them a resurrection. I feel that my life brings redemption to the lives they struggled to create and build for all of us.”

Through the Living History Campaign, which concludes in 2024, the museum aims to provide global leadership in education and scholarship on the

African American experience, attract the best scholars and thinkers, expand the museum’s most successful initiatives, and build advanced digital platforms that will provide access to all. As the only national museum dedicated to exploring, documenting, and showcasing the African American experience, all of the museum’s work is infused with and informed by the ongoing quest for social justice. Although the museum is funded in part by federal appropriations, that funding only covers a portion of the museum’s annual operating budget.

The Living History Campaign also is part of the Smithsonian Campaign for Our Shared Future, led by Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. The campaign will secure funds for all Smithsonian museums and centers as the Institution reimagines its mission to find solutions for collective challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together with the communities the Smithsonian serves, it will create a better, more collaborative future. For more details and to learn more, visit the museum’s Living History Campaign website at https://nmaahc.si.edu/livinghistory.

Since opening Sept. 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has welcomed more than 8.5 million in-person visitors and millions more through its digital presence. Occupying a prominent location next to the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the nearly 400,000-square-foot museum is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cultural destination devoted exclusively to exploring, documenting and showcasing the African American story and its impact on American and world history. For more information about the museum, visit nmaahc. si.edu, follow @NMAAHC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, or call Smithsonian information at (202) 633-1000.

terrible; but the way forward is acknowledgement and understanding.’ I want readers to walk away feeling resilient.”

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher and New York Times bestselling author of 37 books, including the Caldecott Medal and Newbery Honor-winning picture book The Undefeated, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, the Newbery medal-winning novel, The Crossover (a forthcoming TV series on Disney+), and Becoming Muhammad Ali, co-authored with James Patterson. He is also a regular contributor to NPR’s Morning Edition. Learn more at kwamealexander.com.

Dare Coulter (she/her) is an award-winning artist, muralist, and sculptor whose primary artistic objective is to create positive imagery of Black people and families. She aims to install sculptures depicting Black joy around the world. Learn more at darecoulter.com.

BLM Sets Up Student Relief Fund as Loan Forgiveness Stalls

(Black PR Wire) Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation launched their Student Solidarity Fund — an extension of the Black Lives Matter Survival Fund, where we gave $3 million in microgrants to Black individuals, families, small-business owners, and other folks experiencing financial hardship. Both then and now, the government has refused to act immediately on monetary relief critical to the wellbeing of Black people everywhere.

For decades, Black people have been told that a key to the middle class is an education. But education has become another way for white supremacy to hold Black people back — preventing countless Black families from building Black generational wealth.

Tuition has only gotten more expensive. And when Black students attend some of the most sought out colleges and universities, they end up with three times the amount of debt as their white peers1 — and that’s in addition to the very real and present racial pay gap. Restricted access to college planning, along with racial disparities in income, homeownership, and wealth accumulation all play a huge role in how Black people are particularly burdened as a result of this student debt crisis.

On Dec. 12, the first wave of the Student Solidarity Fund was launched, which is specifically for Black alumni or former Black students who completed some credit toward their Bachelor’s Degree. We understand that things happen, and sometimes, circumstances come up unexpectedly that may have led someone to not complete their degree — but this does not get rid of debt accrued. We wanted to be sure that these folks have just as much of a shot toward paying off their debt as others.

In early 2023, the next wave of the Student Solidarity Fund will be available and will focus solely on HBCU students — those currently enrolled will have an opportunity to apply for one of many microgrants that can be used for things like transportation and commuting costs, books, technology, food, housing, or various other things.

Research has long established that HBCU students experience higher rates of housing and food insecurity. HBCUs make up only 3 percent of America’s colleges and universities, but nearly 20% of all Black graduates and 25% of Black graduates in the STEM fields.

Additionally, our HBCU Ambassador Program will be launched — another leg of the Student Solidarity Fund programming. Our ambassadors would serve as leaders on and off HBCU campuses representing BLMGNF, sharing resources with the HBCU community and directly advancing BLMGNF and HBCU student community building.

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation will continue to push for the cancellation of ALL student debt and the permanent pause of student loan repayments. Be sure to share the application with former Black students and alumni in your network.

1 https://www.brookings.edu/research/black-white-disparity-in-student-loan-debtmore-than-triples-after-graduation/

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Kwame Alexander, New York Times bestselling author. PRNewsFoto. “An American Story,” was released on Jan. 3. PRNewsFoto.

THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF BERGAMO AND BRESCIA ARE REVEALED IN THE YEAR OF THE ITALIAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2023

BERGAMO and BRESCIA, Italy, PRNewswire -- The Italian Capital of Culture 2023 will be an opportunity for the two major northern Italian cities at the centre of the project, Bergamo and Brescia, to present to the whole world a territory of surprising beauty, just waiting to be discovered. Squares, streets, museums and theatres will become the backdrop for events and spectacular shows: major festivals – including the International Piano Festival, the Donizetti Festival, the Science Festival, the City of Jazz, the Festa dell’Opera - together with thrilling theatrical shows and extensive exhibition programmes in galleries and museums, to mention but a few.

“Break out of the bubble! Discover a city that you weren’t expecting” is the concept of the communication campaign for Capital 2023, which invites the public to explore and be surprised by the “Hidden Treasures” of Bergamo and Brescia, now coming back to life after the difficult times of the pandemic. This extraordinary project is being supported by leading Italian organizations: Intesa Sanpaolo and A2A as Main Partners, Brembo as System Partner and SACBO as Area Partner. The Ministry of Culture and Fondazione Cariplo are institutional partners.

