JUNE IS NATIONAL
POLLINATORS MONTH Wednesday • June 3, 2026
Cameo, Mary Jane Girls, Atlantic Starr coming to Hard Rock Live on June 20 Gary, IN (June 1, 2026) Nothing but the Funk featuring Cameo, Mary Jane Girls, and Atlantic Starr are coming to Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana’s Hard Rock Live venue on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Doors open at 6 p.m. For nearly five decades, Larry Blackmon’s Cameo continues to define the sound of funk. With over 30 million records sold worldwide, the group, founded and led by music icon Larry Blackmon, continues to influence generations with its groundbreaking hits, distinctive sound, and unforgettable live performances. Larry Blackmon is Cameo and Cameo is Larry Blackmon forever. While Mr. Blackmon has stepped back from touring, he remains at the helm creatively, ushering in a new era of Cameo led by his sons, Larry Scott Blackmon and BJ Blackmon Wheeler. The band’s powerhouse stage presence is carried forward by 30 plus year Cameo Members Kevin Kendrick, Jeff Nelson, Willie Morris, and Anthony Lockett. These four have been with Cameo longer than any other individuals and satisfy the nostalgic nature of the funk. Joined with them is fresh new talent including bassist A.J. Mills (son of longtime Cameo bassist Aaron Mills), vocalist
Gerald Richardson, Marcus Malone on keyboards, and drummer Elisha “Doogie” Parris. Cameo’s sonic imprint can be heard across generations of music. Their legendary tracks—like “Word Up!” and “Candy”—have been sampled and reimagined by major artists including Beyoncé, Tupac, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Korn, and Will Smith. Cameo’s music has appeared in hit films, top TV shows, and global ad campaigns for brands such as Coca-Cola, Mountain Dew. Today, Cameo continues to thrive, with timeless music circulating on playlists, dance floors, and social media platforms like TikTok. With unmatched energy and an unwavering commitment to the groove, Cameo remains not just a band—but a Cultural legacy.
In 1983, music icon Rick James created a project for Motown Records, The Mary Jane Girls. James’ set this girl group apart, creating individual personas for each girl. The two most popular were the Leather Queen, Maxi, and Valley Girl, Cheri. Their debut album- The Mary Jane Girls (1983), spawned three R&B Top 20 hits; “Candy Man, All Night Long & Boys.” The Single “All Night Long” made them the most sampled Girl Group in music history. Atlantic Starr is a legendary American R&B group whose smooth harmonies and timeless grooves helped define the sound of late ’70s and ’80s soul. Formed in 1976, the band rose to prominence with a string of hits including “Always,” “Secret Lovers,” “Circles,” and “Masterpiece,” blending funk, pop, and quiet storm into a signature style that continues to resonate across generations. Known for their rich vocal arrangements and heartfelt ballads, Atlantic Starr has remained a staple of classic R&B. Now back on tour, they bring their iconic sound and enduring hits to fans old and new, delivering the romance and rhythm that made them unforgettable. Tickets for Nothing but the Funk start at $65. This show is all reserved seating. Ages 21 and up. The Hard Rock Live box office is open every Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on show days starting at 12 p.m. Visit https://www.ticketmaster.com/ event/0500648E02845CB1 Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana is located at 5400 West 29th Ave. in Gary, IN, directly adjacent to the I80/94 Burr Street Interchange. For more information, call 219-228-2383 or visit www. hardrockcasinonorthernindiana.com.
‘Transparency in Downcoding Act’ unanimously clears Illinois legislature The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 3114, the “Transparency in Downcoding Act,” by a vote of 1110 Wednesday evening, following a unanimous vote out of the Senate earlier in the month. The bill, which would prohibit health insurance companies from automatically coding a health service at a level lower than what patients received, was supported by the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS). “This bill is another example of how Illinois leads the way in passing laws that improve access to medical care, making the state a more attractive place to practice medicine,” ISMS president Dr. Tripti Kataria said. “Once signed into law, the Transparency in Downcoding Act will bring greater clarity to the claims process, establish a clear and accessible pathway for disputing downcoded claims and ensure that a live person — not an automated system — is reviewing medical claims and their accompanying
clinical documentation.” “The Illinois State Medical Society wants to thank all lawmakers who stood with physicians and patients to support this bill as it passed the Senate unanimously. We especially thank sponsors Sen. Dave Koehler and Rep. Sharon Chung for their leadership, and we are hopeful that Gov. J.B. Pritzker will sign this bill into law as Illinois continues advancing policies that support patients and healthcare providers,” Dr. Kataria said. Key Provisions of the Transparency in Downcoding Act (SB 3114/HB 4735): • Prohibits a health insurance issuer from using an automated process, system, or tool to downcode a claim • Ensures that a live person — not an automated system — has done a complete and thorough review of claims and accompanying clinical documentation
before a downcoding decision is made • Ensures that a physician will be clearly notified when a claim has been downcoded and reimbursed at a lower level, including the clinical reason for downcoding • Requires health insurers to establish a clear and accessible process for disputing downcoded claims. That means appeals must be reviewed by an individual with experience with the medical condition being managed and the services being downcoded using the most up to date AMA CPT® Coding Guideline, and • Prevents health insurers from using downcoding to discriminate against physicians who commonly treat patients with complex or chronic conditions. Founded in 1840, ISMS is a professional membership association representing Illinois physicians in all medical specialties, and their patients, statewide.
Cook County State’s Attorney Launches Regional Transit Task Force to Enhance Public Safety CHICAGO - Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke today announced the creation of the office’s Regional Transit Task Force (RTTF), a collaborative effort bringing together local, county, federal, and transit agencies to strengthen public safety across Chicago-area transit systems. “Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure on public transit,” said Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke. “This task force brings law enforcement and transit partners together to share intelligence, deter transit-related crime and improve public safety to better protect riders, transit workers and our communities.” The RTTF will convene regularly, with its first meeting scheduled for May 26. Participants include representatives from the CCSAO, the Chicago Police Department, CTA, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, U.S.
Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, DEA, Metra, and Pace. “The formation of this task force marks a historic moment as CTA expands and builds upon its security strategy,” said CTA Acting President Nora Leerhsen. “This is an unprecedented partnership that brings together local, county and federal law enforcement to work alongside every major transit agency in the Chicago region. Our message is simple: Law enforcement at every level is working in tandem with CTA to ensure a vibrant, thriving future for public transit.” “Safe public transit is essential for connecting communities in and around the Chicagoland region,” said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. “We look forward to working with transit and law enforcement partners to improve safety and security for the two million public transit riders in Northeastern Illinois.”
“The Regional Transit Task force is another tool that will bring us together to hold criminal offenders accountable and prevent further crime from occurring on our buses and trains,” said Chicago Police Department Superintendent Larry Snelling. “This task force is an example of what happens when all levels of government and law enforcement collaborate to better serve and safeguard those utilizing public transportation throughout the city.” The RTTF follows the formation of the CCSAO’s internal CTA task force, which focuses on effective prosecutions of transit-related crime in Chicago. As part of that effort, Assistant State’s Attorneys receive specialized training from the CTA and CPD about video technology that is available to support law enforcement investigations and that can be presented in court as evidence.