Week of NOVEMBER 1, 2017 | Vol 1 • No 11 • www.cstweekly.com
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Leveling the Playing Field for Illinois’ Children
Tasha Green Cruzat, President at Voices for Illinois Children Discusses a New Report More Inside Community > PAGE 3
w Fall for London this season TRAVEL > P2 advertising@cstweekly.com
w One librarian’s survival story in Puerto Rico POLITISCOPE > P3
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The future of healthcare
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ARTSCENE
Smithsonian, Hip-Hop and Rap Unite The Smithsonian has launched a 30-day Kickstarter The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap will be campaign for the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and the first collection to include music from every major label Rap, a powerful cultural statement told through an unequaled and dozens of independent label recordings. The anthology combination of music, text and stunning visuals. explores important issues and themes in hip-hop history, and The compilation, to be produced and released by Smithit provides a unique window into the many ways hip-hop has sonian Folkways Recordings, includes nine CDs, more than created new traditions and furthered musical and cultural 120 tracks and a 300-page book with extensive liner notes, traditions of the African diaspora. essays by artists and scholars, and never-before-published “We have always been passionately committed to docuphotographs from the National Museum of African American menting and celebrating music with strong social impact,” History and Culture’s collecsaid Huib Schippers, director tion. This campaign allows and curator of Smithsonian dedicated fans the chance to be Folkways Recordings. “Hipa part of the community that hop began in the 1970s as a helps bring this landmark projdistinctly African American ect to life—and into their homes. urban culture that has since “The Kickstarter campaign become a global phenometo produce a hip-hop and rap non. This box set is a perfect anthology is one of the most addition to our catalog.” important projects on conAmong its 4,000 albums, temporary history that the Smithsonian Folkways Smithsonian will ever underRecordings has released take, because it shows that two landmark anthologies Smithsonian’s work is as much The Smithsonian has launched a 30-day Kickstarter camcapturing the history and about today and tomorrow as it paign for the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Rap. defining an era of music, The is about yesterday,” said Lonnie The campaign will run through Nov. 15. Its goal is $250,000. Anthology of American Folk G. Bunch III, founding director of All funds raised through the Kickstarter campaign will go Music (1952) and Jazz: The the National Museum of African toward the costs of producing the anthology. Smithsonian Anthology (2011). American History and Culture. “The story of hip-hop is one “Hip-hop is a musical revolution that embodies the voice of great triumph and evolution, and it represents the very of an entire generation and that’s why it’s important for best of black music tradition,” said Chuck D, who played the museum to partner with the hip-hop community and a prominent role in the executive committee, which also Folkways Recordings to tell this story. Hip-hop helps us to included MC Lyte, Questlove of the Roots and 9th Wonder; industry veterans Bill Adler and Bill Stephney; author Jeff understand the power of black music and the impact of AfriChang; and university scholars Adam Bradley (University of can American culture on the world.”
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Colorado, Boulder), Cheryl Keyes (UCLA) and Mark Anthony Neal (Duke University). To assemble the anthology, this committee reached out to more than 50 artists, scholars, DJs, photographers, filmmakers and industry insiders for their input into the track list and final package. The project was coordinated by Schippers and Dwandalyn Reece, curator for music and performing arts at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Backers of Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform for creative projects, will have the chance to get the anthology before it arrives in stores and at production cost. They will also receive unique rewards only available through the Kickstarter campaign, including a set of hiphop trading cards and an exclusive, digital-only remix by 9th Wonder, drawn from the Folkways archives. Other rewards, detailed on the project page, include a tour of the National Museum of African American History and Culture led by a curator and Questlove of The Roots; a limited-edition print of the album artwork for Public Enemy’s landmark Fear of a Black Planet by artist B.E. Johnson; and a one-of-a-kind pair of Adidas, transformed into a work of art by Cey Adams. Adams, a renowned visual artist and founding creative director of Def Jam, designed the anthology. The Kickstarter campaign will run through Nov. 15. Its goal is $250,000. All funds raised through the Kickstarter campaign will go toward the costs of producing the anthology. A video describing the campaign is available on the Kickstarter project page, featuring Chuck D of seminal hip-hop group Public Enemy, and MC Lyte, the first female MC ever to release a full-length hip-hop album. Hip-hop lovers have 30 days to help make #HipHopHistory and ensure they are among the first to get a copy of the box set and other rewards.
