“Can you name any place in the world where someone can get two pensions for the same job?” said State Rep. Tom Cross, a Republican from Oswego who has been pushing for statewide pension reform. “Even by our standards here in Illinois, it’s beyond belief. It’s insane.”

Concerned over news reports uncovered by the Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV in the last 24 hours of union leaders “exploitation” of a loophole created by a questionable interpretation of state statute in the Chicago pension funds, Illinois State Rep. Tom Cross has filed a bill to protect taxpayers from double dipping.

As the media continues to uncover gross abuses in the Chicago’s pension funds, Cross filed legislation today to ensure that Chicago union officials cannot collect multiple pensions, one through the City of Chicago and one through other labor organizations for pension credit earned for the same period of service. 

Rep. Cross filed House Bill 3832 to strengthen current law, because according to the news reports, some top union officials circumvented the law to allow double dipping in the Chicago Municipal Pension Fund and the Chicago Laborers’ Pension Fund.

 He said the reports are slightly different than what were in the news last month when the Chicago Tribune and WGN reported that city of Chicago union bosses were double dipping a city pension with a union pension by falsifying their City pension applications—stating they were only receiving one pension, but were collecting both. 

Current State law provides that the deliberate falsification of documents in an attempt to defraud a public pension system is a Class 3 felony, and a conviction for this type of fraud will disqualify the individual from receiving municipal pensions.  

Even though Illinois law was violated, the union officials were allowed to keep their inflated City of Chicago pension as long as they disclaimed the union pension they had also been receiving. It was a decision by the Executive Director of the Chicago Municipal Fund to not go after the violators of the current statute.  

In the last 30 days, Rep. Cross has filed legislation that will require pension boards statewide to refer any suspected fraud to the local authorities. House Bill 3827 will help give more accountability to taxpayers by reconstituting the City of Chicago and Cook County pension boards.  

Cross also plans to push House Bill 3813, which was also filed last month, during the upcoming veto session.  HB 3813 will repeal a portion of a law passed in 1991 that allowed city employees to retire with a city pension that was based on their much higher union salary.  HB 3813 will only allow union officials to accept a city pension based on their city salary when they left service.

Arlington, Va. — Jesse Ruiz, the former president of the Illinois State Board of Education,         is  being awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). The national award is given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.

“Serving on a state board is about leadership in the name of our children, and Jesse has certainly provided that,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “He has been at the forefront of many issues, including equity in education for underserved students in his state, work he will certainly continue in the city of Chicago. For his many accomplishments in Illinois, we are proud to honor him with this award.”

Ruiz served on the Illinois State Board of Education from 2004 until 2011, when he left to serve as vice chairman of the Chicago Board of Education. During his tenure as state board chairman, he worked extensively on reducing the dropout rate and increasing the graduation rate, with the board raising the legal dropout age from 16 to 17. Under Ruiz’s leadership, the board clarified rules for enrolling students, making it easier for homeless, migrant, and other students in at-risk situations to gain access to public education.

He also raised awareness of technical and trade programs available for students who are not considering a traditional college program. Ruiz was appointed in 2011 to the U.S. Department of Education’s Equity and Excellence Commission. El Valor honored him for his work in 2007 with its Education Excellence Award, and in 2005 he was given the Education Award by the state secretary of education. In addition, Mr. Ruiz was named one of the nation’s most influential Hispanics in the October 2010 issue of Hispanic Business magazine.

“I am very proud to have served with Jesse Ruiz. When it came time to make a tough decision, Jesse always focused on what was best for students, no matter how difficult that may have been,” said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “When you have a leader that cares that much for kids, it helps put your job into focus and makes it that much easier to make tough choices and challenge adults to put students first.”

The award is being presented at NASBE’s national conference in Atlanta, Georgia on October 14.

The National Association of State Boards of Education represents America’s state and territorial boards of education. NASBE exists to strengthen State Boards as the preeminent educational policymaking bodies for citizens and students. For more, visit www.nasbe.org.

