Citizen Suburban Times Weekly (CST) 4-5-2023

New state laws taking effect Jan. 1

Minimum wage hike, pets in public housing among new changes

Senate advances bill to log abuse cover-ups in state health care registry

Continued from page 1

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.

Individuals with substantiated complaints would be barred from employment in health care

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

Continued from page 1

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois jnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com

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.

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.

The bill would prohibit health care workers who have been the subject of a substantiated claim of “material obstruction” of an abuse investigation from further employment in the health care field.

Fine said the legislation was spurred by recent reports of abuse at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in downstate Anna. Capitol News Illinois, Lee Enterprises Midwest and ProPublica published a monthslong news investigation revealing a culture of abuse and cover-ups at the facility.

IDHS Inspector General Peter Neumer spoke in favor of Senate Bill 855 in committee on Tuesday. He said he expected his office would invoke the new provisions “likely a handful of times each year.”

Other new laws include:

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.

Those workers would be added to the Department of Public Health’s Health Care Worker Registry, which tracks the subjects of substantiated complaints. It would also prohibit anyone with a substantiated complaint of physical or sexual abuse, financial exploitation, egregious neglect, or material obstruction from “any involvement in any capacity” with state-funded mental health or developmental disability services.

State Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, is pictured on the Senate floor Wednesday. She is the sponsor of a bill that would prohibit health care workers who have been the subject of a substantiated claim of “material obstruction” of an abuse investigation from further employment in the health care field.

“Material obstruction” would be defined to include several types of witness and evidence tampering and knowingly presenting false information to investigators.

The initiative is backed by the Illinois Department of Human Services’ inspector general, whose office would be charged with substantiating such an investigation.

“If you are found out that you did obstruct an investigation, you lied, you falsified information, a report or something of that nature, you could jeopardize your career in the health care industry,” he said. “And we believe that deterrent would be important because we need people to come forth, to speak up, to say what they’ve seen, so that we can ensure that abuse and neglect is not occurring.”

Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, whose district includes Choate, said the bill was “extremely important” in light of the allegations of abuse.

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

Darrell President / Publisher

Darrell Garth President / Publisher

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/General Manager

Janice Garth Sales Manager/ General Manager

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.

“This past year and for many years before, there were reports of individuals at state facilities being injured in their centers,” Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, said on the Senate floor. “It is the job of the state to protect our most vulnerable, to ensure the health safety and financial condition of people with mental illness and or developmental disabilities from abuse and neglect.”

“It’s time we really get this on the radar,” he said during Senate debate.

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 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.

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.

Editorial:

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

Illinois Community

College Board Reports City Colleges of Chicago More Than Doubled the Statewide Average for Spring 2023 Enrollment With All Seven Colleges Experiencing An Increase in Headcount

CHICAGO – City Colleges of Chicago (CCC)’s Spring 2023 enrollment is up 16.9 percent from spring 2022 to spring 2023 exceeding the Illinois community college average of +7.2% according to a report released Tuesday, March 21, by the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB).

“Community colleges like City Colleges of Chicago are the heart of many communities because we provide an avenue to upward mobility by offering job training, professional certificates, two-year associate degrees and seamless transfers to 4-year colleges and universities,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “The uptick in enrollment is encouraging and inspires us to work even harder to create access and support our students as they fulfill their education goals.”

to the appropriate school support personnel.

tics, cannabis studies, manufacturing, IT, early childhood education, engineering, healthcare, and more.

City Colleges of Chicago’s efforts to remove barriers, offer unique educational pathways, and create access continue to draw students to its colleges. Initiatives include:

Future Ready, helps eligible Chicagoans gain credentials and prepare for in-demand careers in many of those industries at no cost.

Star Scholarship has strengthened to ensure that high-achieving students can attend college even if they cannot afford it. Last year, the Star Scholars was the largest group awarded and enrolled to date, with 1,597 students attending all seven colleges.

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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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Enrollment in a combination of credit and adult education programs has increased at all seven of City Colleges of Chicago: Harold Washington College (+5.7), Harry S Truman (+26.4%), Kennedy-King (+21.4%), Malcolm X (+22.2%), Olive-Harvey (+30.1%), Richard J. Daley (+17.2%), and Wilbur Wright (+9.7%) for a total increase of 5,209 students for Spring 2023 with Olive Harvey College having the largest percentage increase. This increase comes after their fall uptick of 6.9 percent.

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

Official flags: HB605 requires state agencies and institutions to 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.

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.

Once again, the increase in enrollment comes after City Colleges has doubled-down on targeted efforts to enhance and expand college resources and educational pathways in recent years. City Colleges continue to meet the needs of the Chicago economy with quality, in-demand programs in transportation, distribution, logis-

Lemonade stands: SB119 prohib-

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Chicago Roadmap, an unprecedented partnership between Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago launched in 2020 create a seamless transition for CPS students to post-secondary options. CCC also offers Workforce Equity Initiatives and makes many scholarships, waivers, and grants available to students to help them attend college.

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

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

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.

“Through enrollment management and strategic marketing efforts, City Colleges will continue to make concerted efforts to educate the public on all the community college system has to offer, including in-demand, high-growth career pathways, transfer options for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree, and supports for adult learners looking to return to the classroom,” said Vice-Chancellor of Enrollment Dr. Darryl A. Williams, City Colleges of Chicago.

To view the full ICCB report, visit https://tinyurl.com/2p9c3yef.

(CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS PHOTO BY JERRY NOWICKI)

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge Returns to In-Person Competition in Longstanding Celebration of HBCU Academic Excellence

TORRANCE, Calif., PRNewswire

-- Honda will bring together more than 200 students and coaches from 32 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), with the in-person return of the 34th Honda Campus All-Star Challenge (HCASC), America’s premier academic competition for HBCU students. Hosted on the American Honda corporate campus in Torrance, Calif., HCASC is the only program of its kind and provides a national stage for high-achieving HBCU students to advance their dreams. The HCASC National Championship finals can be watched at 3:00 p.m. PT on April 20-21 at HCASC.com.

Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is a year-round program that celebrates Black excellence and showcases the academic talents of top HBCU students from across the country. Four-student teams from each participating school face off in head-tohead competition and must quickly answer questions about history, science, literature, religion, math, the arts, pop culture, and sports. HCASC challenges students to expand their scope of knowledge on a wide range of topics, with the opportunity to gain lifelong learning skills, including leadership, collaboration, and sportsmanship.

