Can I get more information PLEASE

August is upon us and the countdown for school to start has begun.

The new Superintendent is shaking off some of the District's old practices that didn't work and is bringing in some new ideas (new to Peoria).

As the new school year approaches, I have many hopes for the District - the main one being that they find a way to better communicate with parents about programming and testing.

Last year, my daughter seemed to spend more time testing than anything else. The testing and it’s purpose, is a secret to the majority of the District’s parents. You may get a note about testing taking place, but you don't get the big picture as to what the test is for, why it is implemented at a certain time and the impact the test has on programming. All you know is that testing is going on.

This lack of information is not conducive to parents helping their students be their best and needs to stop. Stop taking parents for granted, that they don't want the information or won't know what to do with it.

Chicago Public Schools has already posted their Elementary School Assessment Calendar for 2010 – 2011*. If we could get something like this in District 150, that would be outstanding. All of the information in one place – what a concept.

District 150 has an Accountability and Research Department, other than Skyward Access, chasing down FOIA's and running numbers for a formulaic gifted program, they don't appear to do much else. I say let's put Chumbly & Co. to work on District 150's Assessment Calendar. It's not too late, they still have time to get it done before the beginning of the school year.

Judge rules that "sagging" is not a crime

Wearing saggy pants is not a crime, just foolish.

That's how a New York City judge ruled in throwing out a summons issued to a man wearing low-slung pants that exposed his underwear.

Judge Ruben Franco said that the summons appeared to be an attempt by one police officer to show his displeasure with the style. The Bronx man, Julio Martinez, was issued the ticket on April 20.

The judge wrote that many may find the low-slung trouser trend distasteful and foolish. However, he said, people can dress as they want as long as they do not offend public order and decency. Franco's decision was issued last month. Source

Police take cover from shooter in Taft

Peoria police officers believe a round from a rifle may have been fired in their direction early Wednesday as they investigated an earlier call for gunfire in the area of Taft Homes.

Officers were called at 1:56 a.m. Wednesday to the 700 block of Northeast Adams Street after a resident in the area heard a single shot fired outside one of the Taft Homes apartment complexes.

Four officers were in the area near Wayne Street, the northern boundary of Taft Homes, when another shot exploded in close proximity to the police. The shot was so close, police took cover, then approached the courtyard where the gunfire was believed to have originated.

No one was found, and no shell casings were discovered, though a report noted that the shot sounded like it came from a rifle. It may have been fired out of an apartment window, though it ultimately was unclear whether police officers were the intended targets. Source

An open letter to the President of the NAACP

In order for the organization to survive, it will be necessary to attract younger members... you are failing miserably.

Dear Mr. NAACP President:

As a 23 year-old black male living in America, I suppose I am part of the key demographic that you and the NAACP wish to bring into the fold and breed as the next generation of civil rights activists. In order for the organization to survive, it will be necessary to attract younger members. I’d like to tell you this now: you are failing miserably.

You have to understand, even to those of us who are students of history and are familiar with the role the NAACP has played in dismantling the system of racism that is part of the foundation of this country, you’re still sort of a joke. I’m a part of generation that grew up using the NAACP as a punchline. There have been many instances where I and my peers, at the slightest hint of anything racial, have exclaimed “I’m calling the NAACP!” in jest. The humor derived from the idea that the NAACP never actually did anything and our minor skirmish was just the type of inane melodrama the NAACP could handle. We were kidding; [with the mishandling of Shirley Sherrod] you all have taken the “truth in humor” anecdote to new levels.

I’d like to offer a bit of advice, from the perspective of someone you want to attract as a dues paying member: shut it down. The NAACP needs to stay away from the media for a while. Take a vacation. Say it’s for personal reasons. Let a few months go by then reappear like Kanye West with a brand new attitude and mammoth-sized theme music declaring the NAACP is back and ready to do right.

While you're away, evaluate what you believe racism is and adopt an official stance on what issues the organization will and will not choose to address. Hopefully, you will include on the “don’t” list things that, well, aren’t racist [and on the "do" list things that are].