TRAVEL
London Unveils Autumn’s Can’t-Miss Cultural Events NewsUSA - London’s Autumn Season remains a highlight of the country’s cultural calendar, and this fall is no exception. “With a strong dollar making a dream trip to London more affordable, the city is projecting a sharp increase in visitor arrivals up to 2025, including 3.3 million visitors from the United States,” according to London & Partners, the Mayor of London’s official promotional agency. “But the benefits of visiting London in the fall include smaller crowds and an incredible lineup of events right across the city,” the agency adds. Highlights of this year’s autumn season include: -Magical museums. The British Library celebrates the Highlights of this year’s autumn season in London include Magical anniversary of the publication of the first book in the Harry museums and more. Potter series with a special exhibit, Harry Potter: A History new director, Sir Simon Rattle, at the Barbican Theatre. of Magic. In addition, Wembley Stadium will play host to the MTV Other museum gems include the diving blue whale at the European Music Awards, and the NFL’s London Games Natural History Museum and an intimate look at Ferraris at brings American football to the city. the Design Museum. -Past, presents, and postage. This fall, Buckingham Palace -Extraordinary events. Broadway arrives at London’s showcases gifts presented to Queen Elizabeth during the last West End with an installment of Hamilton: An American 65 years. Musical, and the London Symphony Orchestra introduces its In addition, tourists can now travel via the Mail Rail -- the advertising@cstweekly.com
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underground line between Paddington and Whitechapel used to deliver the Royal Mail -- and visit London’s new Postal Museum to explore reviews of postal design and technology and the intimacy of personal letters. -Charm for children. The V&A Museum of Childhood includes an exhibit on the story, War Horse, and other beloved children’s characters in an exhibit saluting author Michael Morpugo. -Sunset shifts. Visitors and locals with a second wind at the end of the day can take advantage of London’s Museums at Night festival, which allows access to the city’s cultural treasures after hours. And this year, visitors to London can enhance their stay by consulting video guides for tips on how to experience the city like a local. Celebrity narrators who share their secrets include Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the musical, Hamilton; vocalist and broadcaster Jumoké Fashola; author and fashion historian Amber Buchart; and Blue Badge Tour Guide David Mildon. Find more details about cultural highlights of London in autumn at www.visitlondon.com www.cstweekly.com
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COMMUNITY
Putting Children On An Equal Playing Field What Stakeholders in Illinois Must Do CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
By Lisette Gushiniere
When determining the needs of children, one can surmise that all needs are created equal. Each child needs and deserves an equal shot at life and an equal chance to succeed. If given the right tools to work with, the outcome for success statistically rises, particularly early on. But according to the 2017 Illinois Kids Count Data Book published by Voices for Illinois Children, all things aren’t equal for children in Illinois. The report shows that educational success for children in Illinois drastically varies based on the county in which they live. The data proved that large gaps in achievement and attainment, across the state, disproportionally impact low-income and minority children in communities that lack funding for quality educational programming.Through recent policy and budget changes – specifically affecting early childhood education programs, K-12 funding, school breakfast options, after school program access, high school and postsecondary alignment – Illinois has taken steps to reduce Tasha Green Cruzat, President at Voices for Illinois Children educational inequities for children across the state, yet, these investments? the report concludes that in order to build on the state’s VIC: Research shows that investing in children early foundation, Illinois must raise additional revenue. Tasha pays off by reducing social costs later in life for remediGreen Cruzat, President at Voices for Illinois Children ation, health problems, and criminal justice spending. discusses the report’s findings and what it will take for Our state’s commitment to expanding access to prestakeholders to improve educational opportunities for all school has led to a top five ranking nationally in preschool children in Illinois. enrollment. But there are still about 46% of three- and LG: One of the conclusions pointed out in The 2017 four-year-olds in Illinois not enrolled in a program. We KIDS COUNT Data Book is that Illinois will only make must continue to increase access to quality early childhood systemic gains in education for all groups of students by education so that every child builds a strong foundation Increasing investments in quality early childhood educaand opportunity gaps are eliminated as early as possible. tion programs for low and middle- income children. For LG: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. those who might not be familiar with statistics that stress 483, was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in the importance of investing in early childhood education, which the Court declared state laws establishing separate please elaborate on what the report says about making
public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. Using the report, can you make any contrasts and/or comparisons to this case in terms of inequalities that exists in today’s current school system in Illinois? How far do you think we’ve come since Brown? VIC: Although much progress has been made since Brown, we still have work to do to reduce systemic inequities. Black children in Illinois are about four times more likely than White children to be living in poverty. And they are more than twice as likely to have been exposed to traumatic events. Research shows that we systematically give Black students less effective teachers, less experienced principals, a less rigorous curriculum, and fewer school resources. Although Black students have made significant academic gains over time, we must do more to reduce these types of disparities that lead to the achievement and attainment gaps that we still see. LG: Children are often voiceless because they may need others to speak for them, whether it’s an organization like yours, their parents, teachers and others in the community. What do the stakeholders need to do to bring about better conditions, greater equality and more positive change in Illinois’ school system? VIC: Schools, districts, and policymakers should be expected to critically assess whether every student has a well-resourced school, effective teachers and leaders, a rigorous curriculum, and a positive school climate with wraparound supports that meaningfully engages parents. All of us, from families and community members, to advocates, to state leaders, have a role to play in ensuring that our children have what they need to be ready learners. As a state, it should be our goal to enact smart public policies and invest wisely in programs so that every child grows up to lead a happy, healthy, and productive life. LG: How many years has your organization been releasing The Kids Count Data Book and what was the original CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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POLITISCOPE
I’m a librarian in Puerto Rico, and this is my Hurricane Maria survival story describe, firsthand, what it is to live through the aftermath of the worst storm of this brutal hurricane season. I’ve always been fascinated by storms, Academic crisis particularly Puerto Rico’s own history of Since the storm I haven’t been able to go to them. I think it’s because I was born in Sepwork at the library on the Humacao campus. tember 1960 during Hurricane Donna. In its wake, that storm left more than 100 dead in Evelyn Milagros Rodriquez At 88,000 square feet and three stories, the biblioteca is the biggest building on campus, Humacao, the city where I am now a special and it’s among the worst damaged by Maria. collections librarian at the University of Puerto Rico. In 1990, Israel Matos, the National Weather Service It’s mold-infested and the roof is leaking, so there’s a lot of Forecast Officer in San Juan, told me that, “The tropics are work to be done in both repairs and cleaning before students unpredictable.” That comment only increased my interest can use it. The mold has gotten into our collection – from in storms. Now, with the people of Puerto Rico still reeling books and papers to magazines – and most of the furniture from Hurricane Maria more than a month after it hit the and computers will have to be replaced. island, his words seem prescient. According to the general damage report for the University Today I have – if not the honor, then the duty – to By Evelyn Milagros Rodriquez