An unprecedented event that brings together Beauty, Art and Culture, this territory includes UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Venetian Walls of Bergamo, a spectacular and iconic circuit more than six kilometres long that, for more than four centuries, encircled the Upper Town, and “Brixia – Archaeological Park of Roman Brescia”, the largest Roman archaeological area in northern Italy which, together with the monastic complex of San Salvatore – Sant Giulia, is part of the UNESCO serial site of the Lombards in Italy.

The cities’ leading museums and galleries, such as Bergamo’s Accademia Carrara and Palazzo Martinengo in Brescia, will present exhibitions and events dedicated to some of the territory’s great artists, including Lotto, Romanino, Moretto, Ceruti, Cecco del Caravaggio.

Theatres are also great places of culture, such as the Teatro Donizetti, where the Donizetti Foundation is staging the Opera Festival of the same name; the Teatro Grande of Brescia, with its 300 years of history, where the Festa dell’Opera will be held; and two community theatres, Bergamo’s Teatro Sociale, a nineteenth-century architectural jewel, hidden in the very beautiful Upper Bergamo, and Brescia’s Teatro Sociale,

which are among the most important centres of culture and entertainment.

By summer 2023, the two cities will be linked by two new sustainable tours, along which cultural and artistic sites can be discovered: the Ciclovia, a 76-kilometre cycle route, and the Cammino, a pedestrian route of 120 kilometres. The Ciclovia and the Cammino will connect the two cities and offer new experiences with the emphasis on landscape, art and history.

ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND ANNOUNCES NASSAU PARADISE ISLAND WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas, PRNewswire -- Atlantis Paradise Island, the Caribbean’s most iconic destination resort in the Bahamas, is thrilled to announce its inaugural Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival (NPIWFF), taking place Wednesday, March 15 – Sunday, March 19. Tickets for the Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival are on sale now at npiwff.org.

The five-day festival showcases world-renowned top chefs, master sommeliers, mixologists, and notable TV personalities, including Tony Abou-Ganim, Alex Guarnaschelli, JJ Johnson, Aarón Sánchez, Alon Shaya, Michael White and Andrew Zimmern, plus a performance by Grammy® Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated rapper Wyclef Jean at Jerk Jam on March 18. Duff Goldman and DJ Kim Lee, from Netflix’s Bling Empire, host the festival’s closing night Sugar & Spice after party at The Cove pool. The festival will highlight the Bahamas as a growing culinary and entertainment hub while generating awareness for Atlantis Blue Project Foundation, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), founded in 2005 with the mission to protect and preserve marine wildlife and its endangered habitats throughout the Bahamas and Caribbean seas.

After Atlantis’ successful Taste of Paradise Food & Wine Festival, the newly named Nassau Paradise Island Wine & Food Festival will be expanded to include local and regional chefs and restaurants, music performances, exclusive dinners, beachside parties, culinary demos and family-friendly activities hosted throughout the resort. In addition to bringing internationally acclaimed chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists to the Bahamas for

the highly anticipated five-day festival, Atlantis Paradise Island is the only destination in the Caribbean with three Michelin-rated chefs – boosting the Bahamas as the ultimate culinary destination in the region.

While participating in events with visiting celebrity chefs, guests can dine like a local and enjoy the island’s long-standing dining favorites, including Sip Sip, McKenzie’s Conch Shack, Bimini Road, Sun & Ice gelato and ice cream by Bahamian chef Wayne Moncur, locally produced beers, and Paradise Rum, Atlantis’ signature rum produced by John Watling’s Nassau distillery. Guests will also experience the highly anticipated new restaurants and bars opening at the resort, including Paranza from Michelin-starred chef Michael White, Café Martinique helmed by globally acclaimed chef Adrian Delcourt and The Dilly Club, the new offshoot of locally loved Bon Vivants Bar & Café.

Festival attendees will spend five days in culinary bliss – set to the backdrop of Atlantis’ renowned paradise location, with five miles of white sand beaches, crystal blue waters and #BahamasAtHeart hospitality. Culinary event programming includes:

Taste of Paradise – The festival’s key tasting event with JJ Johnson, Alon Shaya, Andrew Zimmern and other celebrity chefs.

Celebrity Chef Wine Lunches and Dinners – Alex Guarnaschelli, Aarón Sánchez, Michael White and Andrew Zimmern will each host a memorable in-restaurant dining experience featuring their recipes paired with signature wines.

Ice Cream Social – A family-friendly, sweets-filled afternoon

with Duff Goldman and the resort’s resident pastry and dessert chefs.

Jerk Jam – A signature event celebrating Jerk, the iconic Caribbean flavor, hosted by Alex Guarnaschelli and JJ Johnson with a special performance by Grammy® Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated rapper Wyclef Jean.

Sparkles At Sunset – An elegant Champagne tasting in the famous Bridge Suite of The Royal Tower.

Sugar & Spice – A late-night event at The Cove Pool hosted by pastry chef Duff Goldman with over-the-top desserts and music from DJ Kim Lee (from Netflix’s Bling Empire).

Tacos and Cocktails – A taco and tequila fiesta with Aarón Sánchez and festival mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim.

The complete line-up of festival events, live entertainment and appearances can be found online at npiwff.org or atlantisbahamas.com. Tickets are available for purchase now. Follow @ NPIWFF and @AtlantisBahamas for the most up-to-date festival details.