You have some soul-searching to do and you need a little time away from the intense lights of the news cameras and scathing ink of the newspapers (not to mention new media, where you guys are getting crushed). Take a year. Maybe longer. We won’t forget you; in fact, we may start to miss you. We may long for the days where you made our jokes that much easier, and hope that you’ll be around the next time a Mel Gibson rant has us up in arms.

But when you reappear, those things won’t matter to you. You’ll be more prudent in your activism. You’ll earn our respect. Source

Just a suggestion.
Best regards,
Mychal Denzel Smith

Michelle Ungurait named as Associate Superintendent of District 150 Schools

Dr. Michelle Ungurait, director of magnet and choice schools at Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, N.C., was approved for an appointment to Associate Superintendent of District 150 Schools.

Ungurait is just one of seven appointments that Dr. Lathan has made that I find both interesting and encouraging.

I consider choice one of the most important components of public education. If District 150 is gearing up to implement the type of choice program that Dr. Ungurait headed in N.C., we will most certainly see people flocking back into the City of Peoria and District 150:

The Magnet School Choice Program in Guilford County that Michele Ungurait heads, offers an opportunity for students and parents to choose a learning environment that best fits the interests and goals of the individual student.

On Saturday, February 13 at the Greensboro Coliseum Pavilion from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Guilford County presents the Magnet and Choice Fair. The fair serves to expose the different options for elementary, middle school, and high school programs all under one roof. Principals and faculty from each school will be available to answer any questions or concerns.

"We know that we have a diverse group of students in Guilford County with diverse needs," said Media Relations Manager Haley Miller. "Traditional school is not for everyone."

The Magnet School Choice Program gives students these diverse options in the following areas:

Communications
Leadership
Traditional
Newcomers
Global Studies
Montessori
International Baccalaureate
Science
Technology
Spanish Immersion
Mandarin Chinese
Arts
Advanced Academics
Career and Technical
Education and Science
Single-Gender Middle College
Middle College*

For those who desire choices and options, then attendance at the Magnet School Fair can help answer questions, can show the different programs, and can serve as a starting point in the decisions for the 2010 - 2011 school year.

Read the entire article here...

Third East Bluff business to be held up by armed robbers since last Monday

There was a strong armed robbery at about 1:00 p.m. today, across from the new Glen Oak School, at the Mexican restaurant which is located at 2001 N. Wisconsin. I believe the restaurant is called La Esquinita.

If you will recall just yesterday, July 26, the East Bluff Domino's store at 3320 N. Prospect Road was robbed at about 12:30 a.m. The robber forced the Domino's employee to empty the safe and then fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Last Monday, July 21, you read it here first that a woman robbed the Family Dollar Store at 2321 N. Wisconsin Ave. at gunpoint and fled the store with about $150 cash. That robbery occurred at about 3:30 p.m..

In the meantime, the shooting tally continues to climb...

July 25, 2010 - A man was shot in South Peoria early Sunday morning in the 2300 block of West Marquette Avenue. Duane L. Wiley, 26, who does not reside at the Marquette address, was found with a bullet wound to the arm that had penetrated his chest. Police said his injuries were not life threatening.

July 22, 2010 - Peoria Police responded to the area of North Illinois and East Indiana Avenues shortly before 2:00 a.m. Thursday to a call of 7 to 8 shots fired. they found a man on a porch in the 700 block of Illinois Avenue with a gunshot wound to the elbow. Authorities say Injuries are serious but not life threatening.

Jul 21, 2010 - A dispute during a card game led to a Peoria man's arrest Tuesday night for allegedly firing at the house after leaving, police said. Hurie J. Boclair, 30, of 2413 W. Proctor was upset about a card game taking place inside and after walking outside turned and fired once at the back door. No one was injured by the bullet, police said.

Jul 21, 2010 - A man told police he was shot at early Wednesday morning by his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Timothy J. Wilson, 27, said he was in the 1500 block of West McClure Avenue when a man approached him saying, "I got you now" before pulling out a handgun and firing one shot, police reports said. Wilson was not injured.