                           Matching money to benefit domestic violence agencies

Springfield, IL – More than $10,000 will be given to domestic violence agencies in Springfield and Chicago thanks to the HopeLine phone drive sponsored by Illinois Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and Verizon Wireless.

Simon’s office collected more than 2,000 outdated wireless phones from state employees, agencies and the public during the first full week of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

About 1,000 phones will be shipped this week to Verizon. Most will be refurbished or sold with the proceeds used to purchase newer wireless phones for domestic violence survivors. Verizon will also donate $5,000 each to the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) in Springfield and the Metropolitan Chicago Battered Women’s Network.

The remainder of the phones, which are still trickling in this week, will raise money for the Jackson County Crime Victims Emergency Fund, a joint operation of the Carbondale Police Department and Jackson County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Phones that can’t be refurbished will be recycled in an environmentally sound way, Simon said.

“These phones will be a lifeline for the people who receive them,” said Simon, a former Jackson County prosecutor and founder of a domestic violence legal clinic at Southern Illinois University School of Law. “We thank our private, state and non-profit partners for working with us to find an innovative way to fund important community services. We hope to make this an annual event.”

Each recipient has earmarked the donation for specific social services. ICADV will use the funds to develop a virtual legal clinic for victims of abuse. The Network plans to use the funds for its Domestic Violence Court Watch Project. The Carbondale emergency fund provides direct assistance to domestic violence survivors and other crime victims.

Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million wireless phones, awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country, and by the end of this year will have donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to victims, survivors and domestic violence organizations.

“I am so thrilled at the generosity of Springfield area residents and for Verizon for providing this opportunity,” said Vickie Smith, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “This endeavor creates a lifeline for victims in danger and allows the Coalition to support our local agencies. The simple act of donating an old phone is a double gift.”

By Chinta Strausberg

The African American Firefighters & Paramedic League and SmokeBuster’s II are providing a free training program for the 6,000-applicant pool who are eligible for employment on the Chicago Fire Department.

The training is being given on Wednesday’s 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday’s from 1 to 3 pm. at Tuley Park, 501 East. 90^th Place in Chicago.

The city was fined $30 million for discriminating against African American applicants and must hire 111 black firefighters.

In an effort to ensure the success of those 111 applicants, James Winbush, retired Chicago Fire Department Captain, is providing free physical abilities training needed to pass the first phase of entry into the Fire Academy.

“We are training and coaching applicants to pass the first hurdle of the entry testing which is the physical abilities portion of that process.

“You must pass the first phase to continue the training in the Chicago Fire Academy or you will be put back into the pool of people who don’t want employment and they would get an automatic $5,000. Either you get the job or you get $5,000.

“We want to train those who want to be firemen as opposed to those who simply want the $5,000 settlement,” said Winbush. “For those who are serious about becoming Chicago Firefighters, meet me this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Tuley Park, 501 E. 90^th Place.”

The SmokeBuster II’s training program will continue until the Chicago Fire Department starts entry testing in November.

Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.

Chicago, IL – Goodman Theatre proudly announces the roster for the second annual Playwrights’ Unit, a season-long residency program designed to nurture Chicago’s most promising playwrights. The four writers, selected by Artistic Director Robert Falls, Director of New Play Development Tanya Palmer and the Goodman’s artistic team, are Philip Dawkins (The Homosexuals, Dead Letter Office), Nambi E. Kelley (The Blue Shadow, Xtigone), Elaine Romero (Ponzi, The Dalai Lama is Not Welcome Here) and Martín Zimmerman (White Tie Ball, The Making of a Modern Folk Hero).The writers will develop new plays over the course of the residency, which culminate in final readings in Spring 2012. The Playwrights’ Unit is part of the Goodman’s ongoing initiatives to commission and develop new plays.