In 2023, Atlantis Paradise Island is rolling out bold multimillion-dollar renovations and exciting new partnerships throughout the resort – from a complete renovation of The Royal Towers to a reimagined Atlantis Casino and much more. The resort’s 25th anniversary launches a new chapter for the celebrated destination, ensuring travelers will continue to experience the best at Atlantis Paradise Island, with stunning accommodations, innovative cuisine and extraordinary experiences.

The historical centre of Brescia with a frame of the ancient Roman Temple called Capitolium.PRNewsFoto.

The historical centre of Bergamo Alta, with an external view of Cappella Colleoni. PRNewsFoto.

Goals Ventures LLC Launches Streetwear Apparel

Collection for the Everyday Entrepreneur

LOS ANGELES, PRNewswire -- Blackowned, Goals Ventures LLC launches the first streetwear apparel collection to offer digital and social tools and technology to individuals looking to scale their business, all accessible through custom QR codes on the clothing tags. This launch serves to promote the work-life balance seamlessly with an assortment of everyday, ready to wear garments to help business creators, content creators, and/or influencers achieve their business goals.

This collection of streetwear staples embraces the elements of street culture while keeping the active lifestyle of the everyday person in mind. These good-for-the-environment pieces are meant to be a staple in everyone’s closet, with sustainable garments crafted from organic materials, recycled materials, or made in the USA. With the goal to bring these tools, technology, and training to underserved entrepreneurs and those interested in overall entrepreneurship, the launch of the apparel line allows for easy accessibility to help creators and businesses grow their audiences.

Goals Media Group, founded by Aubrey Flynn to “Get Over All Limits Successfully,” is the first black-owned company to combine software and apparel, and provide access to technology, digital tools and training for brand building. Flynn is a digital strategist and marketing expert with over 15 years of experience working with influencers and generating significant revenue for their brands, including Ciroc by Diddy, Indoggo by Snoop Dogg, and Redmont Vodka by Charles Barkley. His experience spans digital strategy, branded entertainment, strategic partnerships, brand positioning, entertainment

marketing, storytelling, big data management, client services and more.

“Our company is divided into services, software, training, and apparel with the goal to bring this accessible technology to underserved entrepreneurs, such women, college students, people of color, veterans, reentering citizens, immigrants, and people interested in entrepreneurship” said Goals Supply CEO Aubrey Flynn.

Goals Media Group can be hired for the creation and running of digital advertising campaigns or used for training purposes to scale your company. When users scan the QR code on the clothing tag, the mobile Goals app will open, which grants access to the business toolkit, setup, and business audits. The toolkit allows users to schedule social media posts, send SMS messages and emails to customers, revamp their website with WordPress, and have their data distributed on search engines such as Google.

The streetwear apparel encourages the work-life balance seamlessly with a line of everyday, ready to wear clothing. Compiled of headwear, hoodies, sweatshirts, t-shirts, joggers, shorts, and footwear, this collection features relaxed fit, moisture-wicking pieces that are great staples for everyday wear. Pricing ranges from $30-$105. Get exclusive access to tech, tools and training for business on demand when you scan the QR codes on the tags of the clothing.

The GOALS Supply apparel is available for purchase exclusively at goalssupply.com and on the Goals Supply app available in the App Store and Google Play store.

NU STANDARD® LAUNCHES NEW HYDRASILK® HYDRATING BOND SYSTEM EXCLUSIVELY WITH COSMO PROF STORES NATIONWIDE IN JANUARY 2023

(Black PR Wire) Nu Standard®, a state-of-the-art haircare brand curated for the Busy Queen on-the-go, will launch its new professional haircare treatment, HYDRASILK® Hydrating Bond System, in January 2023 exclusively with Cosmo Prof stores nationwide – the leading distributor of salon products to Licensed Professionals in the hair industry. The launch will mark the first-ever distribution of a bond system curated by a Black woman and specifically designed for textured hair, regardless of ethnicity.

Nu Standard® strategically partnered with licensed hairstylists to create safe and advanced products for professional use, with HYDRASILK® being one of the direct outcomes of this approach.

“Honestly D-I-Y was overrated for me...I needed performance over promises. Only an informed licensed hairstylist could help me realize my hair goals,” said Autumn Yarbrough, Founder of Nu Standard®. “I noticed there weren’t any bond system products made specifically for textured hair. The ones I used left my hair feeling weak, dry, and brittle which resulted in breakage. That’s when I knew we needed to get involved and include the stylist.”

The HYDRASILK® Hydrating Bond System is made up of the HYDRASILK® Bond Builder and the HYDRASILK® Silkner, which powerfully unite for a two-step reconstructive treatment for textured hair. The system provides intense moisture and strength to each strand – making the hair many times stronger than before, and decreasing shedding and breakage.

Nu Standard® enlisted the expertise of veteran chemist Tracy Ashley, who has over 30 years of cosmetic chemistry experience, along with legacy textured hair expert, product developer, and master educator Lenita Griffis-Browning who has over 40 years in the industry, to truly design innovative products for licensed professionals.

“Before joining Nu Standard®, I tried HYDRASILK®’s reconstructive treatment application multiple times over an eight month period with friends who had post-COVID trauma, or weak, dry or damaged hair - to see if the product did what it claimed to do - and the system worked exceptionally,” said Griffis-Browning, Nu Standard®’s Education Director. “I, the product snob, was impressed with the results!”

The complete HYDRASILK® Hydrating Bond System, which includes the HYDRASILK® Bond Builder and the HYDRASILK® Silkner, will be available exclusively for professionals at Cosmo Prof stores nationwide beginning in January 2023, and will retail starting from $60.00. For more information on Nu Standard™ and HYDRASILK™, visit hydrasilkpro.com.

GOALS Supply Apparel. PRNewsFoto.

SAMHSA Announces National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Results

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the results of its annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), which shows how people living in America reported about their experience with mental health conditions, substance use, and pursuit of treatment in 2021. The 2021 NSDUH national report includes selected estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group. It is the most comprehensive report on substance use and mental health indicators that SAMHSA has released to date.

Estimates from the 2021 NSDUH should not be compared with estimates from previous years because the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated methodological changes to the data collection process.

Key findings from the 2021 NSDUH include: Drug Use and Substance Use Disorder

Among people aged 12 or older in 2021, 61.2 million people (or 21.9 percent of the population) used illicit drugs in the past year. The most commonly used illicit drug was marijuana, which 52.5 million people used. Nearly 2 in 5 young adults 18 to 25 used illicit drugs in the past year; 1 in 3 young adults 18 to 25 used marijuana in the past year.

9.2 million people 12 and older misused opioids in the past year.

46.3 million people aged 12 or older (or 16.5 percent of the population) met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance use disorder in the past year, including 29.5 million people who were classified as having an alcohol use disorder and 24 million people who were classified as having a drug use disorder.

The percentage of people who were classified as having a past year substance use disorder, including alcohol use and/or drug use disorder, was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 compared to youth and adults 26 and older.

In 2021, 94% of people aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder did not receive any treatment. Nearly all people with a substance use disorder who did not get treatment at a specialty

facility did not think they needed treatment.

Major Depressive Episodes (MDE) Among Adolescents

In 2021, 1 in 5 adolescents had a major depressive episode in the past year. Of these, nearly 75 percent had symptoms consistent with severe impairment, which caused severe problems with their ability to do chores at home, do well at work or school, get along with their family, or have a social life.

The prevalence of past year MDE among Black and Asian adolescents was lower compared to adolescents from most other racial/ethnic groups.

More than half of youth with an MDE did not receive treatment in the past year.

Mental Illness among Adults

Nearly 1 in 4 adults 18 and older, and 1 in 3 among adults aged 18 to 25, had a mental illness in the past year.

Adults with serious mental illness had higher rates of treatment compared to those with any mental illness. Despite having the highest rate of serious mental illness, people aged 18 to 25 had the lowest rate of treatment in comparison to adults in other age groups.

White and Multiracial adults were more likely to receive mental health services in the past year than Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian adults.

Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorder with Any Mental Illness

13.5 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 had both a substance use disorder and any mental illness in the past year.

Nearly 1 in 3 adults had either a substance use disorder or any mental illness in the past year, and 46 percent of young adults 18-25 had either a substance use disorder or any mental illness.

The percentage of adults aged 18 or older who met criteria for both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in the past year was higher among Multiracial adults than among White, Black, Hispanic or Latino, or Asian adults. Asian adults were

less likely to have had both AMI and a substance use disorder in the past year compared with adults in most other racial or ethnic groups.

Serious Thoughts of Suicide, Suicide Plans, and Suicide Attempts 12.3 million adults aged 18 or older had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, 3.5 million made suicide plans, and 1.7 million attempted suicide.

Hispanic or Latino adults were more likely than White or Asian adults to have attempted suicide in the past year, and Black adults were more likely than Asian adults to have attempted suicide in the past year.

Recovery

7 in 10 (72.2 percent or 20.9 million) adults who ever had a substance use problem considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.

2 in 3 (66.5 percent or 38.8 million) adults who ever had a mental health issue considered themselves to be recovering or in recovery.

About the National Survey on Drug Use and Health

Conducted by the federal government since 1971, the NSDUH is a primary source of statistical information on substance use and mental health of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population 12 or older. The NSDUH measures:

Use of illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, Substance use disorder and substance use treatment, Major depressive episodes, mental illness, and mental health care, and Perceived recovery from substance use and mental health issues.

Anyone in the United States seeking treatment for mental health or substance use issues should call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357) or visit findtreatment.samhsa.gov.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline. org.

CANDIACE IS BACK WITH DEEP SPACE DELUXE EDITION OUT NOW

New York, NY — Rising R&B powerhouse CANDIACE presents Deep Space Deluxe Edition, out now. She re-upped, re-energized, and recharged her acclaimed full-length debut album with eight new recordings. This pops off as the most dynamic and definitive vision of Deep Space.

Right out of the gate, it incited critical applause and earned plugs from the likes of Bossip and That Grape Juice, who noted, The ‘Real Housewives of Potomac’ star has been making solid strides with tracks such as ‘Drive Back’ and its housing album ‘Deep Space.’ And the trajectory continues with her newest number.” Rated R&B raved, “The spicy track contains some of the bluntest lyrics and heartfelt vocals as Candiace lets a fragile lover know it’s all him and not her, putting a damper on their relationship.” BET highlighted, “she’s telling the insecure folks about themselves.” Meanwhile, the track continues to put up numbers.

Plus, Deep Space Deluxe Edition boasts a sequel to the knockout “Benefits,” namely “Benefits (Part II),” a live rendition of “Drive Back,” and the re-invigorated “Win 2.0.” Its unreleased new tracks span “INSECURE” as well as “Affirmations,” the seductive “Do It Again,” and the entrancing “Since Then.”

Check out the full tracklisting below.

Now, she welcomes listeners even deeper into her world.