Don't you just hate it when you get called out by the Pastor?

Pastor Harvey Burnett discusses his disappointment in the lack of response from area church leaders whose congregations are being directly affected by the violence in Peoria. Check it out here...

Wow... jaded much people?

I was reading a local blog a minute ago, when I just couldn't take how nasty everybody was being. Up to 133 comments of snapping on each other. I started to post my comment there, but decided to post it here, because I would really like to open up a dialogue about what is happening with civility, not just on that blog, but here in Peoria.

At what point did it become okay to be so mean spirited? The attacks, the biting, belittling people, just generally talking down and bullying folks on a regular basis. Our words are literally bullets flying through the blogosphere and believe it or not, people are being wounded. Words hurt too.

The conversation illustrated on that particular blog post is not meaningful dialogue that is going to move the conversation forward. We are literally verbally stoning each other.

Frightening to think that folks might carry this level of vitriol for diversity in opinion with them as they go throughout their day; or maybe this type of behavior is reserved just for the blogosphere.

What happened to the basic concept of respect for our fellow man?

PJStar over looks the Mayor's re-election in 2009

Interesting how the pjstar skipped right over the Mayor's re-election in 2009 and focused only on the 2005 election in which Ardis ran on putting an end to crime. I don't recall the pjstar or anybody else reminding the Mayor in 2009 of his promise to end crime. I didn't "feel safer" then...

Unfortunately the Mayor was under no pressure to do better when he was up for re-election. Therefore, the Mayor didn't promise Peorians a city free of crime, or any of the other things that we expect (i.e., a Mayor and Council that care about all of Peoria), he didn't have to. Source

Related articles on just how "safe" we were in 2009:
24 Armed robberies since the end of December! - February 11, 2009
EmergePeoria endorses General Parker for Mayor - March 30, 2009
Is it to early to feel safe? - March 30, 2009
Mission Accomplished - March 25, 2009
Again, not all black children are thugs - March 24, 2009
Crime View Community indicates I should leave Peoria - March 8, 2009
Crime View Technology - May 31, 2009
Does it mean we are safer if it's not in the news? - May 25, 2009 - April 24, 2009
Victims of murder, 2009 - July 4, 2010

Past time for the BOE to lay down some rules

Since the BOE voted to stop airing their meetings, information coming out about the District has been at a minimum (see … moratorium). Three specific reasons have surfaced as to why the meetings are no longer broadcast: control the message, tired of being bullied and the cost.

The fact that not televising the meetings is a cost saver has yet to be proven (even though I seem to recall BOE member Ross asking about it twice). However, it has become evident that the real reason for not televising the meetings is more than likely wanting to control the message, along with not wanting to publicize the level of discourse.

BOE member Stowell is correct that the District should care about the message that the public receives if the speakers make unfounded comments. But not televising the meetings in an attempt to “control the message” won’t work.

BOE member Petelle has speculated that perhaps allowing back and forth dialogue would allow the District to address the unfounded issues immediately. With discourse being at the current levels, in my opinion, back and forth dialogue in this type of forum could be a quagmire.

Sure it’s got to be hard being a BOE member on the end of a well researched issue that you have no knowledge of, delivered jabbingly (new word). However, you can’t deny that the District Watch Group has brought many issues to light that the BOE and the broader public were not aware of.

Mrs. Petelle’s intentions are good, but how many BOE members are really prepared to address the various issues that randomly come up from speakers? The majority of the commenter's at the BOE meetings are very well prepared. They have done the research, they have talked to people, they have handouts and they are passionate about that of which they speak.

Providing opportunities for members of the community, including employees, parents, and students, to have input in local school board deliberations is a very important part of conducting school system business.

At the same time, however, the BOE cannot effectively do its work and reach reasoned decisions if the public commentary portion of BOE meetings sets a tone of incivility and disorder. Thus, policies dealing with public commentary during official meetings of the BOE must make The Rules very clear...

