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Chicago Rapper Raises Nearly $100,000 To Clothe The Homeless

Chance The Rapper is using his social media influence for a greater good. In partnership with Warmest Winter and nonprofit The Empowerment Plan Chance is looking to raise $100,000 to provide multifunctional winter coats to the city’s homeless. The water-resistant, self-heating coats can be converted to a sleeping bag or over-the-shoulder bag. The campaign has already raised approximately $63,000 which will make 635 coats. According to an analysis by Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, over 125,000 people, including 20,000 students are homeless citing their residence as shelters, motels, public parks or temporary foster care. The money raised will also provide a stipend for the homeless to be hired to sew the coats in efforts to create a positive cycle where they’re working towards getting back on their feet while helping others. {Sun Times Network}

Rahm Emanuel Orders Nearly 1,000 Tasers For Chicago Police

Following an excessive number of shootings in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and his new Interim Police Supt. John Escalante have announced their new plan to lessen incidents of police brutality. The five-step “de-escalation” approach will ensure every on-duty officer is equipped with and trained to use a taser. The city has ordered 700 tasers in addition to teaching officers a new process of applying critical thinking skills to diffuse a situation as opposed to immediately being reactive. During training courses which begin in January 2016, officers will be challenged to ask themselves the following questions: “What is the full range of options for how to respond?” “Do I need to take action immediately or can I slow the situation down and buy more time?” and “Am I the best person to deal with this or should I request assistance from Specialized Units such as a Crisis Intervention Team?” {Chicago Sun Times}

New Program Gives Recent Grads A Break On Their Student Loans

New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo recently announced the new “Get On Your Feet” program which will give students who graduated from a New York university in or after December 2014 two years to begin repaying their loans. “Ensuring students are able to pay for college and not saddled with debt is critical for both their individual success and the continued economic growth of New York State,” Governor Cuomo said. “With this program, we are telling recent graduates: if you invest in New York’s future, we will invest in yours.” Additional eligibility requirements include having an adjusted gross income of less than $50,000 as well as enrollment in the federal Income Based Repayment plan or Pay as You Earn plan. Click here to apply for the program. {Clutch Magazine}

Politician Accused Of Sexually Harassing Staff Members And Taking Them To Strip Clubs

The Legislative Ethics Commission is currently reviewing a case in which former Buffalo-area Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak is accused of violating at least five of the state’s Public Officer’s Laws. In 2014, Gabryszak resigned from his position after a half dozen female staff members accused him of sexual harassment. Allegedly, Gabryszak sent his employees a video of himself receiving or pretending to receive oral sex. Staff members also claimed the politician forced them to accompany him at massage parlors and strip clubs. In efforts to get re-elected, the New York Assemblyman is said to have used government resources including phones, computers and printers, to aid his political campaigns. If convicted, he may receive fines upwards of $50,000. {NY Daily News}

Rapist Demanded Woman Call Her Boyfriend To Listen To Her Be Assaulted 

Robert Giles kidnapped and raped an unidentified woman from Hapeville, Georgia. The 27-year-old drove his victim to the parking lot of an adult sex toy store, Starship Novelties and Gifts. In the midst of the lewd act, Giles told his victim to call her boyfriend so he could listen to her being assaulted. Instead, the woman called 911 and explained that the perpetrator wanted her boyfriend to listen in on the rape. The operator followed along until police arrived. Giles was arrested and is being held without bond on charges of rape, false imprisonment, obstruction and kidnaping. {WSBTV}

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MORNING MINUTE: Here’s Rahm Emanuel’s Master Plan To Lessen Crime In Chicago  was originally published on hellobeautiful.com