Based on the theme “Friends for Life,” participating students have the opportunity to build camaraderie with students from other HBCUs and gain mentorship opportunities with HCASC alumni. Additionally, Honda offers development seminars to help prepare students for success after graduation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HCASC was held virtually in 2021 and 2022. This year’s HCASC theme, “Driving

the Legacy,” celebrates the rich history and unique experience of HBCUs and aims to inspire students to create the life they envision for themselves. Honda created HCASC as a platform to help students pursue their dreams and annually provides more than $400,000 in institutional grants to all participating HBCUs, in addition to providing travel, meals and accommodations for the 32 teams. The winning school will receive a $75,000 institutional grant from Honda.

“Honda supports HBCUs because we believe they play a unique and critical role in society and in developing the next generation of leaders,” said Yvette Hunsicker, vice president of Corporate Social Responsibility and Inclusion & Diversity at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Beyond the gameplay, Honda Campus All-Star Challenge is truly a oneof-a-kind program that has provided multiple generations

of HBCU students with unforgettable experiences to meet and bond with their peers from different schools.”

In addition to HCASC, Honda’s support of HBCUs includes Honda Battle of the Bands, the nation’s premiere showcase for HBCU marching bands and dance teams, which returned to live format in February and was held for the first time on an HBCU campus at Alabama State University. Honda also has partnered with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and UNCF to provide scholarship funding to support HBCU students pursuing an education in engineering, supply chain management, and manufacturing-related fields.

The 2023 HCASC participating HBCUs are: Alabama A&M University, Alabama State University, Albany State University, Benedict College, Bowie State University, Central State University, Cheyney University-Pennsylvania, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, Howard University, Kentucky State University, Langston University, Lincoln University-Pennsylvania, Morehouse College, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Oakwood University, Prairie View A&M University, Shaw University, Southern University-Baton Rouge, Spelman College, Stillman College, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, University-District of Columbia, Virginia State University, Winston-Salem State University.

To follow the teams’ road to the HCASC National Championship, visit the HCASC Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Learn more at https://www.honda.com/community/ diversity-reports.

Public Historically Black Colleges Unite to Launch Student Success Coaching Network

WASHINGTON, PRNewswire -- Thousands of current and former students at public Historically Black Colleges and Universities will receive one-on-one success coaching and support, thanks to a new initiative announced by the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the national nonprofit representing nearly 300,000 students attending 47 HBCU member institutions, and the Partnership for Education Advancement, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides capacity building support and sustainable solutions to mission-focused higher education institutions. In collaboration with student success nonprofit InsideTrack, the organizations will launch a four-year, multi-campus initiative that will provide one-on-one success coaching to help remove barriers to college enrollment and success for students at a network of 16 HBCUs nationwide.

“Over the past few years, we’ve seen record growth in enrollments and applications at some HBCU campuses, and outside investments are leading to an exciting new era of impact and innovation,” said Harry Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund. “HBCUs disproportionately enroll and support students from low-income backgrounds as well as those who are first-generation college students—students who gain significant value from this type of one-on-one coaching and support. By both providing individualized coaching for current and former students, as well as building capacity for institutions to continue this important work over time, this initiative will help institutions capitalize on the current momentum.”

The coaching work will support current and returning HBCU students as they work to clarify their academic, career and personal goals; identify potential obstacles and a plan to overcome them; and stay motivated as they encounter challenges on the path to completion. The

network initiative will be managed by Partnership for Education Advancement (Ed Advancement) and is made possible by philanthropic support from Blue Meridian Partners as part of its HBCU Transformation Project, a landmark initiative that seeks to improve student outcomes and increase the health and sustainability of HBCUs.

Over the next three years, the program will provide one-on-one success coaching services for up to 11,500 students, pairing stopped out students with a corps of professional InsideTrack success coaches who will work individually to help them navigate the barriers to returning to higher education and provide continued support to help them stay on track to graduation. In addition, the partnership will provide coaching support to more than 9,800 currently enrolled students over three years, helping them persist and stay on track to graduation.

“Despite historic underfunding and an array of systemic barriers, HBCUs have a remarkable track record of creating pathways to socioeconomic mobility for students of color and first-generation students,” said James Runcie, CEO and Co-Founder of the Partnership for Education Advancement. “Scaling the impact of HBCUs requires equipping them with individual supports and services that build on the strengths of the schools, that are financially sustainable, and that improve the student journey to successful outcomes. Individualized coaching will support HBCUs in ensuring students can set and achieve their own goals, and capacity building will allow this work to continue into the future.”

The partnership with Ed Advancement and TMCF builds on InsideTrack’s long-standing work to bring its evidence-based coaching model to support HBCU institutions and students over the past decade.

Beginning in the second year of the engagement,

InsideTrack and Ed Advancement will work across the 16 Thurgood Marshall College Fund member colleges to build a coaching corps of 80 professionally trained student success coaches, 50 certified program leaders—and another 21 observers and 35 trainers qualified to certify and train new coaches, with participating HBCUs beginning to operate the coaching programs independently in year four.

“As a proud HBCU alumna and daughter of an HBCU educator, I have been the beneficiary of the rich educational experiences, campus community and lifelong connections afforded by the Historically Black college experience,” said Malika Clinkscales, associate vice president for partner success at InsideTrack. “Ultimately, our vision for this work is to build an HBCU community of practice that will bring innovations in student support and success coaching to thousands of students of color nationwide.”

Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs. TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.

PRNewsfoto/Honda

5 REASONS TO STAY AT THE WESTIN RESORT & SPA UBUD, BALI

BALI, Indonesia, PRNewswire -- With its trademark Heavenly® Bed and Heavenly® Bath in every room, suites and villas, river valley views, freeform beautiful infinity pool overlooking the lush green jungle to unwind and relax, here are five reasons of why you should make a reservation at The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali; The only hotel in Ubud that delivers six pillars of wellbeing

With its well-being concept, The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali focuses on the six pillars of well-being. Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well and Play Well are the guiding principles, which combine the most important needs of hotel guests at the highest level.

Perfectly located

Tribute Portfolio Sparks New Perspectives in the Seychelles With the Opening of laïla, Seychelles, a Tribute Portfolio Resort

BETHESDA, Md., PRNewswire -- Tribute Portfolio – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s growing collection of characterful, independent hotels, welcomes its latest addition with the opening of laïla, Seychelles, a Tribute Portfolio Resort. Marking the brand’s debut in the Seychelles, the resort offers an oasis perfect for island exploration and revitalization set in the serenity of a natural botanical paradise. Located close to Anse Royal, the photo-ready white sandy beach on the Southeastern coast of Mahé, the Seychelles’ largest island the resort set to showcase the hidden gems of the island for travelers and locals who seek out independent experiences and crave a connection with the community when traveling.