The Rules

The Board encourages, welcomes, and will make opportunities for public comment on matters coming before the Board.
• All comments made during the public commentary portion of Board meetings will be limited to specific items included in the official meeting agenda.
• Individuals wishing to speak during the public comment portion of Board meetings must, prior to the Board meeting, have his/her name placed on an official list of speakers kept by the Clerk of the Board.
• Persons whose names do not appear on the approved list kept by the Clerk of the Board will not be permitted to speak.
• Speakers whose names appear on the list kept by the Clerk of the Board will be called in order and given a specific time limit within which to make their comments to the Board.
• Inappropriate comments, name-calling, profanity, the venting of personal issues, or other disruptive behaviors will not be tolerated.
• Civility will be insisted upon and enforced during all Board meetings.

Any individual or group of individuals whose comments and/or physical behaviors are deemed disruptive of Board business, and/or who engages in speaking on subjects not at the time relevant to matters before the Board, will be removed from the Board chamber and escorted off school system property. Source

If an issue is important enough for back and forth dialogue, perhaps the BOE member could discuss it after the meeting and/or place the item on the Agenda for a later date.

Give these volunteers time to do the research and get answers after the issues are raised and then hold them accountable based upon that feedback.

Armed robber at East Bluff Family Dollar Store

There was an armed robbery at the East Bluff Family Dollar Store on Wisconsin Avenue at around 3:15 p.m. this afternoon. The suspect, which was a heavy set female, dressed as a male, had a semi-automatic handgun and took all of the money from the cash register drawer and fled on foot.

My thought - taking all of the money from one register at this store, probably got the robber no more then twenty one dollar bills - imagine her disappointment when she gets home and counts the loot. Clown.

It's as if there is some sort of moratorium...

Curious as to what happened to ALL of the District 150 critics/commenters?

School's out, perhaps everybody is on vacation. Hopefully the teachers are enjoying their summer.

17th homicide, second day of new crime initiative

Anthony M. Johnson, 43, of 906 E. Nebraska Ave. was pronounced dead at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center at 10:37 a.m. He is the city’s 17th homicide victim of the year. Johnson was standing outside a house at 1215 N. Frink St. about 10 a.m. Sunday when he was shot multiple times, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said.

Also shot were his stepson Justin Stanley, 27, and sister-in-law Angela Johnson, 30. Ingersoll said initial reports she received stated their wounds were not considered life threatening.

Two men believed to have been the shooters were arrested near Lincoln Middle School after leading police on a high-speed chase and crashing their car. Source

Hat Tip to Jenny (posted to the pjstar at 2:20 p.m.)

UPDATE: There are also now confirmed reports of a shooting on Columbia Terrace around 3:45 a.m. in the morning; and another man shot in the 500 block of East Gift street about an hour and a half before that. Police say both men suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Facebook buzzzz - Murder on Frink.....

There were two shootings overnight, a high speed chase and a murder on Frink, approximately one hour ago. Allegedly one person on a spree. Awaiting confirmation from local main stream media.

Posted at 12:54 p.m., Sunday, July 18, 2010.

A man was shot early Saturday

On the second night of the new crime initiative, Jose P. Lopez was standing on the front porch of a residence at 1539 S. Faraday Ave. just after midnight when he was shot twice - once in the arm and once in the stomach. Lopez was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center with what police called non-life-threatening injuries. No arrests have been made. Source

Pastor Burnett comes out in support of the new crime initiative

7/16/2010

In response to the recent actions, by the Peoria Police Department and County and State Police Officials, and due to media requests for our reaction, I have decided to release a statement that will generally summarize our concerns as we move forward in addressing the issues of crime and violence within the Peoria community.

First, there is no easy solution against what can only be deemed as community terrorism either promoted by gangs or certain individuals who have proven themselves to be out of control. It’s not my intent to suggest that these terrorists or criminals need any “slack” in being dealt with. I believe the actions of the police and suggestions of Chief Settingsgarrd and other police professionals are in accord with the notion that over 80 shootings in a supposed non-combat zone is a ridiculous number. This type of terrorist activity must be addressed and put down.

