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Published in The Crusader on February 1, 2025
By Erick Johnson
A fight at a meeting of Thornton Township, the largest township in Illinois, covering 17 south suburban municipalities, on Tuesday, January 28, has turned up the heat on its Supervisor, Tiffany Henyard, whose spending as mayor of Dolton, Illinois took center stage this week. An investigation revealed that in just nine months, the Village of Dolton racked up more than $779,000 in credit card transactions.
During the Thornton Township meeting, tensions toward Henyard reached a new level when activist Jedidiah Brown exchanged blows with Henyard's boyfriend, Kamal Woods, after Brown called Henyard a b ------.
Chaos erupted among attendees as some joined the brawl while others scrambled to leave the packed room, which was standing room only during the heated meeting.
During the incident, Henyard left her seat and headed for the fight between her boyfriend and Brown in the back of the room. It is unclear whether Henyard tried to break up the fight or participated. On Wednesday, Brown held a press conference, saying he would sue Henyard and alleging she hit him with a microphone.
The chaos has created more problems for Henyard, who is clinging to her two jobs: Thornton Township supervisor and Dolton mayor. Residents from both entities demand her resignation, saying the problems and negative spotlight prove her unfit to remain as their leader.
Despite calls for her resignation, Henyard is running for a second term. There is less than a month before Dolton holds its Democratic Primary on February 25.
Last week, Henyard gave a sit-down interview on radio station WVON 1590, where she compared herself to Jesus Christ and civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who would not give up her seat to a white woman in 1955.
Meanwhile, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot unveiled the final findings of her investigation into Dolton's spending under Henyard's administration.
On Monday at a packed Dolton meeting, Lightfoot, in a 73-page presentation, revealed that Dolton continues to suffer from excessive spending on nonessential goods and services and accused Henyard and others of trying to hide the Village's actual financial condition from its Board of Trustees and the public.
The investigation also alleged that Henyard's administration made efforts to prevent transparency by blocking Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIA).
"By March 2022, the trustees were effectively cut off from receiving regular financial reports," Lightfoot said.
Perhaps the most damaging part of the investigation is the state of the Village's finances. Lightfoot said that in April 2022, Dolton's general fund balance was $5.61 million. By May 2024, the balance had fallen to a deficit of $3.65 million. Over a nine-month period, Lightfoot delved into village credit card transactions. In 2023, charges amounted to more than $779,000.
According to Lightfoot's investigation on Amazon, more than $50,000 was spent on ice skates and artificial ice tiles for a winter rink. Lightfoot said those purchases violated Dolton's purchasing policy. The investigation alleged that receipts for purchases using the Village's six known credit cards were "rarely provided."
Lightfoot said Village credit cards were used to make purchases at Amazon, Target, Walgreens, Wayfair, and other retailers.
"The report establishes the absence of competent governance and continued violations of governance norms during Mayor Henyard's tenure," Lightfoot said.
"The costs to taxpayers have been significant, starting with a substantial budget deficit, higher costs for basic necessities like liability insurance, and many lawsuits against the Village directly related to allegations of misconduct by Henyard and others.
"Throughout our independent inquiry, we consistently encountered a mayor and administration that evaded transparency-skirting FOIA laws, failing to provide requested documents, and otherwise refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
"The report provides a detailed accounting of gross financial mismanagement, both at the Village level and at Thornton Township, during her tenure as Supervisor, including unspent American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, failure to comply with reporting requirements, misuse of taxpayer dollars, and failure to pay vendors. We also uncovered Village liability insurers refused to provide coverage to Mayor Henyard, which potentially exposes the village to significant legal and financial risks.
"The details in this report are significant, and we are confident the majority of Trustees will continue to take the necessary steps to safeguard the Village. We thank them, along with the residents of Dolton, for placing their confidence in our team to conduct this investigation, provide truthful insight into the Village's financial standing, and offer recommendations to support their efforts toward improved governance."
