Rockford Certified Poetry Slam looking for judges
NORTHERN ILLINOIS — Support National Poetry Month by being a judge in Rockford’s Certified Slam of poetry and spoken word April 21. Anyone is welcome to inquire; you’ll be expected to bring your own criteria while also following some key rules. Poets will compete for scores and prizes. The slam is every third Tuesday at the Rockford Public Library’s Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St. from 6 to 8 p.m. It’s the only Poetry Slam, Inc. certified venue in Rockford.
College funding bill prioritizes smaller schools
A new bill would shift more public money to smaller and less well-funded schools, and the University of Illinois system is concerned, reports Black Chronicle. The bill, HB 1581, would increase funding to state universities by $135 million over 15 years, prioritizing smaller schools in need. The University of Illinois (U of I) system currently receives 51% of all new funding and would end up with 28%. U of I officials say the funding drop could force them to raise tuition costs and increase out-of-state admissions. Administrators from Western Illinois University and Northern Illinois University, who would receive more money if the bill is passed, support the bill. It awaits a full vote by the House.
HIV/AIDS cases up in Chicago two consecutive years
CHICAGO — After two decades of decline, new HIV/AIDS cases grew 29 percent in Chicago from 2022 to 2024, with nearly half of the new cases among Latino people (WBEZ)Â Possible causes health officials are exploring: the initial untested status of many of the 51,000 mostly Latino immigrants bused to the city since 2022 by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, delayed care because of the COVID pandemic, and federal public funding cuts combined with backlash against diversity and equity efforts.