On Sunday nights, CANDIACE enchants millions of viewers everywhere on BRAVO’s The Real Housewives of Potomac.

Earlier this year, CANDIACE concluded her highly successful debut run, DEEP SPACE TOUR: Live at City Winery. Playing to thousands of enthusiastic fans, she captivated audiences in four major cities. She canvased Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. She notably sold out both Atlanta and D.C. Among those fans, cast members from The Real Housewives of Atlanta and various “BRAVOLEBRI-

TIES” attended the Atlanta gig to support her.

On the road, CANDIACE notably paid homage to R&B icon Toni Braxton with a showstopping cover of “He Wasn’t Man Enough” at each date. She also energized the proceedings with a series of highlights from her Deep Space Deluxe Edition.

2022 saw CANDIACE return for the 7th season of The Real Housewives of Potomac on Bravo. As always, she lit up the screen like only she could, stealing each and every scene with confidence and charisma. With a lot more heat from CANDIACE, this season brought the fireworks to a whole new level, with episodes airing on Bravo on Sunday at 8 pm EST.

The original Deep Space continues to put up num-

bers, reeling in streams in the millions. Beyond the traction on DSPs, she incited the applause of everyone from Anita Baker and Nicki Minaj, to Toni Braxton. Upon arrival, it landed as one of the Top 25 R&B Albums in the Country. Among many highlights, it boasted the fan favorite single “Win.” Beyond hundreds of thousands of streams, That Grape Juice hailed the single as an “empowering anthem, which aims to encourage and uplift.”

CANDIACE keeps shining, with her single “Drive Back” recently reaching 3 million plus streams and her album Deep Space also reaching more than 3 million streams.

Get ready for her to make major moves in 2023!

TRACKLISTING:

Since Then... *

Do It Again* Fine Whine*

INSECURE* Affirmations*

Benefits (Part II)* Drive Back (Live)* Win 2.0*

Let Them Talk (Intro)

Cause A Scene Hands In The Air Is It Enough? Show Me ‘Lude Behavior (Interlude) Situat Benefits Do It (Nostalgia) Love Notez I’m Gone (Interlude) Drive Back Stay With Me Insomnia (Interlude) Win

NAACP AND BET ANNOUNCE “54TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS” TO AIR LIVE SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2023 ON BET

(Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES – Recently, the NAACP and BET announced that the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will broadcast LIVE on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 8:00 PM (live ET/PT on delay) on BET from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, CA. The show will be in front of an audience for the first time in three years. Nominees will be announced and online international voting opens on Thursday, Jan. 12. Voting closes on Friday, Feb. 10.

Leading up to the Image Awards, NAACP will be hosting a range of week-long activities in Los Angeles to further celebrate and honor achievements in film, television, music, and literature. Media credential application for these activities and the show will be released at a later date.

Globally recognized as one of the most distinguished multicultural awards shows, the “54th NAACP Image Awards” will continue a tradition of excellence, uplifting values that inspire equality, justice, and progressive change, and highlighting artists committed to that purpose. The “54th NAACP Image Awards” will also include three new submissions within the motion picture, television + streaming categories. New submission categories include:

• Outstanding Hairstyling

• Outstanding Make-up

• Outstanding Costume Design

“Throughout the past year, we’ve witnessed Black artists showcasing our history and uplifting values of progressive change, while redefining genres and bringing our stories to the forefront of entertainment in so many innovative ways,”

said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “Black voices are necessary to continually inspire audiences around the world. We’re proud to once again provide a platform that both elevates and celebrates these voices through the 54th NAACP Image Awards.” “BET is extremely proud

in each category by members of the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committees which are comprised of individuals within the entertainment industry (studio/network executives, actors, artists, managers, agents, publicists, journalists, literary agents, and others) NAACP Board members, NAACP Foundation Trustees, staff, partners and others. As of November 18, nominee submissions are now closed.

to continue our long-standing partnership with the NAACP and magnify their endeavors to honor the incredible contributions made by the Black community,” said BET President and CEO Scott Mills. “We’re looking forward to celebrating Black excellence at next year’s Image Awards on all of our platforms, honoring those who help tell our diverse stories in powerful ways.”

Only submitted work will be reviewed for consideration. All valid entries are evaluated and narrowed to the top five

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years’ attendees and winners include Prince Harry & Meghan Markle, Samuel L. Jackson, Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Foxx, Chloe x Halle, Regé-Jean Page, Michaela Coel, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Blair Underwood, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Loni Love, Sheryl Underwood, Mandy Moore, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, the late Chadwick Boseman, and many more.

INSTAGRAM: @naacpimageawards

TWITTER: @naacpimageaward

FACEBOOK: /naacpimageaward

The Purple Agency

A Foil Packet Meal for Sweet Fall Simplicity

(Family Features) Fall provides almost endless opportunities to gather friends and family around great food. From tailgates and family events to those precious last outdoor meals before winter sets in, the scenery of autumn is a perfect backdrop for sharing meals together.

Those favorite fall foods are often best when they’re delicious without complications. Taking the guesswork out of cool-weather classics can be as easy as these Sweetpotato Foil Packet Tacos, which are loaded with flavor and can be customized to fit everyone’s taste buds with personalized toppings.

As the key ingredient, sweetpotatoes show off their versatility as an ideal addition to simple or elevated, sweet or savory dishes. Because you can cook and prepare them multiple ways – such as baked, microwaved, grilled, slow cooked or on the stove – they’re easy to use in a wide array of recipes.

