Karyn Watkins and Luvvie Ajayi and their Red Pump Project are Chicago’s Very Own.
For more information on The Red Pump Project, go to www.redpump.org.
News Alert
This story has 10 updates
For more information, call: (312) 227-2951
Read about the new Gender Identity Clinic at Lurie Children’s Hospital here
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02/07/13
by WGN Web Desk
More than 2.7 million people in Illinois and other parts of the Midwest participated in an earthquake drill Thursday morning.
Organizers say the annual drill is a reminder earthquakes can hit the most unlikely places.
201 years ago Thursday, two major earthquakes hit the central U.S., including Illinois.
More than 80 Chicago schools participated in the drill.
If you find yourself in an earthquake, drop to the floor, take cover under sturdy furniture and hold on until the shaking stops.
Schools, businesses, government agencies, families and others can register to participate in the drill at: www.shakeout.org
Additional information about the earthquake risk in Illinois and steps to take before, during and after an earthquake is available at: www.Ready.Illinois.gov
Local News
02/06/13
Pregnant horse headed to slaughter saved; race horse born
02/06/13
by Sean Lewis
Anchor/Reporter
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02/06/13
by Sean Lewis
Anchor/Reporter
On a small farm just west of Aurora, the falling snow masks this amazing horse tale
Gail Vacca, the founder of the Illinois Equine Humane Center will proudly tell you about all of the horses she’s saved from slaughter over the years; but it’s 15 year old thoroughbred named Lulu who may take up the majority of your chat.
In 2009, Vacca found Lulu at a slaughter auction in Indiana. A former racer, Lulu was nearly crippled in pain. A man had already bought her, intent bringing her to Canada for slaughter. That’s when Vacca stepped in.
“I told him I didn’t think she’d survive the trip and he was going to lose money anyway, so name your price and I’ll buy her,” Vacca said.
The price was $300.
Here’s where this tale takes on a different color: Without knowing it, Gail not only saved Lulu but the unborn foal growing inside of her. Lulu gave birth, and much to everyone’s surprise, the baby they named Taxi — born on Tax Day, April 15 — had the look, the stride of a potential champion.
Gail learned Taxi’s dad was also a former racer named Magna Graduate.
“When I looked up Magna Graduate’s history online, I was floored to find out that Magna Graduate had just retired from racing having earned $2.5 million,” Vacca said.
Taxi, who’s known in racing circles as Magna Fortuna or “Great Fortune,” is now three and is set to run his second race at Hawthorne Race Track in Cicero on February 15.
For more information about how you can help other horses in need, go to www.ilehc.org
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02/01/13
by WGN Web Desk
“ChildServ helps Chicagoland’s at-risk children and their families build, achieve and sustain better lives.”
For more information visit: http://childserv.org/
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01/29/13
by WGN Web Desk
More than $58 billion in unclaimed property is floating around out there, and some of it may be yours.
The money comes from state-held unclaimed property, life insurance benefits, pensions, U.S. savings bonds, tax refunds or overbid proceeds from a foreclosed home or tax lien.
To find out if some of the money is yours, check out these links provided from CNN Money:
- State-held unclaimed property: Visit NAUPA’s unclaimed.org for a map with links to each state’s program.
- Life insurance: For benefits not held by the state, check the insurer’s site directly. For example, MetLife has an online search.
- Pensions: For Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. benefits, visit the agency’s online search directory.
- U.S. savings bonds: More than 45 million matured savings bonds, worth nearly $16 billion, remain unredeemed, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury. To search the database, visit treasuryhunt.gov.
- Tax refunds: In 2011, the Internal Revenue Service said it had $153.3 million in tax refund checks that were undeliverable. To make sure you’ve received your checks, visit the IRS’s Where’s my refund? tool.
- Overbid proceeds: If a foreclosed home or tax lien for delinquent taxes is sold at auction for a price above the money owed, the former property owner is owed the so-called “overbid proceeds,” which are typically held at the county level. But, counties typically send notifications about the funds to the foreclosed address, so many people remain unaware of the extra cash, according to Mary Pitman, author of “The Little Book of Missing Money.” These funds are different than other unclaimed funds in that the property owner’s claim in some counties only last a few years. Contact the county clerk to find out which local agency holds the funds.
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01/25/13
by WGN Web Desk
The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators said there is about $58 billion in unclaimed money and property sitting around– mostly in state treasuries– all over the country.
The funds come from forgotten bank accounts, stock holdings, pensions and life insurance payouts.
Someone in Connecticut claimed nearly $33 million from an old stock sale.
For more information visit: http://icash.illinois.gov/
NAUPA: www.unclaimed.org
U.S. Treasury: www.treasuryhunt.gov
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01/22/13
by WGN Web Desk
Warming Centers in the area:
