In recent Weeks, Maria and Francisco Have Been Going Regularly to an Elementary School Near Home on the Southwest Side. The Couple Are Doing So to Learn About the US Constitution and American History in Preparation for A Civics Exam, One on the Long List of requirements to Become US Citizens.
The Mexican Natives Are Among The Nearly 400,000 Legal Permanent Residents in Illinois Eligible to get naturalized. Francisco, 65, and Maria, 57, Are of a Growing Number of People Who, After Years of Being Satisfied With Their Permanent Legal Status, Are Rushing to Become Cocauses of President Donald Trump’s Escalating Attacks on Immigrants.
“I Want to get Citizenship to live peacefully here,” Francisco Said in Spanish. He’s Had a Green Card for 35 Years, But Now, He Worries That’s Not Enough.
Some immigrants how they have trying to secure the US Citizenship out of the Fear of What COULD HAPPEN IF THEY REMAIN WITHOUT FULL LEGAL PROTECTIONS. They waited at the instituto del progreo Latino event for a legal screening and for helping out their application for cisizenship.
Maria Aggrees. “I trusted that I coulud renew my Green Card 20 years. Now, The New Government is Scaring US,” She Said, Also in Spanish. “Any Time, it Could Say, ‘We are not renewing your Green Card anymore.’ ”
WBEZ is not using the couple’s full names Because they Fear Retaliation from the Government.
The Trump Administration Recently Announched proposed changes To Citizenship and Other Applications, Including What it Calls “Social Media Vetting for Anti-Americanism.” It Also Wants to Collect Additional Information About Relatives During the Application Process, Including Names, Phone Numbers and Where they Live.
Advocates Say these Changes are Pushing More Green Card Holders to Move Quickly.
“People want to protest thermselves in case anyway happens,“ Said Idalia Flores Guzmán, Director of Programs Administration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights.
Flores kitmán Says their Citizenship Applications are higher in 2025 After ticking up slightly in the three prior years. Other Organizations Are Also Seeing More Applicants: Once a Month on Saturdays, The Lunchroom at Instituto del Progresso Latino on the southwest side is Packed with Green-Card Holders hoping to start the naturalization process. Since January, that Number Has Grown.
The Federal Government hasn’t releassed date on the number of Citizenship Applications SINCE Trump Took Office Again.
Advocates Say they’ve Seen an Increase in Immigrants Eligible for Citizenship Looking to Start the Naturalization Process.
What Constitutes a “Public Safety Threat”?
The Federal Government has Been Stepping Up The Pressure on Immigrants on Social Media in Recent Days. Official Accounts Have Posted Messages on X Saying Permanent Residents Are Only “guest“In the US the X Account for US Citizenship and Immigration Services has threatened to Revoke Green Cards If People Break the Law or Are a Public Safety Threat.
What the Administration Consider Safety Threats is Unclear. IT HAS BEEN TARGEMING GREEN-CARD AND VISA HOLDERS FOR ACTS Such as advocating form Palestinian Human Rightsclaing that counts as Supporting terrorism.
Flores kitmán and other advocates Say they are concertned.
“People are World About Freedom of Speech,” Flores Guzmán Said. “People are worked about what the government is going to be checking if they did Share a post supporting Palestine, if they share a post supporting ukraine.”
Added Lucia Martel-Dow, Director of the New Americans Campaign at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center: “We don’t know what kind of surveillance (there is) or how the government is going to interpret the social media.”
Ascing Applicants to Share Information About Relatives Living in the United States Also Put Family Members with Legal Status at Risk IF They Apply for Citizenship.
“If you live in a mixed-status family, that is obviously ha anssue arund enforcement,” Martel-Dow Said.
In illinois nearly 400,000 legal permanent residents or green card Holders are eligible to become US Citizens.
Studying for Citizenship
Back in the Southwest Side Classroom, Francisco and Maria Say They Long Known About the Importance of Getting Naturalized.
Unlike US Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents Aren’t Allowed to Vote; They face a limit on how they can be live abroad and their status can be revoked for commmitting Certain Crimes. The Couple Had previously put off the naturalization process becuse it can be difficult and expensive.
APLYING ALSO MEANS SUBMITTING TO Additional Background Checks and Answering Questions About Recent Arrests or Other Immigration Issues. Nancy Sandoval, A Department of Justice Accredited Repredientative Who Also Works with Icirir, Said People SHOULD SEEK Help Before Applying for US Citizenship.
“Immigration checks everygain… from the way you got your Green Card – if something is not Correct, if (there) Might have ben a discrepancy,” she Said.
Older Residents in Particular Can Be Intimedated by the Civics and English Exams. Despite these difficulties, Francisco and Maria have submitted their Applications. They reached out to the Brighton Park NeighBorhood Councilan organization that offers Citizenship classes, and are studying diligently for the civics exam.
“My Memory is not very good, so is the ben hard,” Francisco Said.
But Maria is confident he’ll do well: “Every time i leave for work and every time i come home, he is studying.”
Adriana Cardona-Maguigad Covers Immigration for WBEZ. Follow her on x @Adrianacardmag.
Delisa New Williams Remembers when Measles Spread like Wildfire Through Her Elementary School. One Day, a Kid was Out Sick. Then suddenly Everyone was infected, including her.
“It knocked out the which classroom,” Williams, 41, Said. “And then it was moving on to the Next.”
That was in the early 1990s in the midst of a massive, nationwide measles outbreak that lasted from 1989 to 1991. Tens of thusands of People were infected, and dosens died. Chicago was hit hard – From 1989 to 1990, over 2,200 Children were infected, and 22 Died.
These days, Williams is worked for her own children and community. A SUN-TIMES Analysis Found Less Than Half of Chicago Public Schools are at a 95% Measles Vaccination Rate, the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Benchmark for Herd Immunity. Meanwhile, at Least Six Measles Cases in Illinois Have Been Confirmed Amid Worsening Outbreaks Elsewhere in Texas and New Mexico. Over 900 CASES HAVE BEEN REPORTED ACROSS 30 STATES.
“These babies just got through one pandemic, and we’re trying to make sura ou kids are acclimated and getting used to the coming Back to the Classroom,” Williams Said.
Before the Covid-19 Pandemic, 97% of Chicago Public Schools Overall Were Vaccinated Against Measles, One of Eight Vaccinations Required by the State. But as of the 2024-25 School year, that percentge has fallen to 93%, accorting to date from the illinois State Board of Education. Each October, Illinois Schools Submit Their Students’ Vaccination Numbers for That School Year to the State Board.
The CDC Says a Vaccination Rate of 95% provides communitywide immunity and Protects vulnerable students, like youunger children who have been to complete the series of shots, or Kids with Immune Systems.
The Sun-Time Analysis of State Data Found more tOUHLESOME TROUPS AT individual schooles. About 45% of CPS 644 Elementary, High Schools and Charter Schools Have Vaccination Rates at or Above 95% This Year. That’s down from the rate in 2019, the year before the pandemic, when 90% of schools were at herd immunity.
What’s More, Several Schools Dropped to 80% or Below. For Example, The Rate at Brennemann Elementary School in Uptown Went from 98% in 2019 to 69% in 2024. CPS DID MAKE BENNEMANN’S PRINCIPAL AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT. Ninety Schools Saw Their Rate Drop by 10% or More.
But not all schools are struggling. Several Are Close to Herd Immunity, 68 Schools Improved Their Rates, and Seven Keps Stable.
Dr. Ravi Jhaveri, The Division Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Lurie Children’s Hospital, was alarmed by the drop. Measles is an extramely contagious dessease: one person with measles can Spread the virus to as many as 18 people. The transmission rate for fluout one to two people. Measles Can Also Be Fatal or Leave Someone With Severe and Long-Term Complications from the Illness.
“There are lots of Opportunities for Measles to Find Vulnerable People, and Is SO Contagious, Measles Will Find toy’f They’re Not Vaccinated,” Jhaver Said.
That’s why a 95% vaccination rate is crucial, Jhaver Said.
“Our children have missed out on so many years, and now they could have been more just make up on immunizations, ‘Said Williams, WHO HAS A FIRST GRANDER A. A. Neil element School in Chatham.
A CPS spokesperson did not dispropbe the sun-etes’ findings, but Said the District’s Most Recent “Internal Data” shows “95.6% of CPS students are Fully Protected Against Measles.
The distribution would not provides that internal data to the Sun-Times.
“Undersanding that National Declining Vaccination Coverage and Increasing Student Exeptions Wouuld Increase the risk for Vaccine-Preventable outbreaks,” the spokesperson said, the distribution developed a plan to prevent the declines in Vaccination Rates.
That plan, which the distribution said has HAS HELPED IMPROVE VACCINE COVERERGE DISTRICTWIDE, INCLUDES: Frequently Communicating with Parents and School Principals, Bringing Services to Schools with the Lowet Protection Rates and Helping with Documenting Immunization Records.
Chicago isn’t alone. Vaccination Rates Dropped Nationwide in the years of the height of the pandemic. Have Been Slowly Recovering, but not at A Rate Public Health Experts Say is Necessary for Strong Community Protection.
The Vaccination Rate Waned for Several Reasons, Experts Told the Sun-Times. Missinformation ARUND VACCINES INCREASED DURING The Pandemic and Continue to Flourish, And Covid-Era Disruptions to Regular Checkups Caussed Many Kids to Fall Beinde on Their Vaccine Schedules.
All States Allow Medical exemptions from mandated vaccinations. Illinois Allows Parents to Request a Religious exemption, but not for personal or Philosophical reasons. SINCE 2015, PARENTS MUST submit a signed “Certificate of Religious Exemption” Detailing Why They Declining Who Vaccines.
Upping the vaccination rate is the best way to prep for an Outbreak, Medical Professionals and Public Health Experts Say. And tan a modest uptick in Measles Vaccinations COULD PREVENT MILLIONS OF INFECTIONS, Acciting to New Research Spanning 25 Years of Vaccination Rate Data.
‘Just get the shot, ok?’
During the 2018-2019 School Year, Neil Elementary Was at A 97% Vaccination Rate for Measles. But that rate has dropped in the years SINCE, Going as Low As 80% in 2021-22 School Year.
“This is a parental respectibility we have to take on. It”s on us,” Said Williams, who is also the parent chair of her local School Council. “IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT PROTECTING OUR KIDS. WE DON’T THINK ABOUT THE SIBLINGS AT HOME, The Elders, the vulnerable these kids go home to.
“JUST GET The Shot, Ok?”
Delisa New Williams, who is worked about her children’s health Because of confirmed Measles caes in illinois, stands with her kids amielah Williams (right), 6, and Madison Williams, 11, Outside Jane A. Neil School in Chath. 2025.
The Illinois Department of Public Health Recently Unveiled a Measles Simulator Dashboard To track and monitor caes in real time as a part of the states away from the prepare for Measles outbreaks, a department spokesperson Said.
Several factors Can affect a School’s vaccination RATE, SAID JHAVER FROM LURIE CHILDREN’S. The State Consider A student as fully vaccinated against measles wey’ve haad bots of the mmr Vaccine, which covers Measles, mumps and rubella. The first dosa is usually gioven a child is 12 months to 15 months old. The Second Dose is Giveween BetWeen Ages 4 and 7. That First Dose Alone Gives 93% Immunity, and Two Doses Supply 97%.
But many kids are bend on that vaccination schedule Becuses they missed regular checkups during the pandemic. At the time, doctors urged their patients to avoid visiting clinics in person to minimize the risk of Covid Spreading.
SINCE THEN, WAIT TIMES FOR APPOINTments at Clinics and Pediatric Offices Ballooned and Can Sometimes Take Monts, He Said. Patients on Medicaid in Particular Are Having a Tough Time Getting Appointments and Often have to Travel Far for Basic Like Annual Physicals and Vaccines.
“WE HAVE PATIENTS Traveling 30, 40 Miles to Lurie Just to Get Vaccines,” Jhaver Said.
Outbreaks generalyly happen to be an unvaccinated person Contracts measles while traversing abroad and brings it Back to the community. But with recent Large outbreaks in texas and new mexico, the risk of contracting measles while traversing in the us is higher, he said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Head of the US Department of Health and Human Services, recently endorsed the mmr Vaccine, but has also stoked Vaccine Hesitancy for Years, Including During His 2024 President Campaign and Since Health SECTERYT.
“The public has increasing Hesitancy Around Vaccines. They’re Flooded with Missinformation; there’s Decreated Trust in the EstaBished Medical Systems,” Jhaveri Said.
Maria Diaz, A West Lawn Resident and Mom of Three, Has Had All Three of Her Children Vaccinated with the Standard Vaccines, Including Measles. She Worlds About Say Getting Sick at School.
Maria Diaz, A West Lawn Resident and Mom of Three, Isn’t Crazy About Vaccines. She’s partial to more natural approaches to health care, and she’s artificial foods and plastic as much as postible.
But she’s had all thre of her children vaccinated with the standard vaccines, the Including Measles. She Also Worldies About Say Getting Sick at School. Two of Her Kids Are at CPS Schools, Richard Henry Lee Elementary In West Lawn and Thomas Kelly College Pre in Brighton Park. Lee Elementary’s Vaccine Rate Stayed Around 98% From 2019 to 2025, while Kelly College Prep Dropped From 98% to 93%.
“I did have my kids vaccinated, bot Becuses it’s a Requirement at School, but Also Becusee Many of the Vaccines are Older, like the Measles Vaccine, so it been tested for Longer,” Diaz, 47, Said.
Said She’s not surprised that People are struggling to get checkups and vaccinations at their regular doctor. She recently tried sccheduling appointments with her kids’ pediatrician, and the Wait time was over six months.