“The remote country of Seychelles is as fascinating as it is eye-catching with its own indie spirit, making for a mesmerizing setting for our first Tribute Portfolio property,” said Jennifer Connell, Global Brand Leader, Tribute Portfolio, and Vice President, Distinctive Premium Brands, Marriott International. “From its captivating design and vibrant social spaces to moments of sincere service – hallmarks that bring the brand to life across our family of independent hotels – Iaïla, Seychelles, a Tribute Portfolio Resort has its own unique personality and is destined to rise to the top of every traveler’s ‘must-experience’ list.”

Designed by MMAC Design, the resort has a harmoniously calming color palette complemented by bold pops of green which pay homage to the beautiful tropical surroundings. With carefully curated interiors, guests will appreciate the intricate detailing throughout, including the lobby ceiling which has been carved to reflect the shapes of the many islands in the Seychelles. Each of the resort’s 76 bespoke guest rooms are decorated with nature-inspired aesthetics, featuring a mural of the Seychelles’ plant silhouette, hand woven macramé bed board, and room separator made with wood and rattan, the natural materials often used in the island’s traditional architecture. In addition, families or a collective of friends can choose from the resort’s eight boutique suites, including the Senior Suite with a private plunge pool and private terrace overlooking the Indian Ocean and surrounding mountains.

The resort features no shortage of distinct amenities, including a water sports center, outdoor

swimming pool, 24/7 gym, spa, barbershop, and kids’ recreation area. Tailor-made for guests who want to be part of something and seek out experiences that draw them into a larger community, the resort’s expansive activity offerings draw on the Seychellois spirit to captivate minds. Guests can take part in thoughtfully curated village experiences including Creole cooking classes, traditional weaving demonstrations, and evenings dancing around the bonfire to the traditional and charming sounds of Moutya music. Guests looking to live like a local can join insiders on day trips to explore the village market, embark on a fishing trip, hike through the jungle, or take expeditions to neighboring islands arranged by native experts. Additionally, guests can enjoy sunrise yoga, jogging along the resort’s tropical trails, jewelry making using foraged shells, or opt for water sports including paddle boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling at the famous uninhabited ‘Ile Souris’ coral island, which is frequented by an array of coral fish and sea turtles.

After a day of inspiring adventures, guests can relax at the laïla Spa with expert therapists who offer a full range of facial and body treatments, which include healing practices using only organic and handmade products made with local ingredients, such as coconut, vanilla, and cinnamon.

A foodies’ haven, the resort features five restaurants and bars, designed to capture the spirit of the community and attract guests and locals alike. Laroul offers an international array of cuisines and cultures with a distinctive Seychellois touch throughout the breakfast and dinner services. Signature dishes feature daily catches from the Indian Ocean and seasonal produce, such as Grilled Red Snapper and Flambé with Star Fruit. Kafe Kreol Beachside Bar and Restaurant is designed with a rustic concept and décor, serving up authentic Creole and Italian cuisine paired with both classic and locally inspired cocktails made with Takamaka Bay rum and fresh local produce such as coconuts and tamarind. For guests who gravitate towards a sip and swim session, the poolside Laroul Bar offers expertly prepared drinks and snacks.

To check out the new property, visit www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/seztx-iaila-seychelles-a-tribute-portfolio-resort.

The resort will feast your eyes on the lushness of green expanse in view. For keen travelers looking to explore Ubud, The Westin Ubud is nestled only 10-minutes away to Ubud key areas such as Sacred Ubud Monkey Forest, Ubud Palace, Ubud Art Market and 15-minutes away to famous Tegalalang Rice Terrace.

Exceptional wellbeing experience at Heavenly Spa by Westin™ Ubud

Heavenly Spa by Westin™ Ubud offer a signature ritual The Ultimate Spiritual Journey to explore Bali’s spiritual side with purification that affect the positivity and energy field also can help guests release imbalances that have left residual negativity causing blocks and stress in life, continue with metenung or palm reading, tri-mandala meditation for chakra balancing, and a 60-minute Heavenly Sacred Treatment.

Dine at unrivalled and tropical forest views at Tall Trees Restaurant

Tall Trees, located on the first floor near the infinity pool, offers a magnificent dining experience enhanced by tranquil ambience and nature sounds, with dishes ranging from local specialties to Mediterranean dishes that adhere to the Westin’s Eat Well Menu principle.

Amazing experience opportunities

The numerous activities available to guests are guaranteed to stimulate senses while providing insights into Bali’s fascinating culture and traditions. The Westin Ubud Farm offers you a chance to explore the beauty of Ubud’s natural surroundings from breakfast to afternoon tea like no other.

Enjoy a special room offer with Ubud Retreat Escape with a 2-night refreshing stay that includes a wellness recovery with spiritual healing journey for two people to relax and restore your balance. Visit www.westinubud.com and other hotel events and promotions through Instagram at @thewestinubud.

Marriott International, Inc.

Get ready to rise at The Westin Ubud-Bali with an experience set amidst rolling green hills. The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali

CURLS Launches TRANSLATE Campaign to Empower Women with Textured Hair

DALLAS, PRNewswire -- CURLS, the most recognized natural hair care brand in North America, the textured hair aisle, and the multicultural community, is excited to announce the launch of its 2023 Hair Trend Release TRANSLATE: a compilation of defined hair textures, forms, and angles using cornrows, braids and lots of curls to create five elevated, consciously curated yet versatile hairstyles using CURLS high performance styling products. This collection is truly designed to empower women with textured hair to speak their truth and express themselves through their hair.

“Our hair is a statement of who we are,” said Mahisha Dellinger, Founder of CURLS. “It’s a reflection of our heritage, our culture, and our identity. We created a campaign that empowers Black women to embrace their individuality and express themselves confidently through their hair. WE are tastemakers, WE are trendsetters.”

The launch will kick off with a campaign video to introduce TRANSLATE and tell the story of how this portfolio of hairstyles and products were thoughtfully designed with a bold perspective to connect to the CURLS consumer and empower them to speak their truth

The five hairstyles in the TRANSLATE collection are each named to express CURLS’ perspective on the spirit and beauty of black women now, 20 years ago at the founding of CURLS, and forever. The hairstyles and products are as follows:

EMPOWERED: A striking hairstyle featuring a braided Bantu knot crown supported by a buzz cut on both sides. Long face-framing braids hang elegantly, and cowrie shells and gold bands add the final touch.