Henyard, the target of several lawsuits and an FBI investigation, did not attend Monday's Village of Dolton meeting. But her attorney, Beau Brindley, released a statement in response to Lightfoot's investigation.
"Lori Lightfoot is a failed mayor whose fiscal irresponsibility was overwhelming.
"The idea that any credibility could be given to her 'findings' about another mayor's financial decisions is preposterous.
"This is an effort by a failed political figure desperately seeking the limelight to which she is no longer entitled."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2025 Contact Information: Christopher Weishaar Digital Public Relations Specialist cweishaar@studentloan.org (515) 273-7140
Six $1,500 scholarships now open to Midwest high school seniors High school seniors from six Midwest states have a chance to earn the scholarships
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA — High school seniors from Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin now have a chance to receive one of six college scholarships worth $1,500. Registration is open now through April 30, 2025. Parents are also able to register their student. High school seniors or their parents may register for the ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. ISL Education Lending will award $1,500 scholarships to six students whose names are randomly drawn after the registration period. There are no financial need, grade point average or class rank requirements. The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship can be used at any eligible institution in the United States. Registered participants also receive emails highlighting financial literacy tips, such as the importance of early career and college planning and ways to reduce student loan indebtedness. “Student loan debt is a huge concern for new college students,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO of ISL Education Lending. “As a nonprofit, we provide tools and resources to help high school seniors plan so they can reduce the amount of debt they need to take on while achieving their education goals. Students sign up for a chance at a $1,500 scholarship, and we take that opportunity to share information with them about our free resources.” The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship is open to legal U.S. citizens who are seniors at a high school in one of the qualifying states during the 2025-2026 school year and who intend to attend college, either virtually or physically, in fall 2025. It is a no-purchase-required program, and full rules and details are available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Midwest. Additional Resources Available In addition to offering student loans, ISL Education Lending has other resources for families planning for college and for students who intend to pursue advanced degrees. The Parent Handbook consists of valuable tips to help families of students in sixth through 12th grades prepare for success in college and other postsecondary options. Parents of students in eighth through 12th grades can also sign up to receive twice-monthly emailed tips on academic, college and career planning through the Student Planning Pointers for Parents program. The College Funding Forecaster helps families understand the total cost of four years of college based on a freshman-year financial aid offer. Information about these resources is available at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/SmartBorrowing.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2025 Contact Information: Illinois State Medical Society Jann Ingmire janningmire@isms.org (312) 520-9802
Illinois State Medical Society offers free programs for health professionals to address human trafficking awareness
As January marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) is offering a free, two-part webinar series aimed at equipping physicians and other health care professionals with the tools to identify and support those individuals exploited by human trafficking. The series, which is available on demand, is designed to challenge stereotypes, clarify the various factors contributing to trafficking, and provide practical approaches for assisting survivors of both sex and labor trafficking. Health care professionals are uniquely positioned to identify and assist trafficking victims due to their frontline access and trusted roles within the community. By offering these programs, ISMS aims to raise awareness and offer resources to professionals who may come across survivors in their care. January 11 is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and the month as a whole is dedicated to increasing awareness of trafficking, which affects millions globally. According to a 2017 survey of 127 human trafficking survivors, 69% reported having accessed health care services at some point during their exploitation. Of those, 85% sought treatment for injuries or illnesses related to their trafficking. Despite this, only 6% of health care workers reported having treated someone who was a victim of trafficking. The two no-cost, on-demand programs, available 24/7, offer continuing medical education (CME) credits and are designed to help health care professionals recognize signs of trafficking, improve their response, and ensure proper support for survivors. Human Trafficking: Identification and Response in a Healthcare Setting Presented by Anna Pastor, coordinator, Cook Co. Human Trafficking Task Force Human Trafficking: Practical Approaches and Resources in a Healthcare Setting Presented by Traci Kurtzer, M.D., medical director for trauma informed care and education, Northwestern Medicine The programs are free to all health care professionals and the public.
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