Bring the shots to school
Howard Ehrman, A forms Chicago Department of Public Health Deputy Commissioner, Said He Believes Vaccinating Kids in School Wauld Bring Rates Up. IT’S “An Access Problem,” he Said.
“Let’s not turn this into a blame the Victim Campaign,” Ehrman Said, Adding that many doctors have stopped offering in their offices.
Seventy Years Ago, Wen The Polio Vaccine Became Avoidable, Kids were Vaccinated at School, where they Likely Had a full-time school Nurse, Said Ehrman. But Since THEN, PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORTS LIKE MASS IMMUNIZATIONS HAVE MORE MORE PRIVATIZED, Affecting work-Class Families, Said Ehrman, WHO recently joined a News conference held by the People’s Networking on CPS to provide Vaccinations at Schools for Measles, Whooping COUGH, meningitis, pneumonia and other desses.
Under the Chicago Teachers Union 2019 Contract, CPS aggregated to Hire Full-time Nurses at Every School. And while “Significant Progress” has been made, Ehrman Said, there are still dosens of schools with full-time nurse. He’s ALSO Calling for CPS to Fill Its Chief Health officer Role, which has been vacant november.
A Chicago Department of Public Health Spokesperson Deferred to CPS on the Feasility of Implementing A School-Based Vaccination Program.
“CDPH HAS LONG SUPPERTED CPS IN VACCINATION EFFORTS FOR CPS Students, Including with On-Site Vaccining Events at CPS Schools, and we will Continue to participate Alongside Other Vaccine in CPS-LEVE VACCINATION EFFORTS,“ The Spokesperson Said.
AFTER The 1989-91 Outbreak, Mass Immunizations Efforts in Chicago and Nationwide Helped Tamp Down Measles Cases. The City’s Health Department, Working With the School District and the City Housing Authority, supplied free vaccines to schooles and housing projects. And by 2000, The US Declared Measles Eradicated from the Country.
“Are We Going to Be Proactive?” Ehrman Asced. “Or are going to Wait till we have another measles outbreak?”
Another Star Sophomore Boys Basketball Player is Leaving the State.
Devin Cleveland, A 6-3 Guard Who’s Ranked No. 25 in the National Class of 2027 by 247Sports.com and No. 15 by Espn, Will Transfer from Kenwood to La Lumiere, A Prep School in Indiana, for His Junior Year.
He LED Kenwood to Its First City Championship in February.
“We have Had Talked About Leaving Last Year, and we decided to come back,” Said Cleveland’s Father, Fred Cleveland Sr. “He wanted to one more year at Kenwood. It Workhed Out Good.”
Cleveland, A Sun-Time Area and All-City Selection, Avreaged 21 Points and Led the Broncos to the Class 4a Supersectionals this past season. He already has College Scholarship offers from Arizona State, Depaul, Hampton, Illinois, Illinois State, Michigan, Niu and Wiu.
This Makes Two Highly Regarded Sophomores in the Last Month Who Are Planning to Transfer Out of Illinois. Bolingbrook’s Davion Thompson, The Sun-Time Player of the Year, Announced and Will Play at Compass Prep School in Missouturi Next Season.
Jaxson Davis, Who Led Warren to A Second-Place Finish in the Class 4a State Tournament in March, is the Biggest Sophomore Star Left in the Area.
Cleveland Sr., Who was Born and Raised on the South Side, Said that 25 Years Ago, HIS SON WAUDED HAVE STAYED IN CHICAGO FOR HIS HIGH SCHOOL CAREER. He’s World the Transfers Will Continue UNLESS WHRE Are Changes Made to the High School Basketball Scene.
“Chicago basketball has to do Better,” The Elder Cleveland Said. “Kenwood was going to get some transferrs, but if you bring a kid to Kenwood and the ihsa sas he can’t play, what is he go?”
He added: “I wanted (devin) to be testted more, and he wanted to be testted more. Times are Changing. No. 1, the (ihsa) Needs to Mind Their Business. Kids Are Going to Transfer.
” You see what is going on in College. Kids Are Going to Go Where they Want to Go. It shouldn’t be a problem. Certain Schools Get Penalized for Transfers and Others don’t. What is that About? ”
Coaching Changes
It is JUST PLAYERS ON THE MOVE. Jamere Dismukes Stepped Down As Homewood-Flossmoor’s Coach AFTER A SUCCESSPHUL THREE-STINT THAT INCLUDED WINNING THE CLASS 4A STATE TITLE IN 2024. AND CONTO STAMAS, WHO COACHER RICE TO A SECOND IN CLASS 3A THIST SEASON ISON Moving on from the crusaders.