“It’s exciting to build or deepen our relationship with these talented Chicago playwrights,” said Director of New Play Development Tanya Palmer. “In selecting four very different writers with different levels of experience and approaches to their work, we also hope to create a vibrant and challenging writers group—so that the playwrights can benefit from the support that the Goodman will provide over the course of the season, as well as from each other.”

The New Stages Amplified series includes work developed during last season’s inaugural Playwrights’ Unit: Laura Jacqmin’s Two Lakes, Two Rivers (November 7) and Seth Bockley’s Ask Aunt Susan (November 10 – 20). In addition, Carlyle Brown’s Dartmoor Prison (October 13 – 23), a Goodman Theatre commission, and Kathleen Tolan’s Chicago Boys (October 27 – November 6) appeared as staged readings in previous New Stages series. For tickets, reservations and more information about New Stages Amplified, visit GoodmanTheatre.org.

New Play Development at the Goodman

Over the last 16 years, the Goodman has awarded commissions to both emerging and established writers to ensure the production of new American works for the stage. The Goodman’s commitment to women playwrights, in particular, has fueled the success of some of the most talented living writers today, including Rebecca Gilman, Sarah Ruhl and Lynn Nottage. Other writers currently under commission at the Goodman are Kristoffer Diaz, Joyce Award-winner Quiara Alegería Hudes, Itamar Moses, Dael Orlandersmith and Tracey Scott Wilson. With the establishment of the Ofner Prize in 2000—a biennially awarded commission to an emerging Chicago writer, named for former Goodman Chairman the late David Ofner—the Goodman made an additional commitment to supporting promising local writers. Past winners include David Barr, Carson Grace Becker, Seth Bockley, Brett Neveu, Carlos Murillo and Tanya Saracho.

The Goodman’s New Stages Series has provided the first look at nearly 50 new plays, many of which have gone on to receive world premiere productions at the Goodman. Others have been produced at theaters across the country, including Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, New York’s The Public Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, American Theatre Company and Geffen Playhouse. A complete list of these productions is available upon request. This season’s New Stages Amplified series is supported in part by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and the Goodman Theatre Scenemakers Board. New work development at the Goodman was instituted by the Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for Artistic Development, and is supported in part by generous grants from the Harold &

Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and The Glasser and Rosenthal Family. The Davee Foundation is a Major Contributor to Research and Development for New Work; The Joyce Foundation provides principal support for Artistic Development and Diversity Initiatives; and Prince Charitable Trusts is the leading contributor to the Goodman’s New Works Endowment Fund. The Sara Lee Foundation is the 2011/2012 Owen Season Sponsor.

About the Writers in the Playwrights’ Unit

A graduate of Loyola University, Chicago, Philip Dawkins’ plays are published through Playscripts, Inc. In 2011, his play The Homosexuals (Jeff Nomination, Best New Work – Play) premiered at About Face Theatre, directed by Bonnie Metzgar. His play Miss Marx or The Involuntary Side Effect of Living appears in Steppenwolf’s First Look Series, and Failure: A Love Story is part of the Lark Play Development Center’s 2011 Playwright’s Week. Other credits include: Dead Letter Office (Dog and Pony Theatre), Cast of Characters (Theater Three, NY; Drip Action, UK), Yes to Everything! (Chicago, NY, CA, DC), Perfect (the side project); Ugly Baby (Chicago Opera Vanguard/Strawdog Theatre Company), A Still Life in Color (T.U.T.A.) and The Man With a Shattered World (Ethington Theatre, AZ). With artistic partner, Eric C. Reda Philip, Dawkins is a founding member of Chicago Opera Vanguard. Philip teaches playwriting at Northwestern University and Kung Fu to children through Rising Phoenix Kung Fu.

Raised in Chicago and a product of the Chicago Public Schools, Nambi E. Kelley is an award-winning playwright and actress. Recent playwriting honors include Dramatists Guild Writers Intensive Playwright 2011; Goodman Theatre/Ellen Stone Belic Institute Fellowship Recipient; La MaMa Playwrights Symposium Playwright-In-Residence in Spoleto, Italy under the tutelage of Lisa Kron and Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage; and The Friends Fellowship (Ragdale Foundation). She was also honored at the Black Ensemble Theatre for her contributions in playwriting.