of Puerto Rico, the infrastructure in all 11 campuses of the university system suffered severe losses. The Humacao campus, located on the island’s eastern side, was the hardest hit, with damages calculated at more than US$35 million. Classes will start again on Oct. 31. Students at the Río Piedras campus, which has been partially closed since Hurricane Irma skirted Puerto Rico on Sept. 6, have had only a week of class so far this year. Five weeks after Hurricane Maria, all the campuses have now reissued their academic calendars and classes are resuming, though in some places the first semester will run through January to make up for lost time. A culture of catastrophe Starting on Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria swamped Puerto Rico with 20 inches of rain and battered it with 150 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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FOOD TA I LG AT I N G T I P S
Enjoy This Hard Cider−Infused Game Day Recipe Presented by Angry Orchard
Pulled Pork Crostini with Caramelized Apple
(NAPSI)—As football fans everywhere celebrate with tailgating festivities and game-day grilling, 1 bottle Angry Orchard Crisp Apple many are looking for a crisp and refreshing beverage 2 pounds pork shoulder to pair with traditional barbecue favorites and infuse 2 Tablespoons ground cumin in exciting new recipes. Hard cider is a fruit-forward 3 Tablespoons smoked paprika and delicious alternative to beer and wine, making it a winning refreshment and recipe ingredient no matter the score. There are two apples in every bottle of Angry Orchard, the leading U.S. cider maker*. Crisp Apple, Angry Orchard’s most popular hard cider, is made with a blend of culinary and bittersweet apples that lends balance and complexity to its bright crisp apple taste. Crisp Apple is available in 6-packs as well as 12-oz. and 16-oz. cans, which are perfect for enjoying during outdoor tailgating parties. For an easy-drinking alternative for longer drinking occasions, try Angry Orchard Easy Apple, which is also available in 6-packs and 16-oz. cans. Hard cider provides a natural sweetness that calms the heat of flavorful and spicy dishes, such as hot wings and barbecue, and pairs well with classic grilling Refreshing food and drink can help your tailgating party taste like victory. eats like burgers and hot dogs. 3 Tablespoons Kosher salt Hard cider’s apple-forward flavor also enhances 1 large white onion, chopped pork dishes ideal for tailgating, such as the cider-in6 garlic cloves, smashed fused Pulled Pork Crostini with Caramelized Apple 12-ounce can crushed tomato recipe below. ½ cup apple cider vinegar
Olive oil as needed 24 French bread rounds 24 fresh sage leaves 2 Cortland apples, sliced Preheat oven to 250° F. Place pork shoulder in a baking dish and sprinkle with cumin, paprika and salt. Place white onion and garlic in pan and pour in tomato, cider and cider vinegar. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and foil and place in oven to cook until tender, approx. 3 hours; remove and let stand, loosely covered. Increase oven temperature to 350° F. Brush French bread and sage leaves lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt; place on baking sheet and place in oven until crispy; approx. 7 minutes. Flake apart pork shoulder with tongs or fork in a bowl, adding some of the braising liquid to the mix to taste. Place small amount of pork shoulder on croutons, and top with fresh apple slice and crispy sage; serve. Note: Low and slow are the keys to making this pork shoulder tender and delicious; the apple cider and apple cider vinegar add enough tang and acid to help break down the meat and make it taste even better. This dish pairs effortlessly with hard cider alone, but if you’re looking for a new tailgating tradition, try coupling it with Orchard Fest.
Orchard Fest
½ bottle Angry Orchard Crisp Apple ½ bottle Samuel Adams Octoberfest Fill ½ pint glass with Samuel Adams Octoberfest. Top with Angry Orchard Crisp Apple. For further recipes, facts and tips, go to www.AngryOrchard.com.