As it pertains to youth curfews, we are most certainly in agreement with enforcing whatever laws that exist in Peoria for all underage youth unaccompanied by an adult after certain hours. On the other hand, I would caution against the possible civil rights violations of those of us (adults) who live free of crime and violence within the communities or areas that are under siege by these community terrorists.

Reliving “personal freedom” from individuals is the aim of the terrorists themselves. It is in the best interest of all citizens that any personal freedoms and civil liberties given up for the sake of combating this sort of community terrorism be specifically defined and limited in nature.

Creating and instilling fear is another objective of these community terrorist groups and individuals. We must not let them gain or have the victory on either of these fronts.

In agreement with Chief Settingsgaard, I would encourage citizens who are aware of certain terrorist activities, to be actively involved in the liberation of their neighborhood and communities. Ultimately, it is the citizens who will network together and send the message that community terrorism isn’t welcome in Peoria. Being a HERO has never been at such a necessary premium for this community. One call could save a life and help liberate a community.

Finally, whatever the struggle we can take our community back if we stand together and work with one another at all levels. Thank you.

Pastor Harvey Burnett
Exec. Director Peoria Assn. Of Pastors
New Bethel COGIC
DMI Community Leader

PPD makes 18 arrests...

On the first night of the new crime initiative, the Peoria Police Department has reported that they made 18 arrests and recovered two handguns in the "hot spots".

18 arrests, wow, that's significant. I'm curious as to how many stops they made?

Stop, question and frisk in action

Police officers using the stop, question, and frisk tactic in Brownsville, Brooklyn -- one of the many areas designated an "impact zone"...

Those zones are flooded with police officers, often new recruits, who reinforce small quality-of-life crimes like having an open alcohol container in public and questioning folks who appear to be loitering on the street in an effort to prevent bigger, more violent crimes. The department is pretty open about the point, too: If they arrest someone for something as mundane as jumping a turnstile in the subway, or for blocking pedestrians on the sidewalk, then officers can search them incident to a lawful arrest and find out if they have a weapon. The same is true if officers begin questioning someone and can articulate a reasonable suspicion that they have a weapon. Making "furtive movements" was one of the most commonly cited reasons for a frisk.

The officers stop people they think might be carrying guns; they stop and question people who merely enter the public housing project buildings without a key; they ask for identification from, and run warrant checks on, young people halted for riding bicycles on the sidewalk.

For residents like those in Brownsville, it can mean feeling like they live in a police state. It's a difficult situation, because it certainly seems to deter people from carrying guns, but it also means individuals can be stopped by police at nearly any time. That not only helps corrode the neighborhood's trust in officers but also means many young people grow up in a situation that can feel like a prison already. This is especially true for the city's housing developments, in which officers can ask for identification from just about any person they see in the hallway. In neighborhoods like Brownsville, residents feel singled out by the department, because they are.

Part of the problem with the stop-and-frisk investigation system is that it is hard to hold an individual officer accountable for department-wide policies and tactics. And officers could always articulate, in their interviews, a reasonable suspicion of something, even though it often seemed as though they were reciting lines from the patrol guide.

Officers assume a level of violence in many communities separate from facts because American culture fears black men. If officers enter a situation in which they believe everyone has a propensity for violence, then every action that person makes can be "furtive." At its most extreme, that level of fear, and the idea that we should treat some communities as if they are to be feared, can lead to senseless death. But every day it leads to contentious interactions, small and large, with police officers that can wear away at a person's sense of freedom. Source

Peoria's Stop-and-Frisk Neighborhoods

I am not sure what to think.

I know I want the shooting and killing to stop. But if I truly want them to stop, do I still have the right to speculate that the new crime initiative put forth by local law enforcement may violate the rights of a certain segment of our community - my community?

Is this really the only way...

I sit here not knowing, but hopeful, that somebody is making sure that the rights of black folks in this City will not be violated. But by the same token, I realize that our rights are already being violated by gangs. I am conflicted.

Are we going to give the PPD slack? Perhaps a comment from the local NAACP, or the African American Leadership Alliance as to what they think about the new initiative could put my mind to rest. Do they support it; are they concerned about the abuse of it; do they have any advice that they will offer publicly so that we have an idea how to deal with the issues surrounding random stops; or are we to just stay off the street, in an effort to avoid them?