Kelley also serves as a Chicago Dramatists Playwright-In-Residence and MPAACT Playwright-In-Residence, Chicago. Most recently, Kelley’s play, The Blue Shadow, was produced by Lifeline Theatre and published into an illustrated version for children. Kelley’s Xtigone was presented at La MaMa as part of a new plays festival (featuring Kelley in the title role), and received a workshop production at Cal State University East Bay that was a finalist for the The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts College Theatre Festival 2011. Upcoming projects include Xtigone at San Francisco’s African American Shakespeare Co (Spring 2012) and performing in her adaptation of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying for the Singapore Arts Festival (Summer of 2012). Kelley guest lectures at Lake Forest College, has a BFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University and an MFA in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont.

Elaine Romero is the winner of the Theatre Communications Group/Pew National Theatre Artists in Residency Grant and the TCG/NEA Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, and has had plays presented at the Alley Theatre, New Theatre and Actors Theatre of Louisville, among others. Recent commissions include Magic Theatre/Sloan Foundation (Walk into the Sea, Sundance Playwrights Retreat and Goodman Theatre’s Latino Theatre Festival), InterAct Theatre Company (The Dalai Lama is Not Welcome Here), NNPN/Kitchen Dog Theater (KDT, Ponzi), Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Alley Theatre and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Publishers include Samuel French, Playscripts, Vintage Books and Simon and Schuster. Outside the United States, her plays have been produced in Australia, Panama and Toronto. Ponzi won the Edgerton Foundation New American Play Award. Her plays have been read at KDT, Goodman Theatre and Florida Studio Theatre. Readings of her plays are scheduled at Teatro Vista, Queens Theatre and Arizona Theatre Company. Romero recently taught screenwriting, playwriting and television writing at Northwestern University.

Martín Zimmerman is a multi-ethnic, bilingual playwright whose work “spans a wide variety of styles, but always aspires to a seamless unity of aesthetic and story.” His plays include White Tie Ball, The Making of a Modern Folk Hero and Seven Spots on the Sun, and have been produced or developed at The John F. Kennedy Center, The Playwrights’ Center, Alliance Theatre, Primary Stages, Seven Devils Playwrights

Conference, Theatre Row, Borderlands Theater, the Source Festival, Illinois Shakespeare Festival, The Gift, Red Tape, The University of Texas at Austin and Duke University. A recipient of the Carl Djerassi Playwriting Fellowship, the National New Play Network’s Smith Prize and a Core Apprenticeship at The Playwrights’ Center, Zimmerman has been a finalist for the Kendeda Competition, the Jerome Fellowship, the Heideman Award and the Bay Area Playwrights Festival.

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — During one of the worst economic times in the country’s history, 30-year old Ash Cash has decided to take a leap of faith and quit his six figure job as a bank manager to pursue a dream of becoming an entrepreneur and teaching financial literacy. Born and raised in a single parent household in the St. Nicholas projects in Harlem, it was believed by Ash and most of his peers that they would be dead or in jail by the age of twenty-five. Somehow through faith, family support, hard work and sacrifice he was able to avoid both.

With more than ten years of banking experience, Ash was able to work his way up the ranks from teller to personal banker, private banker and branch manager. Throughout his career he managed a book of 400 affluent clients with assets ranging from $100,000 to $22 million, coached and trained over 100 sales professionals, opened and managed six branches and brought in almost $90 million in deposits. Today he is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and the author of Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom. He works with city agencies and organizations and teaches financial literacy in churches, colleges, and to undeserved, at risk, and incarcerated youth. Simply put, Ash is on a mission to Financially Re-Educate Every Spectrum of Humanity.