I’m a librarian in Puerto Rico, and this is my Hurricane Maria survival story CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
mph winds for over 30 hours. The resulting humanitarian crisis has been widely reported worldwide: 80 percent of the island is still without electricity and there is not enough drinking water. Communications – radio, television, telephones and internet – are now recovering slowly, after weeks of near nonexistence. Having said that, it took me more than two weeks just to write this article, between finding somewhere to charge my laptop and locating an internet connection strong enough to research the data and send a file by email. Eventually I discovered a Starbucks near my house with both electricity and Wi-Fi. Nothing is easy. What outsiders are unable to see, perhaps, is that an entire culture has arisen around the catastrophe caused by Hurricane Maria – one with typically catastrophic traits: material
scarcity, emotional trauma, economic catastrophe, environmental devastation. Puerto Ricans are now facing a dramatically different way of life, which means our relatives and friends in the diaspora are, too. Nothing about life resembles anything close to normal. An estimated 100,000 homes and buildings were demolished in the storm, and 90 percent of the island’s infrastructure is damaged or destroyed. Not only are there shortages of water and electricity but also of food, highways, bridges, security forces and medical facilities. It’s dangerous to venture outside at night. An island-wide curfew was lifted last week, but without streetlights, stoplights or police, driving and walking are dangerous after dark. The official tally of missing people varies, with police
tallies ranging from 60 to 80 right now. Considering Puerto Rico’s hazardous conditions and limited health care services, that number is sure to rise. We are well aware that epidemic diseases, including leptospirosis and cholera, could come next. Health concerns are further stoked by the delays and disarray of the various federal agencies tasked with handling this emergency. A deep uncertainty looms over our futures. There is post-traumatic stress involved in surviving in an overwhelming situation like this, so as a people we’re now waking up to that psychological pain, too. The outlook from here In short, Hurricane Maria has changed the modern history of Puerto Rico. For those who, like me, are curious about such things, the last storm of this caliber was San Felipe II, in 1928. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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NEWS
SOUTH SUBURBAN COLLEGE TO HOST FREE FAMILY READING NIGHT SOUTH HOLLAND, IL–South Suburban College’s Adult Volunteer Literacy Program is hosting their annual Family Reading Night event on Tuesday, November 14th from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the SSC Performing Arts Center Lobby. The public is invited to join SSC for this FREE event to find out about community literacy while enjoying stories and presentations. There will also be free books for children, raffles and refreshments. The event will feature an activity table full of arts and crafts for the little ones to enjoy and a story time puppet show by Puppet Master Eric Stiles. The wonderful Storyteller Patrick Nevins will be here with some delightful stories to share SSC has also announced that Joseph Whittington Jr., who has served as a member of the SSC Board of Trustees since 2005 and serves as Chairman of the Board’s Audit Committee, will be in attendance. Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults and children who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along
with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market. SSC’s Adult Education Department administers the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program in addition to High School Equivalency (HSE/GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult Basic Education (ABE). For more information about Family Reading Night or the Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, please contact Raylynn Stokes, coordinator, at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2558, or email rstokes@ssc.edu. South Suburban College is located at 15800 S. State St., South Holland, Illinois. The event is sponsored by the SSC Foundation.
Putting Children On An Equal Playing Field What Stakeholders in Illinois Must Do CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
intent of publishing a document like this? VIC: Voices for Illinois Children has been releasing Illinois Kids Count reports for 25 years, using the best available data to measure the educational, social and emotional, economic, and physical well-being of children. By providing policymakers, advocates, and the broader public with benchmarks of child well-being, we have sought to enrich local and state discussions of ways to build better futures for all Illinois children. LG: How, if at all is the information in the book/report used other than disseminating it to the public? Does it help set policy and if so, how? VIC: It is our expectation that with access to good data, policymakers and community members will be better equipped to make sound, informed decisions about the unmet needs of Illinois children, the root causes of disparities that exist between groups, and the impact of policies and programs. Guided by the data in the Illinois Kids Count report, we convene stakeholders to assess the challenges facing children and work to generate public support and political will for needed improvements. Voices for Illinois Children is a statewide, non-partisan advocacy organization that creates and utilizes policy research and analysis, policy advocacy, strategic communications and community engagement to advocate for and support policies and programs that improve the quality of life for children throughout Illinois. Over the past 30 years, Voices for Illinois Children has advocated for a range of policies including quality preschool, a fairer local tax system, and health insurance for low-income families. To download a copy of the 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book as well as detailed fact sheets for the 40 largest counties in Illinois, visit www.voices4kids.org.
I’m a librarian in Puerto Rico, and this is my Hurricane Maria survival story CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4
Known in the U.S. as the Great Okeechobee Hurricane, that massive storm was so destructive that it basically plunged Puerto Rico and Florida into the Great Depression a year before the rest of the country. In some ways, though, Puerto Ricans are well prepared for these challenges, for the history of the island is one of uncertainty and trouble. Puerto Rico has never had a sovereign government. Instead, it has always been bound to some other larger and more powerful state. First it was Spain, which colonized our territory in 1508. Then, since the 1898 invasion, it’s been the United States, a country with which Puerto Rico enjoys a tricky political relationship. That’s very clear right now, as the Trump administration wavers in coming to our aid. Mired in uncertainty
Even before the hurricane arrived, Puerto Rico was facing uncertainty around another major challenge: bankruptcy. Considering lost pensions, jobs and savings, the real financial costs surely exceed by billions the official sum of $123 billion in unpaid government debt. Hurricane Maria has deepened this economic crisis, creating a ripple effect that touches everyone across all levels of society. Everyone is mired in uncertainty. What is the solution to this cascading set of problems? How long will recovery take? What could actually make life better for us? What will we miss? Will anything ever be the same? Among all this concern and confusion, though, some things have become clearer since the storm. On this once-green island, the hurricane blew down and shredded thousands and thousands of trees.
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The sky is more visible now. Houses once hidden are exposed, and we discern entire communities that that we rarely saw before. There’s graffiti popping up across the island, written by someone identified as “JC,” who reminds Puerto Ricans, as a kind of consolation, that “Behind the trees live a lot of people.” Just as new environments are created in areas opened up by the hurricane, with trees and plants sprouting afresh, over time we’ll find that our current uncertainties also fade and transform. A brand new way of life is emerging among all Puerto Ricans – those who stayed, those who left, their relatives and their friends. Evelyn Milagros Rodriquez is a Research, Reference and Special Collections Librarian at the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao.
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NOVEMBER 1 2017
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NEWS
State Farm recently collaborated with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safety to educate teens on safe driving during the 2017 National Teen Driver Safety Fair.
National Teen Driver Safety Week Observed By Christopher Shuttlesworth State Farm recently collaborated with Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Partners for Traffic Safety and hosted the 2017 National Teen Driver Safety Fair at the House of Hope Arena, located on 752 East 114th Street. Lisa Cooper, community relations specialist at State Farm, explained that National Teen Driver Safety Week was started in 2007 to teach teens about how to make good driving decisions. “We want teens to develop good, safety driving habits early on and we hope they continue to practice them through the years,” Cooper said. “You can’t distract the driver, but you have to let the driver focus on the road. We want young people to drive twoand-two, which means two eyes on the road and two hands on the wheel.”
The number of teen car crashes have decreased by nearly 43 percent in the past decade in the United States. In 2015, 4,308 teens were involved in fatal crashes as compared to 7,500 in 2005, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Fatality Analysis Reporting System. The number of Illinois teens involved in fatal car crashes has decreased by 45% (239 teen crashes in 2005 compared to 132 in 2015). “We know that the new drivers have less experience and are more likely to get involved in a car crash,” Cooper said. “So, we try to educate teens to keep them safe on the roadway.” Missy Dundov, a representative for State Farm Public Affairs, said sometimes it’s easier to listen to your friends than adults so now we have older teens talking to other teens about safe driving habits, which have produced great success rates.
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“It’s really important because what we find is with parents it’s sometimes do what I say, not what I do,” Cooper said. “ [Parents] may say ‘I can handle texting and driving, but you can’t.’ So, we want [teens] to hold each other accountable and keep their attention on the roadway.” All states now have at least some elements of graduated driver licensing. IIHS created a calculator that estimates how Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws may affect collision claims and fatal crash rates among young drivers. Strong GDL laws consist of a minimum age of 16 for a learner’s permit, a six-month holding period, supervised driving requirement, nighttime driving restriction, passenger restriction, cell phone restriction and a minimum age of 18 for an unrestricted license. For more information, please visit http:// st8.fm/ntdsw17.
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