In the current climate of black-on-black crime, do I dare ask for clarity on exactly why the police now have the power to randomly stop me, my husband, brothers, nephews and cousins? Many of us live in the impacted areas of crime. AND aren't black folks in this city already being stopped at disproportantely high rates?

First District Councilman Gulley is now calling for a full curfew after 10:00 p.m. Again, I am looking for clarity, will this just be for black folks and the neighborhoods that majority black folks live in, or will this be for all of Peoria?

Is it really fair that because I am black and there is a problem with black-on-black crime, that I am expected to go happily, without question and forfeit my rights to move about this community - my community freely?

Dennis in Peoria said...

Just got back from the PPD press conference on the 'new' anti-crime initiative. Not much to say except that there will be increased patrols late at night in the 'hot spots' (South End), increasing overtime to staff more officers; more traffic stops..and more enforcement of curfew laws...not just to stop the juveniles that cause trouble, but to protect the innocent juveniles from becoming another crime statistic.

The conference was well attended by many community members and police staff. Never heard 1 word about race or profling, but we'll have to see if this initiative works. It's possible that the overtime is being sought by non-minority younger police who are don't know who is a bad person or not, or is not in tune with what's going on in the community.

So that folks don't read things into what is printed or aired on mainstream media, this Press Conference will be aired on CAPtions Wednesday night, July 14th at 7 pm on Comcast Cable 22.

Shooting tally updated purusant to news report from week31.

Time to prioritize crime

Peoria Police answer such a high number of intruder alarms, perhaps the people who have home alarm systems like ADT and Sonitrol should pay an extra fee when the PPD responds. If ADT and Sonitrol does not have their own security officers to answer the calls, what service are they providing to citizens really?

Here's another idea, perhaps the PPD should consider prioritizing crime and put together a list of calls they don't have time to answer and put intruder alarms on the list.

Suffer These Crimes in Oakland? Don't Call the Cops
Facing layoffs, Oakland's Police Chief Anthony Batts listed exactly 44 situations that his officers will no longer respond to and they include grand theft, burglary, car wrecks, identity theft and vandalism. He says if you live and Oakland and one of the above happens to you, you need to let police know on-line.

Some 80 officers were to be let go at midnight last night if a last-minute deal was not reached. That's about ten percent of the work force. That deadline has been extended to Tuesday morning with a possible council vote at 10:30 a.m.

Here's a partial list:
•burglary
•theft
•embezzlement
•grand theft
•grand theft:dog
•identity theft
•false information to peace officer
•required to register as sex or arson offender
•dump waste or offensive matter
•discard appliance with lock
•loud music
•possess forged notes
•pass fictitious check
•obtain money by false voucher
•fraudulent use of access cards
•stolen license plate
•embezzlement by an employee (over $ 400)
•extortion
•attempted extortion
•false personification of other
•injure telephone/ power line
•interfere with power line
•unauthorized cable tv connection
•vandalism
•administer/expose poison to another's

Source

2nd shift police officers held over...

A stand off on Western with four blocks cordoned off; reports of shots fired; mother-in-law causing trouble; homeowner walks in on a burglary; a tree on fire at PMP and it's only 10:40.

It's going to be a long night folks. We all know it's just a matter of time before police unload on somebody - then what?

A few words of advice: If you don't absolutely have to be out - stay home.

Another shooting this morning with a homicide overnight

Six more shootings since my last update - one resulting in Peoria's 16th homicide...

Monday, July 12th, a man was shot at Taft Homes early morning while sitting in his apartment. Police arrived at 3:07 a.m. Monday and found a Shedrick B. Gregory, 43, with gunshot wounds to his leg and lower back. Gregory said he was sitting in his apartment with other people when a man walked in, pulled 2 handguns and shot him 4 or 5 times. He was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and his injuries were not life-threatening.