Capsule includes: Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner, Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste, Ultimate Styling Collection B N Control Sculpting Gel, Sea Moss Sea Mineral Infused Curl Slime

CAPTIVATING: An effortless high bun with controlled texture, perfect for a polished, chic look day or night.

Capsule includes: Aloe & Blueberry Juice Curl Moisturizer, Sea Moss Mineral Infused Curl Slime, Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Paste

RESILIENT: A tribute to the rebounding spirit of women, this hairstyle features defined cornrows fanning back towards a halo twist. Thicker braids hang effortlessly down the side

COACH UNVEILS “IN MY TABBY” CAMPAIGN

NEW YORK, PRNewswire -- Coach today unveiled “In My Tabby,” a campaign that celebrates the defining moments that make us who we are, featuring the brand’s iconic silhouette, the Tabby bag. Directed and photographed by Charlotte Wales, the campaign underscores the message that what we carry makes us stronger through the personal narratives of Coach Family, including Lil Nas X, Camila Mendes, Kōki, and Wu JinYan. “In My Tabby” tells these stories through the lens of identity, constant evolution, and the journeys of the cast to become all of who they are today.

Reimagining and disrupting the popular “What’s In My Bag” phenomenon, the campaign redefines what we carry not just in terms of physical objects, but emotions—the experiences, personal journeys and aspirations that shape who we are—that we carry with us as we continue to create ourselves. In the films, Lil Nas X explores his future creative aspirations, Camila Mendes shares her story of embracing her multiple selves as a Brazilian-American actress; Kōki sheds light on trying new paths in life; and Wu JinYan discusses turning career challenges into opportunities. Stories of courage that are both authentic and accessible, these journeys capture the emotional message of self-creation central to “In My Tabby”—to inspire audiences to express and explore all of who they are. The campaign also powerfully redefines fashion as a platform to tell human stories, and bags as symbols for something much more meaningful than style or status.

At the center of the story sits the Coach Tabby, a modern icon the house has reimagined for the next generation’s spirit of individualism, fluidity and courageous self-expression. Envisioned by Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers as a reimagination of an archival bag from the 70s and featuring Coach’s Signature hardware, the Tabby captures the brand’s quintessential American design language of character and craftsmanship for a new generation. Explored in recent years in a multitude of aesthetic iterations, the Tabby has also garnered cultural resonance through TikTok, where it gained a cult following.

of the face, beyond the backdrop of a textured blunt cut.

Capsule includes: Hair Under There Bomb Braid In Conditioner, Hair Under There Protect Me Styling Pomade, Hair Under There Soothing & Cooling Scalp Potion, Blueberry Bliss Repair and Grow Sculpting Mousse

CONFIDENT: A combination of smooth textured hair on both sides, with defined cornrows climbing up to the crown of the head leading to cascading curls and effortless volume.

Capsule includes: Blueberry Bliss Blueberry and Coconut Hair Milk, Sea Moss Nourish & Shine Sea Moss Foam, Blueberry Bliss Curl Control Jelly

READY: This style kit includes everything women need to protect their scalp and hair and stay ready, whether they’re wearing side bangs or braids.

Capsule includes: Hair Under There Bomb Braid In Conditioner, Hair Under There Soothing & Cooling Scalp Potion, Hair Under There Protect Me Edge Styling Pomade

Each hairstyle in the TRANSLATE collection comes with a specially curated kit of CURLS products to help women recreate the look at home, including leave-in conditioners, styling gels, and more. Additionally, each kit comes with a free CURLS Edge Brush or Texture Turban.

Founded in 2002 by Mahisha Dellinger, CURLS has developed into a leader in the haircare market for over 20 years, creating innovative, high-performance hair styling and care products inspired by nature and the freedom of self-expression for the diverse needs of curly and textured hair. Visit curls.com or follow us @CURLS on Instagram.

“I’ve always believed that fashion should be about more than only style, it should be about community, and creating safe spaces where people feel free to express themselves,” said Coach Creative Director Stuart Vevers. “’In My Tabby’ brings together our Coach Family and collaborators to celebrate stories of creativity and courage that embody our vision for Coach to inspire people to fully express all of who they are.”

“’In My Tabby’ is a continuation of our journey to tell stories and connect emotionally with our audiences through the Courage to Be Real, our brand purpose focused on inspiring courageous self-expression and exploring all of who you are,” said Coach Global Chief Marketing Officer and North America President, Sandeep Seth. “Today, we are only at the start of this journey, aiming to disrupt the traditional approach of putting the brand at the center of everything, instead shifting our focus to the consumer. Our goal is to create an emotional connection with Coach’s consumers through storytelling rooted in insights about their lives—and creating human experiences at every touchpoint across channels. With everything we do, we want to inspire people everywhere to have the confidence to express themselves in their own way.”

Coach will additionally bring “In My Tabby” to life around the world with experiences inspired by the campaign’s message, including a series of colorful pop-ups and activations where customers can explore and discover the Coach Tabby bag that best fits their personality and style, and a metaverse experience created for Decentraland’s Metaverse Fashion Week this month where users go inside a Coach Tabby bag and discover a world where they can interact with digital artists and collect Coach Tabby wearables designed in collaboration with AR fashion platform Zero10. Coach will also introduce a new “Made to Order Tabby” service where customers can design their own Tabby with a choice of leather, colors and hardware—offering the traditionally exclusive luxury experience of designing your own bag to customers at an accessible price-point, further highlighting the Coach Tabby as the bag that’s truly for everyone.

Building on Coach’s Courage To Be Real mission introduced last fall, “In My Tabby” disrupts the role of the brand campaign to a powerful vehicle for telling human stories connected by a shared purpose. Part of a decisive shift integral to Coach’s broader vision of Expressive Luxury and its vision to evolve into a platform for the next generation’s self-expression, the campaign aims to create emotional relevance with its Generation Z and younger Millennial target audiences—as reflected in its recent ranking on The Lyst Index: Fashion’s Hottest Brands.

Coach is a global fashion house founded in New York in 1941. Inspired by the vision of Creative Director Stuart Vevers and the inclusive and courageous spirit of its hometown, the brand makes beautiful things, crafted to last—for you to be yourself in.

Coach is a Tapestry, Inc. brand. Tapestry is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker TPR.

With an all-electric future on our horizon, ComEd knows our grid will have to be smarter, more resilient and reliable than ever before. That’s why we’re making investments and upgrading technology today, to ensure we continue to deliver reliable service to you and your family for generations to come. So, when everything goes electric, we’ll be ready. Because lighting your life brightens our day.

Record-breaking reliability, powered by ComEd.

When everything’s electric, we’ll be ready.

Education Department Announces Use of Secret Shopping to Protect Students, Crack Down on Institutions that Lure Students with Lies

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) announced that the Enforcement Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) will use secret shoppers as an additional tool to monitor postsecondary institutions’ compliance with the laws and regulations governing their participation in the federal student aid programs. In particular, secret shoppers will evaluate recruitment, enrollment, financial aid, and other practices of postsecondary institutions to help identify potentially deceptive or predatory practices used to recruit and enroll students.

“Secret shopping is another tool in FSA’s toolbox as we expand our oversight work to hold predatory schools accountable,” said FSA Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray. “Our focus—as always—is to ensure that students, borrowers, families, and taxpayers are not being preyed upon to make a quick buck.”

Specifically, secret shoppers will look for misrepresentations regarding the transferability of credits, job placement rates, completion and withdrawal rates, graduates’ future earning potential, career services, the cost of attendance, the amount of federal student aid, and accreditation status, along with any other practices that may violate the laws and regulations governing an institution’s participation in the federal student aid programs.

Findings from secret shopping may serve as evidence to support an ongoing investigation or review, or provide a basis for opening a new investigation or review. Where appropriate and permitted, FSA will refer findings from its secret shopping efforts to other Department offices, including the Office of Inspector General, and share findings with other law enforcement partners at the state and federal levels.

“Schools that engage in fraud or misconduct are on notice that we may be listening, and they should clean up accordingly,” said Kristen Donoghue, FSA’s chief enforcement officer. “But schools that treat current and prospective students fairly and act lawfully have nothing to fear from secret shopping.”

and take action against schools that do not put their students’ interests first;

Improving Student Outcomes by Bolstering

School Oversight

This work represents some of the latest progress on the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to improving student outcomes, including by holding low-performing and predatory schools accountable for swindling students out of time and money and leaving taxpayers holding the bill.

In October 2021, the Department reinvigorated school oversight and accountability efforts within FSA by reestablishing an Enforcement Office and hiring a chief enforcement officer, who reports directly to FSA’s chief operating officer. That has already paid dividends. For example, in fiscal year 2022, FSA:

Initiated dozens of actions, including denying 10 school recertifications; revoking six Provisional Program Participation Agreements, which enable schools to participate in the Title IV program; and issuing two terminations, five suspensions, seven debarments, and eight fines totaling $2.3 million;

Opened new investigations into fraud and deceptive practices at multiple schools and completed related site visits;

Strengthened its relationships with state and federal partners, including the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Department of Veterans Affairs, and state attorneys general, to identify

Released guidance outlining how it will implement long-standing provisions in the Higher Education Act that grant the Secretary authority to require leaders of private colleges that fail to operate in a financially responsible way to assume personal liability for the cost of unpaid debts owed to the Department of Education; and Approved group discharges based on borrower defense findings, providing approximately $11.4 billion in relief to 875,000 students who attended Corinthian Colleges, Inc., ITT Tech, Marinello Schools of Beauty, and Westwood College.

In addition to today’s secret shopper bulletin, FSA issued two other enforcement bulletins to bolster school compliance and better communicate with outside stakeholders. The first bulletin warned schools that the Department will act aggressively when it finds misrepresentations made to servicemembers and veterans by schools. FSA’s chief enforcement officer also wrote about the Department’s commitment to protecting military-connected students. The second bulletin announced a new avenue for knowledgeable sources to submit tips about potential violations of the laws and regulations governing the federal student aid programs.

FSA conducts oversight to protect students who receive federal student loans, grants, and work-study funds to attend postsecondary schools. FSA’s oversight also ensures the quality of educational programs and safeguards the interests of taxpayers through audits, investigations, and program reviews, among other oversight actions.

ROCK THE BELLS FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS AUGUST CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF HIP-HOP

QUEENS, N.Y., PRNewswire -- Rock The Bells, the global platform dedicated to elevating Hip-Hop culture from its roots to the modern day, announced the return of the Rock The Bells Festival, taking place on Saturday, August 5, at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY. The dynamic, daylong celebration will serve as THE pinnacle moment to celebrate 50 Years of Hip-Hop, with a legendary lineup in the city that launched a movement and shifted culture.

It also marks the 5-year anniversary of Rock The Bells, marked by the premiere of Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM. In celebration of these milestones and their continued partnership, a dedicated billboard will be on display in Times Square above the Pedestrian Plaza, live for 24 hours only.

The festival lineup will be announced in April, and attendees can expect performances by some of Hip-Hop’s most revered icons, including MCs, DJs, and producers, in addition to one-of-a-kind immersive experiences underscoring Hip-Hop’s impact on fashion, art, and food over the span of five decades.

“For 50 years, Hip-Hop has impacted the world, often without recognition. At Rock The Bells, we consistently honor the culture through creative content, commerce, and experiences and this year, we’ve made it a priority to show up for the culture on another level,” said LL COOL J, Founder and CEO of Rock The Bells. “The Rock The Bells Festival is the place to be to celebrate HipHop and capture the breadth of its impact throughout generations in music, fashion, art, and more. It’s a oncein-a-lifetime experience. If you love Hip-Hop, you know where to go on August 5.”

The festival also kicks off a week of live events, activations, and programming moments leading up to National Hip-Hop day on August 11th, the official, recognized anniversary of the culture.

Fans can sign up today to be first in line to access presale tickets on April 11 at rockthebellsfestival.com for the most talked about 50 Years of Hip-Hop celebration during the festival.

Rock The Bells is the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop. Founded in 2018 by LL COOL J, Rock The Bells focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the CULTURE and the core elements of Hip-Hop — MCs, DJs, Breakers, Graffiti Artists — and more. Rock The Bells is the bridge between OG’s and those inspired by their groundbreaking influences on the culture. Visit us at www.rockthebells.com, stream LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM Channel 43, and follow us @RockTheBells.

The Bowery Presents, an AEG Presents company, is the leading East Coast concert promoter, whose mission is to bring the best artists to New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and beyond while providing an excellent concert experience for both fans and artists. Since its inception, The Bowery Presents has been a purveyor of true artist development and consistently strives to work with artists like Brandi Carlile, LCD Soundsystem, Maggie Rogers, Gary Clark Jr., Khruangbin, Leon Bridges and Lake Street Dive to grow from performing in intimate clubs to performing in sold-out arenas. As a trusted industry tastemaker, The Bowery Presents produces dynamic entertainment experiences at dozens of venues nationally, presenting thousands of shows annually. For more information, visit www.bowerypresents. com.