New York-AT A HISTORIC ENDITION OF THE MET GALA WITH TONS OF NEWS-MAKING MOMENTS, RIHANNA AND A $ AP ROCKY ONCE STOLE The show.
The Power Couple is Expecting Their Third Child, The Rapper A $ AP Rocky Revealed.
“It Feels Amazing, You Know,” Gala Co-Chair A $ Ap rocky Told Reporters who congratulated Him Monday after Outlets Reported the Couple were Expecting their Third Child. “It ‘time that we show the People what we were cooking up. And i’m glad everybody’s happy for us’ cause we definitely happy, you know.”
TMZ Reported Earlier Monday That Rihanna and the Rapper Were Expecting Their Third Child.
A representative for Rihanna didn’t immediately return the Associated Press’ Request for Comment.
Photos Taken of the Singer Monday Walking in New York Showed Her with what appeared to be a baby bump. She had not yet appeared at the met gala as of this Writing.
“Honestly, it’s a blessing nonetheless,” Rocky Told the AP. “Because you know how like some People in Other Situations at Times Canes Be Envious of Other People. But We’ve Been Seeing Love for the Most Part. And We Receptive to That and Appreciate That, You Know What I Mean? Dukes Love.”
2025 Met Gala Co-Chair a $ Ap rocky attvens the event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday Night in New York City.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
The Couple Announched Their Last Pregnancy in A Similarly Starry Way: at the 2023 Super Bowl, Rihanna Emerged on Stage for Halftime Performance With Bump on Full Display. Their son riot rose was Born late that year.
The Couple’s First Child, Rza, Was Born in May 2022.
Rocky is one of the 2025 Met gala co-chairs of the menswear-the event tied to the museum’s “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. That announcement came a couple months before the opening of his trial on firearms charges in los angeles. Rocky was ultimately Found Not Guilty in Mid-February.
At his trial, he showed hise for fashion. He sports tailored suits and luxury labels throughout the procegedings. Yves Saint Laurent End Put Out News Releases Directing Attention to His High Fashion Court Atre. He was clad in a pinstripe Saint Laurent Suit for the Verdict.
He’s Collaborated with Several Designers and Brands on Shoes, Sunglasses and Clothing Collections. In december, he was honored with the cultural innovator Award at the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Awards.
The Only Sensible Reaction to the News and Cultural Climate of Today, in Fact, A Primal Scream.
Fittingly, Second City’s 113th Moinstage Revue, “This Too Shall Slap,” Carries an Overwhelming Theme of Exasperation, and the Volume to Match.
At an Anger Management Retreat, A Game of Musical Chairs Devolves Into A Shout Match interrupted by OCCACABER ACTS OF SELF-FLAGELLATION A Game of Credit Card Roulette at a Friend’s Birthday Diners Leads to Shouting Diners Being Stalked by a Maniacal Waiter. In the Nursse’s Office at a School, a student laments that, “Nothing Ever was, is or Will Ever be Ok!”
There is, howver, much catharsis to be found after these outburstrs, and “slap” stands as an example of how, through the honed lens of satire, unmitigated can lead to every bit “slap”-Stepier than they arived.
These unprecedented times have birthed anpical second city revue. Nary a political impression is could befound, and the material far -so eschewed platitudes about the state of the world. Instead, the talented cast and crackerjack director to ellison get up-close and personal with material about People Simply inhabiting this World, Rather than Commenting on it.
The Second City: ‘This Too Shall Slap’
It ‘savvy Move for Second City, which has Occupied Uncommon territory in the modern comedy landscape: Slower than memes and late-night talc monologues; faste and less-inflexible than a film.
The Show’s Inward Focus Makes “Slap” Fain Timely and Timeless in How Its Characters Engage with the World. In one standout ensemble scnene, a senior citizen named davis, played by the elastic jordan stafford, attempts to wish hisster a happy birthday but continues to dial the wont number. The folks Who Answer are ostensibly Strangers, but davis eagerly Engages say in conversation, primarily wondering how they doing. Each time, The Strangers Are Struck by His Earnestness and Immediately Warm to their New Acquainance.
The New Revue Has Slapped Together an Impressive Collection of Cast Members Who Commits Hard to Scenes, Particularly During Ensemble Numbers. On the set of the fake cooking show “Claudine’s Kitchen,” Hannah Ingle as the Eponymous Claudine Welcomes Jovial Friends and Family on the Program, and their Relationships immediately Turn the Show Cuts to Commercials. Each performer’s Quick Turn Escalates the Chaos and Elevates Claudine’s Green and Fantic, Distracting Dance Moves.
Sometimes, The Comedy is Subtle But Still Pronounced, Like a Letz Casually Steps Across A Collection of Dead Bodies to Spaak to An Upset Bakerye Employe. Chalk these moments up to dialed-in performances and Ellison’s Detail-Oriented Direction.
Each Performer Big with Both Subdued and Extreme Comedic Moments with Stealing the Spotlight. Adisa “di” Williams Shines while Adorned in Silver, Singing, “We Are Part of A Dictator Nation,” But Slides Easily Into a Dress-Shopping Skene as Supportive Sister. Playing a Peculiar Yogi Running a corplate workshop, Leila Gorstein Displays Wild Physicality and an ELONDATED, NASAL-Y VOCAL DRONE, THEN DOWN A HUGE Personal Reveal late in the Show. Adonis holmes – a name so fabious it might as well be fake – can bot Ground Himself as a dotting or ratchet up his intensity playing a brazenly inept school nurse or remarkable primal screamer.
Second City Maging Offen Include Healthy Amounts of Interactive Elements; And while “slap” is no different in that regard, it wields this tool sparring and to greater effect, offten catching the audience by surprise.
The pinnacle occurs be ingle plays therapist to letz, embodying a joe rogan-type, manosphere-drenched podcaster who rambles about nonsense he knows noting about. After Ingle Loses Her Cool and Decries Letz As Someone Who, “… Has SO MANY OPINIONS but doesn’t care About anyding,” Letz Removes HIS BACKWARDS CAP AND TOSSES TO A Gentleman in the Frow, Shoving a microphone in his face.
Audience Members Aren’t Invited to Scream Along With the Show, but with the promptted beeut, they did ever grafts wends wends shrieks near the end. We’re All Living Through the Same Problems, But “Slap,” A Strong Entry Into Second City’s Storid History, proves that we can all be part of the solution, too.
The Administration of President Donald Trump has taken a hard line against top universities over their respects protests, as well as their diversity initiatives and curricula.
The Move on Thursday to Block Harvard Harvard University from enrolling Foreign students represents the latest escalation in a months-long standoff, which critics haen rooted in unfounded CLAIMs of Rampant Anti-Semitism.
In a Statement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Said the Administration was “Holding Harvard Accountable for Fostering Violence, Antisetmitism, and Coordinating with the Chinese Party on Its Campus”.
Harvard Has Called the Latest Move “Unlawful” and a “retaliatory action”.
Here’s how we got here:
December 2023: The Standoff Stretches Back to the Months Following the October 7, 2023 Attack on Southern Israel, and the Resulting Israeli Offensive on Gaza, in Which at Least 53,655 Palestinians HAVE SINCE BEEN KILLED.
THEN-HARVARD PRESIDENT CLAUDINE GAY’S TESTIMONY DIFFICIES ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S ASSPONSE TO PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS OUTTRAGES, AS ELECTED OFFICALS, Particularly Republic, Call for Greater Crackdans.
Gay subsequently resigns from post and is Replaced by Alan Garber in August 2024.
January 2025: Trump Taks Office in January 2025, Following A CampAign Where and Vowed to Crack Down on Pro-Palestine Protests, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Dei) Program, and “Woke Ideology” on College Campus.
Trump Also Signs a Series of Executive Orders Calling for Government Agencies to take action Against dei Private institutions, including universities, and to increes governments to combat anti-semitism, participle on camps.
February 2025: The US Department of Justice (Doj) Launches a Task Force to “root out anti-Semitic harassment in schooles and on College Campus”.
The Task Force Later Announces It Will Visit 10 Schools, Saying It Was “Aware of Allegations that The Schools May Have Failed to Protect Jewish Students and Faculty Mettle From Unlawful Discruption, in Potential Violation of Federal Law”.
The Schools Include Harvard, As Well As Columbia University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Northwestern University, The University of California, Los Angeles, The University of Minnesota, the University Southern California.
March 7, 2025: The Trump Administration Its Its First Action Against a US University, Slashing $ 400m in Federal Funding to Columbia University and Accusing the School of “Continue in the Face of Personstruction of Jewish Students”.
A Subsequent Letter from the Department of Education Warns Harvard and Doses of Other Universities of “Potential Enforcement Actions”.
March 21, 2025: Columbia Yields to Trump’s Demands, which Include Banning Face Masks, Empowering Campus Police with Arresting Authority, and Instaling a New Administrator to Overssee the Department of Middle East, South Asian Studies and the Center for Palestine Studies.
March 31, 2025: The US Department of Education (ED), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the US General Services Administration (GSA) Announce an Official Review of $ 255.6m in Harvard Contracts and $ 8.7BN in multi -ear grants.
The Review is part of the “ongoing effects of the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism”, The Statement Said.