Sunday night, July 11th one man was found dead near Harrison Homes. Police responded to the 2700 block of West Trewyn around 11:40 p.m. where they found Orlando L. Davis, 30, with multiple gunshot wounds, including one in the head. He was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center where he died at 12:21 a.m. Monday.

Sunday night, July 11th, a 47-year-old man (allegedly the father of Orlando Davis) was shot in the back in South Peoria, while standing behind his house at 2113 W. Howett St. It was about 6:30 p.m. when he heard one gunshot and then realized he had been hit. He told police he didn't know which direction the shot came from and didn't see the shooter. Because he was behind the house, police think the shot came from the alley.

Sunday night, another male was found in the 1800 block of West Lincoln at 11:51 p.m. with two gunshot wounds to his left eyebrow area. The victim reported that he was shot near Manual High School, but police found no crime scene. He was transported to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.

Sunday night, police were called to Methodist Medical Center at 11:54 p.m. where a gunshot victim from the earlier incident in the 2700 Block of Trewyn was found dead. Deandrew M. Jackson, 24, was shot three times in the right arm, left rear shoulder, and right buttock.

Saturday morning, July 10th, police responded to 101 N. Village Green Court about 10:30 a.m. after receiving multiple reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers found only a vehicle with a window shot out by what they believe was a stray bullet. Witnesses at the scene said they observed a man with a gun chasing another man toward West Hulbert Street, according to the police report.

Is it okay to shackle a six year old to a chair for disobeying?

Ja'Briel Weston

Six-year-old Ja'Briel Weston was shackled by his ankle to a chair for disobeying his first-grade teacher. Two days later, he was apprehended by an armed security guard, dragged down a hallway and handcuffed to a chair for getting into a shoving match with another student.

When Ja'Briel's parents found out about this, his father, Sebastian Weston, met with the school's principal, Daphyne Burnett, who not only confessed to the child cuffing but also said that she'd have it done again if the child got out of line. According to a legal complaint filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana, "When [Ja'Briel's] father implored the school principal to stop these unconstitutional practices, she insisted that school policy required the arrests and seizures at the school."

Sebastian and Robin Weston, parents of the first-grader who was handcuffed and shackled at school, discuss the case during a news conference.

The juvenile-justice advocacy organizations are helping the father sue not only the school and its security officers but also the Recovery School District, the city's public school system, for allowing the "required" policy to take shape. Since the incident, young Ja'Briel has suffered pain in his wrists and ankles, as well as longer-lasting harm to his emotional and psychological well-being.

When young black boys like Ja'Briel aren't being chained like criminals for petty behavior, they are being suspended and expelled from school at rates two to three times those of their white peers -- often because of their race. Excessive punishment is being meted out more often to kids to whom free lunch is given, because of their families' poverty.

School administrators believe that they need to get tough on bad behavior, but there is little evidence that this is a deterrent. Schools are struggling with a lack of resources to deal adequately with student populations that fluctuate with volatility, and include children with a range of stress disorders.

But instead of stable learning environments being created, it's pipelines that are being created -- pipelines to the penal institution. It begins with kids being handcuffed and suspended at early ages, and continues with them being locked up later in life. Students who are suspended early on (Ja'Briel was suspended shortly after the handcuff incident) are three times more likely to drop out before 10th grade, and drop-out status triples a child's chances of ending up in jail later.

We have got to find a better way.

Chocolate lovers...

Another shooting yesterday

A Peoria man was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center after sustaining a gunshot wound to his right knee about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at 525 E. Seneca Place.

Police said the unidentified victim and another witness supplied conflicting reports about how the incident occurred. Both indicated a handgun was being unloaded when a bullet discharged. The man's condition was unavailable from St. Francis.

Source

Caterpillar excluded from President's Export Council

Interesting that there was no Caterpillar executive named to the President's Export Council. Especially in light of the fact that 56 percent of the products Caterpillar makes in East Peoria and nearly 80 percent of what it builds in Decatur are exported.

In 2008, the company exported just over $16 billion worth of products, up from about $9 billion just three years earlier.

Could the exclusion of Caterpillar be because of this, or statements like this...

Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally and Walt Disney Co. CEO Robert Iger are among 18 executives President Barack Obama will name today to an advisory group on increasing U.S. exports.

“Boosting America’s exports strengthens our economic growth and supports millions of good, high-paying American jobs,” Obama said in a statement.

Obama created the Export Council earlier this year and laid out a goal of doubling U.S. exports during the next five years.

The president is scheduled to speak today about progress on increasing U.S. exports, highlighting 18 trade missions coordinated by the Department of Commerce, loans from the U.S. Export-Import Bank that have helped support almost 110,000 jobs, and new agreements on exports of U.S. agricultural products.

The White House said Obama will name members to the export council to join Boeing Co. Chairman and CEO James McNerney and Xerox Corp. Chairman and CEO Ursula Burns, who were picked in March to lead the group.

Appointees to the council, the White House said, will include: United Parcel Service Inc. Chairman and CEO Scott Davis; MetLife Inc. Chairman and CEO Robert Henrikson; Pfizer Inc. Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Kindler; Verizon Communications Inc. Chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg; Archer Daniels Midland Co. Chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz; and UAL Corp. Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton.

Council members will also include: Vermeer Corp. CEO Mary Andringa; Dow Chemical Co. Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris; Dow Corning Corp. Chairman and CEO Stephanie Burns; Warburg Pincus LLC Co-President Charles Kaye; Ernst & Young LLP Chairman and CEO James Turley; and Carpenter & Co. CEO Richard Friedman.

Other appointees will be: G&C Equipment Corp. President Glen Hale; United Association General President William Hite; former Greater Construction Corp. Chairman and CEO Robert Mandell; and Magno International LP President Raul Pedraza.

Another shooting last night

Shots were fired at the Southern Valley 66 service station shortly before midnight Monday. A 27-year-old man was transported by private vehicle from 1016 S. Western Ave. to OSF St. Francis Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the chest and left wrist. The victim is now listed in stabled condition after surgery.

Several people were questioned and later released without charge. There are no suspects at this time.

Source

Living like we are bullet proof

Sunday's shooting of three victims in the North Valley, brought the tally of shooting victims in Peoria to at least 27 since June 16; 15 of the shootings have been homicides; 58 shootings total for the year.

Wave of gun violence unprecedented?

July 3, Rally for Victims of Crime and Violence

On Saturday, July 3, 2010, the Peoria Association of Pastors held a rally on the steps of City Hall, to recognize the families of victims of crime and violence. The Victims of 2009 & 2010 violence in Peoria, all left families & relatives. These are some of them:


2009:
Mario McGee, 19
Lonnie Williams, 27
Joshua Hunter, 24
Anil Dhingra, 58
Derrick Wade, 24
Jonathan Pickett, 45
Kermit O. Moore Jr., 21
Eric D. Donelson, 32
Clifford Harvey Jr., 37
Lucas T. Alberts, 2
Harvey Powell Jr., 23
Johnny L. Tyler, 47
Derome T. Brown, 16
Brandon D. Grant, 23
Johnnie L. Whitehead, 35
Arther Bradford, 54
Darnell Moore, 54
Diondre Nunn, 17

2010
Abdallah H. Kattoum, 31
Jasmine N. Brittine, 19,
Darryl Miller, 2
Youlandice Simmons, 24
Brianna Simmons, 22
Darresse Roddy, 19.
TaJi Cross, 20
Orvette Davis, 41
Nick D. Renfro, 20
Willie J. Martin, 36
Walter Holmes Jr.,21
Adrian Ortega, 19

(Some From 2010 omitted)

Read entire article and view video of Rally here...

Creator of "Stop Snitching" DVD gets 20 years

On June, 25, 2010, the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office announced the sentencings of two gang members, including the infamous Ronnie Thomas, known as Skinny Suge, the producer of the Stop Snitching videos.

The video came to symbolize Baltimore's witness intimidation culture, and got NBA star and native Baltimorean Carmelo Anthony in hot water for a cameo. The player later apologized and said he didn't endorse its message.

(video contains offensive language)

Read entire article here...