Plus, according to the American Diabetes Association, sweetpotatoes are a “diabetes superfood” because they’re rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health and may help prevent disease. Their “sweet” flavor without the added sugar makes them a pantry staple throughout the fall.

Pro tip: Sweetpotatoes are abundant and have a long shelf-life – up to four weeks if stored properly in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources – but never store in the refrigerator as this can cause “chill damage,” leaving them with a hard center and unpleasant taste.

Make the most of your fall meals with family and friends by finding more recipes at ncsweetpotatoes.com.

Sweetpotato Foil Packet Tacos

Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina SweetPotato Commission

Servings: 6

1/2 pound ground turkey

3 tablespoons taco seasoning

1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained nonstick cooking spray

2 pounds North Carolina sweetpotatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 tablespoons butter

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups fresh chopped spinach

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese sour cream (optional)

citizennewspapergroup.com

guacamole (optional)

Preheat oven to 425 F.

In skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground meat. Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce and beans; set aside.

Lay out six 12-inch aluminum foil pieces; spray each with nonstick cooking spray.

In center of each foil piece, place 1 cup sweetpotatoes, 1 teaspoon butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1/4 cup spinach, 1/3 cup taco meat and 1/4 cup cheese.

Fold foil sides in over mixture; fold top and bottom foil ends inward and seal.

Place packets on rimmed cookie sheet; bake until sweetpotatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.

Serve with sour cream or guacamole, if desired.

5 Simple Tips to Conquer Your Fitness and Wellness Goals This Year

(Black PR Wire) Every new year brings new resolutions, and achieving fitness and wellness goals is typically in the top three. Unfortunately, the average person stops following their game plan after 2 weeks and has totally given up by February. There are common missteps people make as they list their resolu tions. These include making superficial goals in an effort to look like someone else, goals that are too vague in just vowing to exercise more, or goals that are too technical as one can drive themse lves crazy counting calories. This leads to failure year after year. Here are 5 guideposts to help you achieve your personal fitness and wellness goals that are obtainable and sustainable.

1Stop doing things you hate, right now.

If you only show up to a group exercise class because it fits in your schedule, but you really hate the music and the instructor isn’t that exciting, you will gradually stop giving your best effort.

You’re simply going through the motions of being physically present and it does not take long for this to be a complete waste of time with no results.

2Seek variety

They say variety is the spice of life and this totally applies to exercise too.

Just as you wouldn’t eat the same meal every day, your workout should also be full of options. Introducing several activities to your weekly routine helps bust plateaus and keeps monotony at bay.

Additionally, variety helps prevent overuse injuries due to repetitive movements.

3

Find Your friends to help you achieve fitness and wellness goals

Once you have planned out your schedule, recruit a different friend for each activity.

A running partner with a similar pace, a fellow yogi, and a friend that enjoys lifting weights as much as you do keeps the conversation fresh and camaraderie high.

In addition to workouts with friends, remember to

take time for yourself. Devoting a day or two for a solo workout also has its perks. This is the perfect time to collect your thoughts, enjoy new music or catch up on an audiobook.

4

Keep a journal to track your fitness and wellness activities  Journaling has benefits beyond tracking your exercise progress.

It is an excellent way to have an honest conversation with oneself. Understanding how we function emotionally plays a bigger role than one may think when it comes to our decision-making process.

If a person is stressed and frustrated, they might channel that anger into the best workout they’ve ever had or skip the workout and eat a pint of ice cream.

Acknowledging our triggers helps us navigate through them and make better choices.

Every evening before you call it a night, instead of scrolling through social media, take 10-15 minutes to document your workouts, the foods you ate, and your feelings.

Include reflective thoughts and motivational quotes as well.

Designate a day to review a week of entries to gain more insight into what drives you. This visual accountability is very beneficial for identifying behavioral patterns that point to why you keep falling off the fitness wagon.

5 Meditate

Meditation goes hand in hand with journaling. This is a time for you to be in your personal space, free of distractions. Guided imagery, breathwork, reciting mantras, or simply sitting in silence are all forms of meditation.

This practice can evoke mindfulness, focus, and clarity in your daily life and help you eliminate stress and negative self-talk. It also has a plethora of health benefits from calming anxiety to lowering blood pressure. This practice can help you set the tone for daily physical activity. As this can be a challenging process to “be still”, it is good, to begin with 5 minutes each morning and progress from there.

Resolutions are not unattainable. These guideposts are uncomplicated ways to find the right direction toward your goals. Find your variety, find your friends, find your inner peace and find your success!

Shimmy, the Free Seven-Minute Fitness App, Promotes Healthy New Year Habits Through Charitable Donations

SAN FRANCISCO, PRNewswire -- Shimmy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is re-launching its free iPhone app with a research-based approach to building healthy habits in the New Year.

Rooted in behavioral science, the app is bringing back its popular assortment of seven-minute “fun-size” workouts from through Jan. 31st. “Shorter workouts like these lower the friction of starting a new exercise routine, and the variety keeps people from getting bored,” says Kristen Berman, a leading expert in behavior change and a Shimmy advisor. Shimmy has also tapped into research on physical activity, like this recent study from Nature Medicine, showing that even a few minutes of daily exercise can have a positive, longterm impact on health.

Shimmy’s novel charitable program offers an added incentive for users to stick to an exercise resolution, and to bring their friends along. For each workout completed in January, Shimmy will donate $1 to charity, plus an additional $10 for each new person referred to the app. “Shimmy amplifies the benefits of working out by supporting a cause you care about, and accountability from friends and family can help you stick to

your plan,” Berman says.