The Rock The Bells Festival is co-produced by The Bowery Presents. Festival updates and lineup announcements can also be found across Rock The Bells’ Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Hollywood Star Halle Bailey Helps Disney Dreamers Academy Students DREAM BIG at Walt Disney World Resort

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – One hundred students from across the country celebrated the conclusion of the 16th year of Disney Dreamers Academy with an emotional commencement ceremony at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, featuring an inspirational speech by Grammy-nominated singer Halle Bailey, who will play Ariel in the upcoming live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.’’ The annual four-day event also included empowering sessions from a host of celebrities; special once-in-a lifetime surprise opportunities for students; performances from Disney Live Entertainment; and a moving ring ceremony to mark the teens’ special achievement at the culmination of the event.

The teens, recognized as Disney Dreamers, were selected from among thousands of applicants to participate in the mentoring program. Created and hosted by Walt Disney World, the program is designed to broaden career awareness and create opportunities for Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America.

The 100 students, along with a parent or guardian, received an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to participate in the program.

“Disney Dreamers Academy is an important part of Walt Disney World’s commitment to supporting Black students and teens from underrepresented communities across America, by encouraging the next generation to think big and to carry what they learn back

home with them,” said Tracey D. Powell, Vice President of Travel Services/ Pricing and Revenue Management and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion. “We hope to encourage these dreamers to relentlessly pursue their dreams and make a difference in the lives of others.”

The event was highlighted by some unique experiences for all the students as well as some special surprise moments, where select teens received “dream-come-true’’ career opportunities and experiences, such as:

All 100 students enjoyed an exclusive opportunity to be part of a magical parade at Magic Kingdom Park with Bailey.

Several students experienced the new TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise ahead of its official opening at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4.

Two aspiring teen filmmakers were surprised by Bailey with a personal invitation to join her on the red carpet at the upcoming world premiere of the live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” in Hollywood.

Three teens interested in music careers got a surprise visit from Grammy award-winning artist H.E.R., who gifted each teen an autographed guitar.

One student interested in a broadcast career was surprised by ABC’s Good Morning America, which invited the teen to take part in an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the show from its New York studios.

www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com

PRNewsfoto/Rock The Bells

Instacart Announces Instacart Health Products For Providers Designed To Power Food As Medicine Programs At Scale

SAN FRANCISCO, PRNewswire -- Instacart, the leading grocery technology company in North America, announced the availability of a suite of digital tools for providers across the country to enhance collaborative care, promote healthy choices, and deliver nutritious foods to patients and their families. The announcement is in collaboration with today’s White House event that continues the work started at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to help end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030.

“We know that access to nutritious foods can deliver healthier outcomes, but a number of challenges have prevented healthcare providers from effectively adopting food as medicine programs at scale. With Instacart Health, we have the unique opportunity to partner with providers to expand proven nutrition programs and more deeply integrate food as medicine into standard patient care,” said Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President and General Manager of Instacart Health. “We’re proud to offer these products to help providers expand access to nutritious food and make medically-tailored groceries and meal advice more actionable. Together, we can help patients and their families take an active role in their health through food.”

It is widely accepted that nutrition is critical to health but today over 30 million people in the U.S. live in food-insecure households – including as many as 9 million children1. Studies have shown that nearly 46% of adults and 56% of children in the U.S. have an overall poor-quality diet2, and unhealthy diets account for more than $50 billion in U.S. healthcare costs3.

Providers understand the role nutritious diets can play in keeping people healthy, whether it’s ensuring a patient has access to day-to-day nutrients, helping a patient manage their diet-restrictive disease, or supporting a patient that needs to adhere to a strict diet to heal after surgery.

Instacart Health tools make it easy for providers to prescribe food just as they would medications, establishing new programs including virtual food pharmacies and expanding

access to nutrition. Instacart Health’s provider products today include:

Fresh Funds - Providers can give patients Fresh Funds – customizable Instacart stipends – to enable patients to directly purchase nutritious foods on Instacart from their provider’s curated selection of recommended items, or specific ingredients for medically-tailored meal plans. With Fresh Funds, patients can select the foods that best fit their personal tastes and dietary needs and order directly from Instacart grocery retailers using their stipend. Patients can also use SNAP benefits or traditional funds to complete

These access products can be combined with additional provider tools designed to educate and inspire patients to make healthier choices, including:

Virtual Storefronts - Now available across the country, Instacart’s custom Virtual Storefronts help providers educate and inspire their patients to make choices that will positively impact their health. Patients can visit their provider’s curated shop, browse specific foods recommended by their provider, and order them directly from their favorite local retailer for same-day delivery. Virtual Storefronts make it easier for patients to identify the best foods for their health and prioritize nutritious choices.

Shoppable Recipes - Instacart’s recipes widget lets providers make their recommended healthy recipes shoppable, enabling patients and caregivers to add recipe ingredients directly to their Instacart grocery cart with the click of a button. Shoppable Recipes were built to help make healthy choices easier.

Lists for Nutrition - With Lists, providers can easily build and share medically-tailored grocery lists with their patients, making a food as medicine plan immediately actionable and convenient for the patients in their care. Instead of leaving the appointment with a printout of a recommended diet, patients can shop from their provider-recommended foods through Instacart, and have those items delivered to their homes in as fast as an hour.

their weekly shopping trip online in one order. As part of this program, patients can consent to share their purchase history back to their provider. Today, Instacart is available to more than 95% of U.S. households, allowing providers nationwide to use this tool to increase patient access to nutritious foods and incentivize the adoption of healthier habits.

Care Carts - Using Care Carts, providers can send custom grocery deliveries – based on a physician recommended diet – directly to patients in their care. This technology can also give providers tools to measure program effectiveness and identify where nutritious foods can make the greatest impacts in health.

