5A – Identifying Local Opportunities

Newspaper: The Naperville Sun (Location: Naperville, Illinois)

1. "Kane Co. urges flu shots after girl dies": by Megan Jones on January 11, 2019

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ANPSB%21Naperville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528includes%2B12%2Bweeklies%2529%2B%2528IL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0111%21January%2B11&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/170E140AB0638AF0
• Summary: A three year old girl in Aurora, Illinois had the flu and was treated at home, until she was unable to keep any food or drinks down. Her parents brought her to the emergency room at the Aurora hospital. While there she was eating a popsicle and went unconscious. Rob Russell, Kane County Coroner, stated she was a very healthy and was unable to find any pre-existing medical issues. She had received all of her immunizations. She died on December 21, 2018. This was the first flu related death in Illinois for 2018. According to The Centers for Disease Control, children ages two to five who have the flu are more likely to experience serious complications due to their weak immune system. Illinois is one out of the twenty four states the Centers for Disease Control classified as having "widespread flu activity." Tom Schlueter, County Health Department spokesman, advised locals to receive the flu shot in hope of decreasing the number of complications caused by the flu. 
• Problem: The flu is very contagious and can lead to death, especially in young children with weak immune systems. Illinois is also experiencing a high volume of flu activity this year. 
• People: Young children, doctors, adults, hospitals, schools, and the communities in the 24 states listed as having widespread flu activity

2. "Naperville feeling shutdown's sting- federal workers are turning to charities for help": by Suzanne Baker on January 13, 2019

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ANPSB%21Naperville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528includes%2B12%2Bweeklies%2529%2B%2528IL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0113%21January%2B13&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/170EF6778D170F18
• Summary: Many federal workers across the United States were negatively affected by the government shutdown on December 22, 2018. In Illinois a total of 40,000 federal employees were affected. Loaves & Fishes Community Services has started receiving requests from furloughed workers for rental assistance, food services, and food stamps. The Naperville location already assists 4,700 households, 40% of them also receive help from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Since the government closed, food pantries have experienced a higher volume of requests on top the their usual ones. Many tax returns have not been processed due to the food bank's IRS representative being furloughed. These tax returns would have been used for rent payments and food. Bill Foster, U.S. Representative, stated his congressional pay will being donated to food banks while the government is shutdown. The article also discusses the impact the government shutdown has on the science community and transportation. The equipment that collects data from climate change to astronomy is not being supervised by scientists, which may cause significant gaps. Additionally, unpaid Transportation Security Administration employees have been calling out of work, which has negatively affected airports. 
• Problem: The government shutdown has caused federal workers to seek aid from food banks. The shutdown also may cause important scientific data to be lost and TSA workers have been calling out. 
• People: Food pantries in Naperville (Loaves & Fishes Community Services), government workers, scientists, airports, IRS employees, families who were receiving aid from food banks before the government shutdown 

3. "Police issue warnings after boy rescued from icy water-11 year old fell through frozen Naperville retention pond" by Elyssa Cherney and Suzanne Baker on January 16, 2019

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ANPSB%21Naperville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528includes%2B12%2Bweeklies%2529%2B%2528IL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0116%21January%2B16&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/17102AE1A8484568
• Summary: On January 13th at 4:55pm, an 11-year old fell through the retention pond at Chantecleer Lakes Condominium Association complex. The bottom of the pond was covered in mud which caused the boy's foot to get stuck. The rescue only took four minutes after the boy climbed onto the rescue disc and was pulled to the edge of the pond. A firefighter also jumped into the water to help guide the rescue disc. The young boy was taken to Edwards Hospital and stabilized. A 90-second video of the firefighters saving the boy was posted by the fire department. Thomas Moran, Naperville fire Bureau Chief, states the "the video shows the challenges the firefighters face" (The Naperville Sun, para 9). He reminds residents to only skate in areas that are approved by the Naperville Park District. 
• Problem: The warmer weather caused the retention pond to thaw. The Chantecleer Lakes Condominium Association complex did not have a barrier around the pond. 
• People: the young boy, his family, the Naperville fire department, Chantecleer Lakes Condominium Association complex

4. "Mayor sad city might lose Ribfest- Festival might damage turf at Knock Park" by Diane Moca on January 6, 2019

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ANPSB%21Naperville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528includes%2B12%2Bweeklies%2529%2B%2528IL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0106%21January%2B06&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/170C6A62DD98EB68
• Summary: This is the last year the traditional Ribfest in Naperville, Illinois will be held at Knock Park. The four day festival has been located at the park for over 30 years and takes place every July with around 200,000 attendees. Steve Chirico, Naperville Mayor, says the event is extremely large and takes up six to seven baseball fields.  Preparation for the event takes up to several weeks and has become an inconvenience for the city. Recreational use of the park ceases and local business are annoyed by their parking spots being completely filled. The large number of attendees will destroy the new synthetic turf that was installed into the women's softball field for Naperville Central High School. Ribfest is organized by the Exchange Club of Naperville, which is also responsible for the annual India Day Celebration. This celebration was also located at Knoch Park and may be moving in 2020, as well. Both festivals are allowed to be held at the Rotary Hill located in Naperville, but the Exchange Club believes the park is too small for the number of attendees. Oswego, Romeoville, and Aurora are currently three locations where the Ribfest and India Day Celebration may be moving to in 2020. 
• Problem: The Ribfest and India Day Celebration have become to large for the Knock Park. The attendees take up the local business's parking spots, recreational use of the park, and can cause damage to the baseball fields. 
• People: Naperville community, local businesses, Exchange Club of Naperville, all of the people who attend the festivals, the mayor Steve Chirico 

5. "Racism still haunts U.S.- 50 years after MLK's death" by David McGrath on January 20, 2019

• https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3ANPSB%21Naperville%2BSun%252C%2BThe%2B%2528includes%2B12%2Bweeklies%2529%2B%2528IL%2529/year%3A2019%212019/mody%3A0120%21January%2B20&f=advanced&action=browse&format=text&docref=news/171109EC5F94C338
• Summary: In this article David McGrath, a former English professor at the College of DuPage, writes about his childhood experiences with racism and how it is still a problem today. In 1960 when Martin Luther King began protesting for equal rights, McGrath was a teenager. He was not interested in the news and rarely read the newspaper, but found articles criticizing the Chicago mayor and other hypocritical official humor and enlightening. His uncle disliked Martin Luther King and voiced his strong negative opinions of him on McGrath. Like his uncle, his friends were also very hostile towards African Americans. His interested in the equal rights movement began when Chicago's Marquette Park was selected as a marching location. He had previous memories of fishing and playing golf inside the park, so he decided to join his friend Joey on the day of the march. While driving to the park a rumor started that policemen would be checking each car. Upon hearing this his friend turned around because he had hidden a steel pipe. He remembers seeing the photos of King and the marchers being harassed and feeling shameful for almost being a part of it. After King was assassinated, David McGrath recalls reading an article, written by the same author who criticized the mayor, criticizing America for not standing up for equal right and allowing racism to continue. Today, McGrath believes racism in the U.S. has not changed. He gives an example of Iowa Congressman believing the word "white supremacists" is acceptable and not offensive. David McGrath ends with urging America to change and "never again go along for the ride" (The Naperville Sun, para 27).
• Problem: Even after Martin Luther King's civil rights movement, racism is still prevalent in the United States. 
• People: Everyone who believes they are superior over someone due to a difference in skin color would have this problem. In the article, David McGrath specifically condemns Americans for being racists. The locations the marches took place, the participants of the peaceful protests, the police force, and David McGrath were also affected.