Shimmy’s charity partners this month include Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Essie Justice Group, and Razom for Ukraine. “We are excited to be supporting this new set of charities that are particularly meaningful to our team of volunteers,” added co-founder Kaitlyn Krieger.

The app’s January launch builds upon the success of its

first fitness challenge, designed like an advent calendar, through which a highly-engaged community of individuals enjoyed seven minutes of movement per day in December. Thousands of users signed up and collectively completed over 100,000 minutes of workouts including Bollywood cardio, 80’s aerobics, and yoga.

“This January, Shimmy will continue to show users the joyful, positive impact of just a few minutes of movement each day,” says Shimmy co-founder Nina Samarguliani.

Anyone interested in participating this January can download the free Shimmy app here and can follow along at @lets_shimmy on Instagram.

Shimmy is a 501(c)(3) with a mission to get America moving. The free Shimmy iPhone app, which first launched in December, delivers a seven-minute workout video each day, and applies behavioral science insights to support users’ wellness goals in the New Year.

For every workout that users complete in January, Shimmy will donate $1 to charity. The app is easy to share with family and friends, and Shimmy will give an additional $10 to charity for each new referral. https://www.shimmy.org

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BlackPRWire

Trainers Raquel Horsford, Christa Janine, and Joya Kazi. Credit: Chris Escamilla

REAL ESTATE

AC 12-28-2022

I N THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BMO HARRIS BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. PHILIP E. MIKOSZ; VALERIE S. MIKOSZ AKA VALERIE SUZANNE MCGOVERN AKA VALERIE SUZANNE MCGOVERNMIKOSZ; HARRIS NA DBA BMO HARRIS BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 1920

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 31-36-416017-0000. Commonly known as 16 APPLE LANE, PARK FOREST, IL 60466. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 6180-181400

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3209848

AC 1-11-2023

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE LLC; Plaintiff, vs. ELMER WINTERS; DELLNORA WINTERS; THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY; STATE OF ILLINOIS; Defendants, 22 CH 6429 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, February 13, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 32-36-306-017-0000. Commonly known as 22950 Eastbrook Drive, Sauk Village, IL 60411. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff's Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 22-014411 ADC F2

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3210642

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLICATION NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE (ADULT)

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of: REBECCA CRUZ BENGCO. CASE NUMBER 22M6008665. There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: REBECCA BENGCO AYSON to the new name of REBECCO CRUZ BENGCO. The court date will be held: On FEBRUARY21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at 16501 S. KEDZIE MARKHAM, ILLINOIS COOK IN Courtroom# 208 /s/ REBECCA CRUZ BENGCO.

NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR MOTION STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY Rebecca Bengco, Ayson, Plantiff/Pettioner 1. Hearing Information: The hearing for the Motion I filed is scheduled: A. On Feb. 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 208. Remotely by video conference: zoom. I certify that everything in the Notice of Court Date for motion is true and correct.

I understand that making a false statement on this form is perjury and has penalities provided by law under 735ILCS 5/1-109 /s/ REBECCA B. AYSON 10142 S. VERNON, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60628.

COMMUNITY

Confronting the Epidemic of Drug Overdose Deaths in Our Communities

(StatePoint) As America’s drug overdose and death epidemic continues to impact communities of every size in every corner of the country, new challenges have emerged.

In 2021, more than 107,000 people died from drug-related overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the bulk of which were from illicitly manufactured fentanyl, which shows up in fake pills, methamphetamine and cocaine.

Since its founding in 2014, the American Medical Association (AMA) Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force has brought together medical societies and practicing physicians to develop and implement strategies that can help end this epidemic. The task force’s recommendations include urging physicians to enhance their education as well as advocate for comprehensive care for patients in pain and for those with a substance use disorder. The AMA also strongly urges states to update laws to make the opioid overdose reversal medication naloxone more readily available, decriminalize fentanyl test strips, and take other harm reduction initiatives to save lives from overdose.

When it comes to helping patients with a substance use disorder (SUD) so they can lead satisfying, productive lives, the science shows what works: medication prescribed by a physician or dispensed at Opioid Treatment Programs, combined with behavioral counseling and other services.

Despite certain positive trends and clear science, of the 40.3 million people nationwide with a substance use disorder, 93% receive no treatment, according to federal officials. A 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Labor found that health insurance companies regularly violate state and federal laws designed to provide coverage for substance use disorders and mental illness. Health insurance companies also continue to but up barriers to accessing medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) and deny care to patients with pain—or make it so expensive that patients cannot access care.

“No community has been—or will be—spared the pain of this epidemic. The spiking mortality numbers— with young people and Black and Brown Americans dying at the fastest growing rates—add yet another urgent call to remove health inequities from the health care system. We know policymakers have not exhausted all remedies. Until we have, we must keep advocating for humane, evidencebased responses,” said Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., chair of the AMA Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force.

ulators focused on these specific actions:

• Remove barriers to evidencebased care for patients with an SUD. This includes removing prior authorization, step therapy and dosage caps for MOUDs, continuing federal flexibilities for take-home medication for opioid treatment programs, continuing audio-visual and audio-only telehealth options for patients to begin treatment, and removing regulations that prevent most physicians from being able to prescribe MOUDs to their patients.

• Take immediate steps to protect families by focusing on increasing access to evidence-based care rather than using punishment and the threat of family separation for persons with an SUD who are pregnant, peripartum, postpartum and parenting.

• Enforce laws that require mental health benefits to be on par with other health benefits, thereby broadening access to treatment related to mental health and substance use disorders.

