Flash Flood Warning Issued for Roanoke County and Surrounding Areas (2024)

Man Charged with Aggravated Battery of Chicago Police Officer

CHICAGO, Aug. 21 — An 18-year-old man from Park Ridge, Illinois, has been charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated battery of a peace officer, following an incident on the city's West Side. Nicholas Bongiorno, of the 1400 block of S. Clifton Ave., was arrested on Monday in the 1900 block of W. Maypole after allegedly attacking a Chicago police officer.

Authorities say the incident occurred as the officer was protecting individuals exercising their First Amendment rights in the 12th District. Bongiorno is accused of tackling the officer to the ground, resulting in the officer sustaining a concussion.

Bongiorno faces one felony count of aggravated battery of a peace officer, along with additional charges including resisting and obstructing law enforcement. The arrest led to three misdemeanor counts of resisting a police officer and one misdemeanor count of obstructing identification.

The Chicago Police Department has not released further details regarding the incident. Bongiorno was taken into custody without further incident and has been charged accordingly.

JACKSON, NJ — Despite some initial setbacks and red tape within the Jackson School District, Jackson Township Council President Jennifer Kuhn said she and other volunteers are continuing their effort to raise money to complete necessary repairs for the field house at Jackson Memorial High School.

The school district has acknowledged that the concession stands won’t be open for 2024 during football games and other sporting and band related events. It has also made it clear it cannot afford to pay for the renovations and that the only path forward is through private donations.

Council President Jennifer Kuhn recently addressed the community to clarify ongoing efforts and the financial status of the renovation project for the Jackson Field House and concession stand amid rumors on Facebook, which she humorously dubbed "fake book" due to misconceptions surrounding the initiative.

In March, a collaborative meeting took place at Jackson Memorial, involving the Administration, Council, local police and fire departments, Department of Public Works, and the Board of Education, to address the facility's issues and discuss potential renovations. The involvement also extended to local contractors and residents.

The Board of Education initiated a fundraising campaign featuring three sponsorship levels: bronze, silver, and gold. Council President Kuhn has been at the forefront, actively engaging the community and utilizing social media to boost fundraising efforts.

Key sponsors for the project include Kaye Well Drilling, which provided a bronze sponsorship; Fire District 2 and Local 114, which provided a combined silver sponsorship of $1,750; and Dan and Vicky Black, who contributed a gold sponsorship of $3,000. Councilman Mordy Burnstein facilitated an anonymous silver donation of $1,500, and Kuhn herself secured a similar silver sponsorship.

John Poppy (sp) has played a crucial role by liaising with all fire districts to aid fundraising efforts. The project has raised just under $20,000, but the goal remains at $30,000.

Jackson Township Police Officer Jeff Henba, who played football for Jackson Memorial, hopes the community will pitch in.

“I personally played football for four years at Jackson Memorial, where the Fieldhouse is in shambles. I was there with the council president and Councilman Burnstein,” Sgt. Henna said. “It's a mess in there; it's embarrassing. There have been some really good football teams that ran through that building and I'm just hoping that some people can donate to it. The snack stand over there, the football team relies on that to pay for multiple things that they're not getting from the board of education such as uniforms and shoulder pads and other equipment.”

Kuhn personally reviewed the circulated proposal, initially estimated on August 2nd. Using her experience in Real Estate, she led a thorough inspection of the site alongside volunteers and contractors, determining that labor costs alone would reach $19,000, excluding materials. A meticulous assessment at Home Depot put material costs at an additional $11,000.

Acknowledging the challenges in fundraising, Kuhn expressed a temporary dip in momentum but reaffirmed her commitment to the township's sports programs and broader community interests.

The current funds raised cover approximately two-thirds of the needed total.

Kuhn calls for renewed community efforts to secure the remaining funds, emphasizing the importance of sports and recreational activities for Jackson Township’s youth. Her message is clear: collective action can transform this challenging situation into a positive outcome for all involved.

She also questioned why the board of education won’t fund the project. She noted that the district recently received $1 million in funding that must be used toward improvements to buildings and grounds.

“Help us,” she said. “Take a little bit and put it into your building. You can’t let it go, not do anything for 60 years, and expect it not to fall apart.”

Lifelong Jackson resident and contractor William Materia, owner of Good Mowin’, and Mark Mariot of AME Plumbing are both donating their services to the project.

PATERSON, NJ — William J. Pascrell Jr., a stalwart of New Jersey politics who represented his state in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 terms, passed away today at the age of 87 after a month-long illness. Pascrell, a Democrat, was known for his fiery defense of liberal policies, his staunch opposition to former President Donald Trump, and his deep commitment to the working people of his hometown of Paterson.

Pascrell’s family released a brief statement on social media, saying, "As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America."

A native of Paterson, Pascrell was a fixture in New Jersey politics for decades. He credited his Italian-immigrant grandparents and his parents with instilling in him a commitment to public service and community building. Pascrell began his political career in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1988 before becoming mayor of Paterson in 1990. He was first elected to Congress in 1996, representing New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District, which later became the 9th District after redistricting in 2013.

In Washington, Pascrell was a vocal advocate for tax fairness, middle-class economic policies, and workers' rights. Since 2007, he served on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, where he pushed for equitable tax distribution, job creation, and affordable health care. He was the lead sponsor of legislation to restore the full state and local tax deduction (SALT), a key issue for New Jerseyans impacted by the 2017 Republican tax law. Pascrell also targeted the carried interest tax loophole and championed the Bring Jobs Home Act to promote domestic manufacturing.

Pascrell was a fierce advocate for environmental protection, leading efforts to develop offshore wind energy and supporting the Paris Climate Accord. He played a pivotal role in the creation of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, working closely with President Barack Obama to secure the designation.

In health care, Pascrell was a tireless defender of the Affordable Care Act and fought against efforts to repeal it. His Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act, signed into law in 2018, aimed to curb the opioid crisis by promoting preventive care.

As co-chairman of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Pascrell raised awareness about traumatic brain injuries, particularly among soldiers and young athletes. He authored the Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act and the Concussion Treatment and Care Tools Act (ConTACT Act), which advanced federal protocols for youth sports.

Pascrell also left a lasting impact on fire safety, authoring the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act of 2000 and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, both of which provided crucial funding to fire departments nationwide.

A proud veteran, Pascrell served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967. He championed veterans' issues throughout his career, securing the establishment of a new VA outpatient clinic in Paterson to serve the area's large veteran population.

Pascrell's deep ties to his Italian-American heritage were reflected in his role as co-chair of the Italian-American Congressional Delegation, where he promoted Italian-American culture and history in Congress.

Pascrell’s political career was rooted in his lifelong connection to Paterson. A graduate of St. John the Baptist High School and Fordham University, where he earned degrees in journalism and philosophy, Pascrell also worked as a high school history teacher and served on the Paterson Board of Education before entering politics.

Pascrell is survived by his family, who noted in their statement that he remained committed to his constituents until the very end. His legacy as a passionate advocate for his community, his state, and his country will long be remembered.