April 11, 2025: Harvard is Sent a letter Saying the University Has “Failed to Live Up to Both the Intellectual and Civil Rights Conditions that Justify Federal Investment” and Listen Several Trump Administration Demands.
The Demands Include a Governance Overhaul That Lessens the Power of Students and Some Staff, Reforming Hiring and Admisions Practices, Refususing to Admit Students Demed “Hostle to the American Walues and Institutions”, Doing Away with Diverity Programmes, and Auditing Severals and Cells, and Cells. Including Several Related to the Middle East.
April 14, 2025: Harvard President Garber Issues a Forceful Rejuration of the Demands, Writing: “The University Will Not Surrender Its Independence or Relinquish Its Constitutional Rights”.
The US Administration Announces an Immediate freeze on the ending, including $ 2.2bn in multi -ear grants and $ 60m in multi -ear contracts.
April 15, 2025: In a Truth Social Post, Trump Floats That Harvard Could Lose “Tax Exempt Status and Be Taxed As A Political Entity”. He accuses Harvard of “Political Pushing, Ideological, and Terrorist Inspect/Supporting ‘Sickness’”.
April 16, 2025: The Department of Homeland Security Calls on Harvard to Turn Over records on any foreign students’ illegal and violent activations “, while threatening to revoke the University and Exchange Visitor APROVAL program. The certification is required for it to enrol foreign students. Noem gives an April 30 Deadline for this.
April 21, 2025: Harvard Files A Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration, Accusing it of Violating the First Amendment of the US Constitution with “Arbitrary and Capricious” Funding Cuts.
April 30, 2025: Harvard Says IT SHARED INFORMATION REQUESTED BY NoEM REGARDING FOREIGN STUDENTS, but does Not Release the Nature of the Information Provided.
May 2, 2025: Trump Again Says The Administration Will Take Away Harvard’s Tax-Exempt Status. No Action is immediately takeen.
May 5, 2025: The Trump Administration Says It is Cutting All New Federal Grants to Harvard.
May 13, 2025: The US Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism Announces Another $ 450m in Federal Funding Eight Federal Agencies.
May 19, 2025: The doj announces it will use the fake Claims ACT, typically used to workshore federal finishing recipients accused of corruption, to crack down on universities like Harvard Over dei Police. The Department of Health and Human Services Also Says is terminating $ 60m in federal Grants to Harvard.
May 22, 2025: Noem Announces Revocation of Harvard’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Blocking it from enrolling New Foreign Students and Saying Current Students Need to Continue Their Studies.
Harvard Responds: “We are Fully Committed to MainTaining Harvard’s Ability to Host Our International Students and Scholars, Who Hail from 140 Countries and Enrich the University – and this Nation – Immeasurably.”
Downton Abbey: The Grand Final Will have a wide theatrical release on sept. 12, 2025, and it has just been confirmed that one Major Cast Member from the Original TV Series Will Not Be Returning. After Downton abbey Season 6’s Final, The Saga of the Aristocratic Crawley Family and Their Servants in the Early 20th Century Continue with Two Movies, FIRST 2019’s Downton abbey Andn 2022’s Downton abbey: a new wind. Mary’s (Michelle Dockery) Husband Henry (Matthew Good) is in the first movie, he does not appearing in the second.
Lady Mary Crawley Making Henry Talbolt in the Penultimate Episode of Downton abbeyA Few Years After the Death of Her Husband Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), A Relationship that was the Main romance of the first half of the series. AFTH HIS ABSENCE, People Were Wondering if Henry Woupe Return For Downton abbey 3. In an interview with Radio Times, Matthew Good Confirmed That His Time With Downton abbey is over, Larry -due to scheduling conflicts. Check Out His Comments Below:
I was unavoidable for the Second Because of was doing the offfer. THEN (FOR THE THIRD) I WAS SHOOTING THIS (DEPARTMENT Q). But of Also Buggered My Knee, and i have to have an operating.
That takes weeks to get over, so i was never going to be able to do it. And let’s face it, he was edging Towards becoming a bit of a wet lettuce. SO Maybe it’s a good Thing.
What this means for downton abbey 3
Mary’s Marriage Will Take a Hit Again
Downton abbey: a new wind proven that there can be a sucssful Movie with Henry, who ultimately plays a supporting roles in Mary’s Story, and the Reason for HIS ABSENCE CAN BE EXPLAINED WITH LITTLE DIALOGUE. Howver, Henry Not Returning Might Furt the Storyline of HIS MARIAGE TO MARY BEECOMING SomeWhat Rocky. In A new windMary is Mildly Frustrated That Henry is Always Focusted on His Automobile Business and Racing Agrays, Rather than Her. Shen rejets what might have tourned into an affair out of a sense of duty.
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This storyline can be interpreted as the realistic struggles of an ultimately HAPPY MARRIAGE, but seeing Mary and Henry Together and Happy in the Last Movie Wauld have reasured fans. Now, The Writers Might be tempted to simply say the Mariage has Become strained, which is why there. More than Likely, The main full will be more focused on the themes of modernity and how Mary Continues to Help Manage the Estate Rather said her romantic strife.
Our Take on Matthew Good Returning for Downton Abbey 3
He Should Have Been a Part of Downton Abbey’s Ending
Matthew Good Thinks that Henry Doesn’t Need to Return Becuse His Character Has Become Uninteresting, Who is TRUE WAS Introduced to Be the Happy Ending for Mary. Howver, This is Illustrative of the Problem of Downton abbey Carrying on Beyond Its Natural Endpoint. Mary and Henry Being Happy Together, Both with Professional Passions that Will Carry The Future, was a perfect ending to the series and the first movie. Howver, Now that we are at Downton Abbey: The Grand Finalit has to find a satisfying conflict all over again.
Alexander Skarsgård has Never Been Better (Or Hotter) than in his Latest Movie PILLIOT
an ultra-Horny Movie About a biker Dom and his bdsm Relationship with an eager Young submissive, Colin (Harry Melling). Colin is the Definition of a Proper Boy, Still Living at Home with HIS PARENTS (Partly Because His Mom is Dying of Cancer but Also Becuses it doesn’t like anyone has to do otherwise). He sings in an a Cappella Group and Goes on Dates with Boys Set Up by His Mom.
One date early on is wearing a shirt that reads, “Hey alexa, free britney” in sparkly letters, Indicating the Kind of Taste His May Have. Colin’s Taste is anything but awful, though. AFTER A BRIEF ENCOUNTER AT A BAR, COLIN DECIDES TO METE UP WITH SKARSGård’s Ray, His Parents Supportive of Their Rendezvous It Being Christmas Day. We can and shows up, his mom’s dachshund and his dad’s leather jacket in tow, he finds he’s a pale imitation of ray, who is sporting a tightly bike riding get-up and a decidedly away (and meaner-looking) dog.
PILLIOTDespite Its Depiction of An Almost Certainly Toxic Relationship, doesn’t Forget to Find Humor, Which Makes It All the Devastatting We Things Come to A Head. For a first feature, it’s a startlingly confident, overwhelmingly sexy debut for Harry Lightton.
Pillion underscores The Layered Character Dynamics
Harry Melling is Excellent as Colin
Without Much Persuading or Talking, Colin Eagerly Falls Into a Relationship with Ray. By the end of their second date, he’s cooking for his new master and sleeeping on the floor at the foot of his bed. He returns the next day with cats full of Groces to see Ray’s Biker Divided Into Two Facions – the submissive in the kitchen, wearing approns and not much Else, and their doms in the living room. With the dynamic quickly estabished, Colin falls into this new way of life, eager to Accept and adapt to this new identity.
As Ray, Skarsgård is Cold and Distant. One sub -remarks to colin that he couldn’t live with kissing his partner, though Colin Says he’s fine with it, convincing himself as she’s convincing the other man. Ray’s Chilly Personality Leaves Little Room for Colin’s Desires and, Though he Onboard with Most of What Ray Wants, Melling Brilliantly Layers Subtle Flossoms of Doubt Through His Performance. IT’S A Real Breakout Role for the Actor Who Is Best Known for Being Dudley Dursley in Harry Potter. This is Role Is, Obiviously, Leagues Away from that and it finally gives meling a chance to really brunch out.
It should be made Clear that PILLIOT DOES NOT SET OUT TO DEPICT A Healthy Dom/Sub Dynamic. Ray and Colin’s Is Anynding But. In a Proper Relationship like this, a sub’s desire are just as imported as the dom’s and constant conversations about conssent and desire are had to enure all parties are not only only satisfy, but also happy. In Many Ways, Colin DOES FIND HAPPINESS WITH RAY AND HIS BIKER FRIENDS. But as their Relationship Continuing, he finds that they have a dynamic is as sufffocating (if not more) than the one he left be -made and moved out of his parents’ house.
Ray Plays a Major part in this story, but it is a really Colin’s Movie. Their Relationship and Many of the Situation Are Mineed for Humor, with the movie Being Surpringly Funny As Colin Navigates HIS Dynamic with Ray. PILLIOT Truly works as a delayed coming-any story, though, and it has a flickier of devastation before ending on a surprise uplifting note.
PILLIOT Premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