• Pharmacy chains, health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers should remove arbitrary barriers to opioid therapy as well as ensure patient access to affordable, accessible non-opioid pain care.

• Patients and physicians should have conversations about safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications; and increase access to naloxone to patients at risk of overdose.

• Develop and implement systems to collect timely, adequate and standardized data to identify at-risk populations, fully understand polysubstance drug use, and implement public health interventions that directly address removing structural and racial inequities.

To learn more about efforts to end the drug overdose and death epidemic, visit end-overdose-epidemic.org.

How to Prevent Being a Victim of Scams and Fraud

(Statepoint) Scams and fraud are more deceiving these days, reaching you in more ways than ever before. The FTC reported 2.8 million fraud reports from consumers in 2021 alone, with reported fraud losses increasing 70% from 2020 and more than $5.8 million.

Identity theft protection expert Carrie Kerskie says being aware of what new cyber and phone fraud trends to look out for is your biggest defense against unwanted fraud.

“The more that we can get this information out there the better,” Kerskie recently told T-Mobile Stories, “Unfortunately when it comes to technology, privacy and identity theft, the same old advice that was given 10, 15 years ago is still the gospel of what you’re supposed to do. And that is outdated.

None of it works. It’s not true, it’s not relevant anymore.”

Scammers have expanded from targeting consumers with only traditional email and phone calls. The most recent trending scams are occurring using person-to-person payment platforms or P2P, remote access software and even public Wi-Fi.

Kerskie says the most desirable accounts to criminals include bank accounts, mobile phone accounts, credit card accounts and Amazon accounts. Now, with P2P payment platforms, criminals can get access to your bank account and use it to transfer money within moments.

The latest tactic that concerns

Kerskie is using remote access software to gain access to everything on your computer without having to directly ask you for things like your social security number, bank account or credit card number.

While many workers use remote access software safely from their companies’ IT departments, criminals are also using this software in their scams.

Criminals also try to access your information in settings like coffee shops or libraries using public WiFi. A laptop or smartphone using public Wi-Fi can easily fall victim to scams. An easy fix is to use your smartphone’s wireless data and hotspot to help keep your personal information secure.

Kerskie says there are ways to keep scammers and fraud at bay.

Prioritize Privacy: Kerskie says, if it’s easy for you, it’s easy for a criminal. Privacy means having strong and unique passwords with a minimum of 12 characters, and for pins using random numbers and taking advantage of extra security.

safeguards offered by your mobile carrier. In the case of T-Mobile's Scam Shield, services include enhanced caller ID, scam ID and blocking, which flags suspicious calls and gives customers the option of blocking those numbers.

Additionally, customers can get a free second number to keep their personal number personal, or even change their primary number completely.

Validate or Eliminate: Whatever potential threat you come across via email, text message, letter or even a phone call, try to validate the information. If you cannot confirm the information is true or confirm the senders’ validity, throw it away, block the phone number or email address and report it as spam or junk mail.

As potential cyber threats and fraud evolve, it’s important to understand how they work. Doing so will help you stay safeguarded and protected.

What to Do if Your Mortgage Application is Denied

(StatePoint) If you dream of homeownership, having your mortgage application denied can be devastating. If this does happen to you, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Thirteen percent of all purchase mortgage applications -- a total of nearly 650,000 -were denied in 2020, according to federal government data.

Before quickly reapplying for a loan, it’s important to first understand the reasons your loan was denied. The lender is required to disclose that information to you within 30 days of its decision. You can also call your lender for further explanation. Having this knowledge will help you work toward building your eligibility for a mortgage.

In some instances, the situation involves a quick fix, such as providing missing or incomplete documentation. However, if the reasons cited for your application denial involve down payment cost, a low credit score, an adverse credit history or a high debt-to-income ratio, here are six steps you can take toward recovery:

1. Consult a Housing Counselor. Consider speaking to a community-based credit counselor or a HUD-certified housing counselor. They can help you create a plan to increase your savings, decrease your debt, improve your credit, access down payment assistance or take advantage of first-time homebuyer programs.

2. Improve Your Credit. In a 2022 Freddie Mac survey of consumers denied a mortgage application in the past four years, three in five cited debt or credit issues as

before applying for another loan. Good credit demonstrates responsible money management and gives you more purchasing power, opening doors to better loan terms and products. Visit creditsmart.freddiemac.com to access Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart suite of free financial education resources that can help you understand the fundamentals of credit and prepare you for homeownership.

3. Pay Down Debt. In the application process, lenders will look at your recurring monthly debts, such as car payments, student loans and credit card loans. By lowering or paying down monthly debts, you can build a positive credit history

and lower your debt-to-income ratio. Not sure where to start? Tackle your debt with the highest interest rate first.

4. Obtain Gift Funds. If you’re short on money for your down payment, you may be able to use gift funds from a family member to decrease the amount you need to borrow.

5. Find a Co-Signer. A co-signer applies for the loan with you, agreeing to take responsibility for the loan should you default. The co-signer’s credit, income and debts will be evaluated to make sure they can assume payments if necessary. In addition to ensuring your co-signer has good credit, you should make sure they are

aware of this responsibility and have sufficient income to cover the payment.

6. Look for a Lower-Cost Home. Remember, you should only borrow an amount you feel comfortable repaying. You may need to look for a lower-cost home than you’re financially prepared to purchase and maintain. For more information and additional resources, visit myhome.freddiemac.com.

If your home loan application is denied, don’t panic. There are ways to build your eligibility so that next time, your mortgage application is more likely to be approved.

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