Crossposted from https://news.abolish.capital/post/82843

Joliet, IL – Dozens of nurses and their supporters rallied in the pouring rain September 30 to call attention to Prime Healthcare’s closing of the Obstetrics and Special Care Nursery departments at Saint Joseph Hospital in Joliet, Illinois. Prime Healthcare is a nationwide “for-profit” corporation that is known for eliminating services that are not making enough money. These cuts affect working-class poor people the most.

Since acquiring Saint Joseph in March 2025, Prime has closed the inpatient pediatric unit, closed a 30-bed acute care for the elderly unit for a year, closed the post-surgical unit and is seeking to permanently close pediatric inpatient services.

According to 35-year Saint Joseph Hospital Registered Nurse Kim Craig, the matter is made worse, “because as doctors retired, they never replaced them.” Saint Joseph Hospital is licensed to 489 beds, but according to the Illinois Nurses Association (INA) they operate at 195 to 225 beds per day because of Prime Healthcare cuts.

But a core of registered nurses, members of the INA, are not taking it. On Wednesday, September 30, they rallied with community members calling for Prime Healthcare to not leave the 153,000 residents of the fourth-largest city in Illinois without critically needed healthcare.

“This is the last day for our unit to be open, we are officially closed as of tomorrow morning,” said Kim Craig, who works in the Special Care Nursery, “It’s horrible; half of our staff has not been placed. But the biggest part is, what are we going to do with all our moms and babies now? There is nobody in the Joliet area.” Prime Healthcare is making major cuts to the only hospital in Joliet.

Warehouses moved into Joliet, staffed by non-union subcontractors for Walmart, Amazon and other corporate giants. 4000 union employees at U.S. Steel and the 7000 union Caterpillar workers have lost their jobs, as both of those plants closed. Joliet Township Supervisor Cesar Guerrero talked about the union spirit in Joliet which lives on inside this core of INA leaders, who are fighting to preserve decent jobs, but also fighting for access to healthcare for Joliet.

The rally also heard from former INA staffer Michelle Couturier who was involved in organizing the INA strike against Saint Joseph Hospital in the early 1990s. This strike led to INA’s first contract with Saint Joseph Hospital. Couturier talked about the militant tactics and innovative strategies that the mostly women nurses used to win the contract.

The day before the rally, INA showed up at the hospital to bargain the effects of the most recent cuts. Even though Prime is legally required to bargain, they instead called the police on the union. Fortunately, the police that showed up did not make arrests and told Prime to work it out with the union.

“This community and our patients deserve a hospital within Joliet to serve Joliet. The mothers and babies of Joliet deserve to be able to deliver in a place that is safe, close to home and easily accessible,” concluded Christina Vanoskey, a Labor and Delivery Unit registered nurse.

#JolietIL #IL #Labor #INA #Nurses #SaintJosephHospital #Featured

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East Peoria, sign and share to Shut The Flock Off!

The East Peoria City Council should reject Resolution Number 2627-059 AND resolve to NOT renew the city's Flock contract!

A solved cross-country cold case led detectives to take a closer look at the infamous Chicago-area Tylenol murders.

Following an anonymous complaint in February, OSHA inspected the plant and fined Smithfield Foods $9,931.60 after observing workers’ exposure to “amputation hazards.” This was preceded by serious citations in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Working in a slaughterhouse is extremely dangerous. In the US, there are approximately two amputations per week, primarily due to the industry’s poor working conditions and excessively fast pace.

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As reported by KWQC, the leaders also acknowledged “community concerns” over a backlog of rendering material – animal waste, internal organs, and decaying meat – being stored outside the plant, causing a strong, unpleasant smell in the city.

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Deerfield Public School District 109 filed by a former district parent over its transgender student policies, potentially marking the end of a legal fight that touched on national talking points over gender and inclusion.

Last year, district parent Nicole Georgas accused school officials of forcing her daughter and other students to change their clothes for gym class with a transgender student, a claim the district has denied. Speaking during board meetings and on Fox News show “America Reports,” Georgas demanded locker rooms and bathrooms be designated as biological male and biological female.

JOLIET, Ill. (WGN) – Two members of the Joliet Police Department have been placed on paid administrative leave for alleged misuse of Flock Safety Technology.

The police department said the two members involved are a sworn officer and a dispatcher.

Police officials said once the discovery was made, the police department took administrative action and referred the incident to the Joliet Inspector General for investigation, as well as the Illinois State Police for an independent review.

“The Joliet Police Department recognizes the seriousness of these allegations, and we continue to review and strengthen policies governing the use of this technology and will enact department-wide audits to reinforce appropriate use and accountability. These efforts reflect our continued commitment to responsible policing, transparency, and maintaining the trust of the community we serve,” the police department said.

No other information on the alleged misuse was made available and the police department said the investigation remains ongoing.

CHICAGO (WGN) – Anglers and the businesses that serve them are noticing a quiet change in state policy that determines who can cast a line in Illinois lakes and rivers.

Over the last few days, Montrose Harbor was filled with boats and hopeful anglers looking to reel in a big one, but what you won’t find is anyone fishing who isn’t a U.S. citizen.

Stacey Greene’s family has owned Park Bait Shop since 1958 and the shop serves all your fishing needs.

You can even get a fishing license at the shop, but only if you’re a U.S. citizen.

In the end, Greene said none if it makes sense because the money made in the sale of fishing licenses goes back to restock fish in Lake Michigan and throughout the lakes of Illinois.

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Source: Illinois Secretary of State

Three dozen Illinois school districts are the latest in a string of public schools, colleges and universities across the country named as subjects of federal investigations into whether the institutions teach about sexual orientation and “gender ideology,” and whether parents can opt out of such curriculum.