1 No Kid Hungry. “Facts About Child Hunger in America.” https://www.nokidhungry.org/who-we-are/ hungerfacts#:~:text=Yet%20it%20happens%20%2D%20 every%20day,to%20lead%20a%20healthy%20life

2 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. “Strengthening national nutrition research: rationale and options for a new coordinated federal research effort and authority.” July 20, 2020. https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/ article/112/3/721/5873352

3 PLOS Medicine. “Cardiometabolic disease costs associated with suboptimal diet in the United States: A cost analysis based on a microsimulation model.” December 17, 2019. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1002981

FDA Works to Further Improve Nutrition, Reduce Diet-Related Chronic Disease with Dietary Guidance Statements on Food Labels

SILVER SPRING, Md., PRNewswire -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued draft guidance that provides food manufacturers with recommendations on how and when to use Dietary Guidance Statements on the label of food products to ensure the label statements promote good nutrition, provide greater consistency in labeling, and assist consumers in making informed choices. This guidance is part of the FDA’s overall goal to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity through improved nutrition.

“Diet-related chronic diseases, are the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. and disproportionally impact communities of color and people living in rural areas,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “The FDA is committed to being a part of the solution to improve the health of millions of Americans. Today’s action is another step towards helping consumers make informed choices about the foods they eat.”

Today’s eating patterns in the U.S. do not align with current federal dietary recommendations, which focus on the entirety of the diet and how foods and beverages work together to affect health. Dietary Guidance Statements are statements in food labeling which are based on key recommendations from consensus reports, such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, that discuss how a food or food group can be a part of a nutritious dietary pattern. The statements may include symbols or pictures that convey to consumers that a food or a food group may contribute to, or help maintain, a nutritious dietary pattern.

Examples of Dietary Guidance Statements include: “Make half your grains whole grain,” and “Eat leafy green vegetables as part of a nutritious dietary patten.” The draft

guidance provides the agency’s thinking about the use of such statements, including recommendations that products contain a meaningful amount of the food, or category of foods, that is the subject of the statement, and that they also not exceed certain amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars. The recommendations in the guidance can enhance consistency in the use of such statements and consumer understanding as well as facilitate industry innovation toward healthier foods. Like other labeling statements and claims, Dietary Guidance Statements act as quick signals on food packages to help consumers better understand nutrition information and make healthier food choices.

This action is part of the FDA’s overall nutrition initiatives, which include empowering consumers by providing more informative labeling and education, including tailored messages for various audiences to help consumers identify foods that can contribute to healthier diets. It is also part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which provides a roadmap of actions the federal government will take to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030 – all while reducing disparities. Complementing today’s guidance and the National Strategy, the FDA issued a proposed rule in September 2022 to update the definition of “healthy” on food labels and help consumers more easily identify healthy food choices. The agency’s work also supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities, a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all of society to make bold commitments to advance the Strategy’s goals. The Challenge builds on the success of the $8 billion package of private and public sector commitments that the Administration announced as part of

the historic conference.

Another priority of the FDA’s nutrition efforts is to create a healthier food supply for all. In October 2021, the FDA issued final guidance for the food industry that provided voluntary, short-term sodium reduction targets for a broad range of processed, packaged and prepared foods to help reduce the amount of sodium in the U.S. food supply.

“In addition to the Dietary Guidance Statements draft guidance, reducing sodium intake and updating the definition of “healthy” are two other examples of how the agency is showing its commitment to fostering a healthier food supply for all and empowering consumers with more informative and accessible labeling to choose healthier diets,” said Susan Mayne, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “We are making great strides in our nutrition initiatives in order to improve the health and wellness of our nation.”

The FDA remains committed to doing its part in the all-of-government approach to improving nutrition, which can have a lasting generational impact on reducing chronic diseases and advancing health equity. The agency is moving forward with additional nutrition and labeling priorities, including exploring a “front-of-pack” labeling initiative and recommendations for nutrition labeling for online grocery shopping sites. Additionally, the FDA will begin assessing further strategies to reduce added sugar consumption, which includes collaborating with others in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to hold a public meeting regarding future steps the federal government could take to reduce intake of added sugars.

PRNewsFoto

Mini Banana Rice Pancakes

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Servings: 2

1 cup Minute Brown Rice & Quinoa

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 bananas, divided

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup pure maple syrup, divided

4 teaspoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat rice and quinoa according to package directions. In large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In medium bowl, whisk milk and lemon juice. Let stand 5 minutes.

Mash 1/2 banana. Transfer to milk mixture. Add egg and 1 teaspoon maple syrup; stir to combine. Stir in melted butter. Pour milk mixture over flour mixture. Whisk just until combined; do not overmix. Fold in rice and quinoa. Let batter rest 10-15 minutes.

Preheat large nonstick skillet over medium heat; brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Once skillet is hot, reduce heat to medium-low. In batches, adding oil as necessary, scoop 1 tablespoon batter per pancake into skillet and cook 3-4 minutes, or until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes until golden on bottom.

Slice remaining half and full bananas. Serve pancakes with remaining maple syrup, banana slices and cinnamon.

Break Out Brunch Favorites for Spring Celebrations

(Family Features) Deck your kitchen, dining room or patio with bright decor and fun, festive springtime frills – brunch season is here. Whether your weekend morning meal is shared with that special someone or friends, family and neighbors, warm, sunny days can bring out the best of brunch.

Impress your loved one with these Mini Banana Rice Pancakes for two, a healthy and satisfying meal made with Minute Brown Rice & Quinoa Cups. This recipe allows for more moments together at the table because the whole-grain combination is ready in just 1 minute and prep time is minimal.

Pairing the crunchiness of red quinoa with the chewy texture of brown rice, these cups earned a spot on the “Men’s Health” Best Foods for Men Awards in 2022. Plus, packed in single-serve portions, you can eat the grains right out of the BPA-free cup for a simple lunch or snack that provides a good source of fiber with 55 grams of whole grains in each serving.

If you need a dish that feeds a crowd, put this Hearty Bacon and Egg Breakfast on the menu. Ready in 35 minutes, it can satisfy brunch cravings for a group of up to 12 as a main course that easily pairs with other morning favorites.

As an ideal complement to the eggs, bacon and cheese, Minute Rice & Quinoa can make this family-style recipe a breeze. In just 10 minutes, the tasty blend of brown rice, red rice, wild rice and quinoa cooks up light and fluffy for a slightly chewy, nutty flavor. It’s also a dependable replacement for oatmeal in other breakfast dishes so you can complete your mission to make meals quick and enjoyable. Not to mention, the bag is BPA-free and recyclable via store drop-off in most communities, while the carton is recyclable curbside.

Find more brunch inspiration for spring celebrations at MinuteRice.com.

Hearty Bacon and Egg Breakfast

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 12

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 bags Minute Rice & Quinoa

9 eggs, lightly beaten

5 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 325 F. Coat 12-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Prepare rice and quinoa according to package directions. In medium bowl, combine rice and quinoa, eggs, bacon, cheese, salt and pepper, to taste.