Ash believes that the biggest problem in the community, as it pertains to money, is that “we spend money we don’t have to buy things we don’t need to impress people we don’t like.”

He continues, “As a people, we are so used to not having money that we can’t really grasp the concept of saving for the future and spending our money wisely. Couple that with the fact that a lot of us have low self-esteem and use expensive material things to make us feel better. Some of us would rather spend money on cars, jewelry and clothes than to become homeowners, save for emergencies or fix our credit. Our issues are deeply rooted and they become a cycle that is passed down from generation to generation making it more difficult to break. The good news is that there’s a movement going on; people are starting to wake up and take more responsibility. We are seeing more of our people excel in positions that in the past didn’t seem possible. This movement is what is spearheading the paradigm change and forcing many of us to put the first things first.”

This is what led Ash to writing his book. Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws of Financial Freedom, is a book designed to teach readers how to effectively manage their personal finances. It shows, how with the right mental attitude and laser sharp focus, anyone can have anything they desire in life. It’s an easy to read book that anyone, at any level, can understand. This book is especially geared towards those who are tired of having a dependency on money and are ready to take some practical steps in order to correct it.

Ash comments, “This is our generation’s ‘Think and Grow Rich’. Starting with the power of self confidence the book discusses in detail how having a positive mental attitude, paying yourself first, budgeting and planning for the future are all ways to immediately change your financial situation.”

Mind Right, Money Right demonstrates how a person’s mindset plays a tremendous role in creating financial abundance. By using examples of successful people such as Sean Combs, Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, Shawn Carter, Curtis Jackson, Chris Lighty and many others, the reader is given a real life account of how these laws have worked for others and how it can work for you. It’s important to point out that the title is “Mind Right, Money Right” and not the other way around.

“Once we are able to control the way we look at money, the way we feel about money and the way we think about money, then it will become easier for us to keep and grow our money… To sum it up simply: This book will change your life,” he says.
Mind Right, Money Right: 10 Laws Of Financial Freedom (Revised Edition) is now available on Kindle for $0.99 or in paperback on Amazon for $9.99. Pick up your copy today!
For more information on Ash Cash, visit www.IamAshCash.com

Washington, DC (BlackNews.com) — The new book Hip Hop Hooray: Celebrating 30 Years of Rap Music by Sean XLG Mitchell celebrates and highlights outstanding events and achievements in rap music over the last 30 years. Kool Rock Ski of the legendary rap group the Fat Boys pens the introduction as the book details the success of mainstream artists such as Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Eminem, and Jay Z to legends like Run-DMC, Grand Master Flash, NWA, and Public Enemy. From hit films like Krush Groove to Hustle & Flow, every era is explored and documented.

Using over 30 years of experience in rap music, Sean XLG Mitchell chronicles events from the past and present and adds shine with exclusive interviews with hip-hop icons to include Dana Dane, Kurtis Blow, Grand Master Mele Mel, The Fat Boys, Queen Pen, Arrested Development, and more! Sean XLG reveals a vast array of feats, from the extraordinary and outrageous to the noble and obscure that is both informative and fascinating.

“Pac (Tupac) is not here. People don’t know I was with him two days before he got killed, me and Suge. I was on the set with him and Jim Belushi (Gang Related) and we were starting this thing together called One Nation with Spice 1.” — Kokane

About The Author:
Sean XLG Mitchell is the ultimate hip-hop griot. He began his career promoting platinum hit makers from Rockmaster Scott and the Dynamic Three to M.C. Hammer. As an artist, Sean XLG (X-treme Lyrical God) recorded several underground hits as a member of Unlimited Skills and is the first rapper to win a national music competition. He currently works as a freelance writer and is the creator of the hip-hop category Adult Contemporary Rap.

About The Book:
Hip Hop Hooray: Celebrating 30 Years of Rap Music is published by Amber Communications Group and is available online at Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com and major bookstores everywhere.

“Hip Hop Hooray: Celebrating 30 Years of Rap Music”
ISBN#: 978-1-937269-15-9
For more details, visit www.seanxlg.com

“Addiction to Prescription Painkillers and the Street Drug Heroin” by Dr. Gregory H. Pierce, offers a straightforward, informative guide to understanding and beating addiction.

Dr. Gregory H. Pierce

Collegeville, PA (BlackNews.com) — Addiction to Prescription Painkillers and the Street Drug Heroin (ISBN 978-0615512075), a guide by Dr. Gregory H. Pierce, introduces readers to the physical, emotional and environmental factors of opioid addiction and the various methods of treatment as well as providing inspiration to those seeking to escape addiction.

The book was written to provide a clear account of how opioid addiction develops through physiological changes and to give meaningful insight into the pros and cons of various treatment methods without complicated medical terminology. In 11 focused chapters, readers will discover why some people become addicted and what they can do to escape addiction. The guide includes a chapter full of important “seeds for success,” key concepts to remember that can speed the recovery process and lead to constructive self-management.

“Addiction to opiates is a complicated and challenging problem that requires a change in one’s beliefs, thoughts and behavior to overcome it,” says Dr. Pierce. “But, with the right information and inspiration, it is achievable.”

Weaving examples of various patients he has worked with over the years with insight from medical research and spiritual guidance, the book was written to educate and inspire. Dr. Pierce draws on his decades of experience as a medical doctor and director of drug treatment clinics to provide a complete guide to help those seeking to overcome this growing affliction.

Addiction to Prescription Painkillers and the Street Drug Heroin is available for sale online at Amazon.com and other channels.

About the Author

Dr. Gregory H. Pierce has practiced medicine in Pennsylvania for 30 years. He completed a five year residency program at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia before joining his father’s practice and specializing in the treatment of eating disorders. After becoming an ordained minister, Dr. Pierce joined the Philadelphia Police Clergy and worked with Mothers Against Drugs to interrupt the selling of illegal drugs in the inner city. His experience with drug abusers led him to be certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and he has served as medical director for two methadone clinics for addicts of painkillers and heroin. Dr. Pierce is a certified personal trainer and second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and currently resides in the Philadelphia area.

(A Message from the Better Business Bureau)

Chicago, IL – Keeping up on credit card debt is an important part of maintaining a good credit score. The Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois (BBB) advises consumers to make more than the minimum payment on their monthly credit card; while it may prevent consumers from defaulting on their account, it might also have some unintended effects to their credit score.

“It’s important for consumers to maintain a good credit score,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “Once your credit score is tarnished, it may make it difficult to finance a house or car, and plan for your future. Simple steps can ensure you keep your credit in check.”

Most consumers naturally assume they should only pay the minimum payment, partly because that’s the approach taken with other monthly bills. However, this payment strategy might not be as advisable with accounts that accrue interest – particularly credit cards, which often come with higher interest rates.  

The actual act of making a minimum payment won’t harm consumers’ good credit score, because credit bureaus still consider it the “full” monthly payment in their history. However, cardholders with large credit balances often cannot effectively eliminate their debt with the smallest required payment, because their account will accrue interest each month. In fact, it is possible for a credit balance to increase even as its owner makes monthly payments.

The BBB offers strategies for consumers to avoid seeing their balance inflate due to high interest and low payments.

• Pay more each month – Consumers who pay even a small amount more toward their credit card payment each month may be able to prevent their balance from increasing significantly. Financially, this might not be reasonable every month, but it’s important to try to put more toward that debt when possible.
• Develop a payment plan – Cardholders who estimate how long it will take for them to pay off their balance and how much they need to put towards the payment each month may be able to develop a realistic plan of attack.
• Keep tabs on ones credit situation – It may also be helpful to check one’s credit reports and scores to see if any serious credit damage has already occurred. This can be the first step in a consumer’s approach to fixing his or her credit situation.

For more consumer tips, visit www.bbb.org