Divide batter between prepared cups and bake 18-20 minutes, or until eggs are just set.

AC

REALESTATE

IN

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 NOTbe 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.

1496-188288 ADC INTERCOUNTYJUDICIALSALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3215720

IN THE CIRCUITCOURTOF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPART-

MENT- CHANCERYDIVISION U.S. Bank

Trust, N.A., as Trustee for LSFIO Master

Participation Trust Plaintiff, vs. Julie M. McKirchy aka Julie Marie McKirchy aka Julie Marie Smith aka Julie McKirchy;

Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Keith B. McKirchy aka Keith B. B. McKirchy aka Keith McKirchy; Cary Rosenthal Special Representative for Keith B. McKirchy aka Keith B. B. McKirchy aka Keith McKirchy; Jessika McKirchy; Unknown Owners and Non- Record Claimants Defendants, 18 CH

9508 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE

IS HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty

Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison

within twentyfour (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOTbe open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHTTO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRYOF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 22 9731. THE JUDICIALSALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL,

32-06-309-014-0000.

real estate: P.I.N.

Commonly known as 2036 Marston Ln , Flossmoor, IL60422. 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 NOTbe 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. 6706-180335 ADC INTERCOUNTYJUDICIALSALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3216856

IN THE CIRCUITCOURTOF COOK

COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPART-

MENT- CHANCERYDIVISION BMO HAR-

RIS BANK NA; Plaintiff, vs. YOLANDA MARTINEZ; BMO HARRIS BANK NA; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 7772

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, May 9, 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. 32-32-411-019-0000; 3232-411-020-0000; 32-32-411-021-0000; 3232-411-022-0000; 32-32-411-023-0000; 3232-411-024-0000. Commonly known as 3141 Green St., Steger, IL60475. 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. 6180-186562 INTERCOUNTYJUDICIALSALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3216877

IN THE CIRCUITCOURTOF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTYDEPARTMENT- CHANCERYDIVISION U.S. BANK TRUSTNATIONALASSOCIATION, NOTIN ITS INDIVIDUALCAPACITYBUTSOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR GS MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES TRUST

2021-RPL1 Plaintiff, -v.- FELICIAL. NEUSTADTER, NCEP, LLC Defendants

2022 CH 04612 129 PEACH STREET PARK FOREST, IL60466 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 27, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 9, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 129 PEACH STREET, PARK FOREST, IL60466 Property Index No. 31-36-104-006-0000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $143,289.09. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation.

No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in "AS IS" condition. The sale is further sub-

ject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOTbe open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHTTO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver's license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff's Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 22 9505. THE JUDICIALSALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Research Shows New Car Safety Features Can Help with Crash Reduction

their work to include such technologies as automatic emergency braking, lanekeeping assistance, blind-spot warning,

even if these safety features were deployed.

The research center has made the study’s data, found at toyota.com/CSRC, publicly available so that automakers, policymakers, technology research universities and tech companies can work together to continue to make safety gains and fill the crash prevention gap.

which new vehicle safety features to prioritize next? To find out, Toyota Collaborative Safety Research Center and Virginia Tech teamed up to research the potential benefits that different safety systems have in various crash scenarios. The team took realworld crashes and reconstructed the data, pe forming multiple crash simulations. They started modeling with more traditional “passive” safety features, like the latest vehicle structures, and extended

etc. Assuming full deployment and optimal activation of safety features, such as those that were modeled, their research showed that over half of all U.S. crashes could be avoided and nearly 60% of moderate to serious injuries could be mitigated. At the same time, the research also identified what types of crashes are likely to still occur

“While drivers can’t avoid every danger on the road, our research shows that safety systems have the potential to be very effective in reducing the risk and severity of crashes,” says Sherony. “It’s important to know that most automakers offer features like lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, audio warnings and steering assist (often with additional functionality).

When you search for your next car, consider these features, even possibly opting for those that do not come standardequipped. We hope that as drivers continue to adopt and use such technologies, we will be able to realize more of the accident mitigation and prevention benefits that they can offer, resulting in safer roads for everybody.”

Why You Should Consider a Hybrid for Your Next

(StatePoint) With gas prices surging and national efforts being made to reduce carbon emissions, you may be eyeing car models that promise to reduce or even eliminate your reliance on gas. However, depending on your lifestyle, location, finances, driving habits and other factors, you may not be ready to go fully electric just yet. The good news? Ahybrid is a great transitional vehicle to put you on the path to more sustainable driving now. Here’s why:

Hybrid vehicles, which combine smaller gas engines with battery-powered electric motors, make it possible for anyone to contribute to the fight against carbon emissions and reduce their gas expenses. In fact, today’s hybrids achieve 20-35% better fuel economy than conventional internal combustion engines, according to Green America. In the short term, hybrids are a cost-effective option compared with most all-electric vehicles currently on the market. While a battery electric vehicle will save you even further on fuel costs down the line, the average transaction price for one of these rides is still well above $60,000.

Ahybrid is also a key alternative to electric vehicles for those who live in locations where the current electric vehicle infrastructure doesn’t yet support everyday transport, or for those who don’t own a home where they can charge a vehicle at night. With greater fuel economy than a traditional internal combustion engine, and requiring no lifestyle overhaul to operate, hybrids are one way to reduce carbon emissions today.

Given these varied benefits, and the rising number of available vehicles with a hybrid powertrain, it’s no surprise that annual hybrid sales in the United States have more than doubled since 2019.

As you shop around, be sure to look for manufacturers with hybrids available across their entire lineup, from pickups and SUVs to sedans. This will help you find a model that matches your needs. Sporting blue badges, it’s easy to spot Toyota’s hybrid options on the lot. While hybrid technology has historically cost more, prices are leveling, and budget-conscious buyers will find options under $30k, including the Corolla Hybrid and the all-new Prius. Boasting all the latest safety and multimedia features, along with sleek exterior design, you won’t have to compromise on style or performance in the quest

for efficiency. To learn more about electrified vehicles, including hybrids, plugin hybrids, fuel cell electric and battery electric cars, visit toyota.com/electrified. Whether you are experiencing pain at the pump or simply want to live more sustainably, making your next vehicle a hybrid is an effortless step you can take to save money at the gas pump and reduce your carbon footprint.

ELIZABETH “LIZZIE G” ELIE LICENSED REALTOR