Latest news with #Rinehart


Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Lake County law enforcement officials say gun violence down; ‘We are getting illegal guns off the street'
Police departments, prosecutors, social service organizations and others all play a role in the effort to reduce the use of firearms for brutal acts. Waukegan Deputy Police Chief Craig Neal believes there is another vital ingredient in the fight — community. Statistics from the Waukegan and North Chicago police departments, as well as the Lake County State's Attorney's Office, indicate incidents of gun violence are declining. And, in some situations, community members are more willing to give information about gun-related incidents to law enforcement, officials said. Neal said he was touched at a Boys and Girls Clubs of Lake County event earlier this month focused on preventing gun violence. People told stories about losing loved ones to shootings. It touched him and others in attendance. 'They said, 'They took something from me I can't get back. Gun violence has hurt me,'' Neal said. 'My hope is that more people understand that (so) the community will come together and stop this nonsense.' Local law enforcement officials and State's Attorney Eric Rinehart are making a push to raise awareness of issues surrounding the impact of the use of guns during Gun Violence Awareness Month in June. In its proclamation making June Gun Violence Month in Waukegan, the city labeled gun violence an 'epidemic' and a 'public health crisis.' Both Mayor Sam Cunningham and Police Chief Edgar Navarro said at a City Council meeting on June 16 that community involvement is growing. 'You now become de facto police officers,' Cunningham said. 'You become our eyes, our ears. We can't be everywhere, but you can help us out. That car that's not supposed to belong on that block, neighborhood watch. That's how we reduce gun violence.' Rinehart started his initiative to reduce gun violence in June of 2022. It was about more than enforcement and prosecution. He said his office is now using a three-pronged approach to lowering gun crimes. 'We are holding offenders accountable,' Rinehart said. 'Lake County leads the state in the issuance of firearm protection orders, and we're rethinking the use of community engagement regarding the root causes of gun violence.' Working for the State's Attorney's Office is a group of peacemakers who can identify with people in the community — particularly young people. Reihart said they are violence interrupters who work with people who may be prone to violence. 'They are reaching out to at-risk youth to decompress situations before the bullets are in the air,' he said. Both homicides and killings using firearms dropped 30% in Lake County from 2023 to 2024, according to information provided by the State's Attorney's Office. In Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion, the decline was 61% between 2022 and 2024, as were non-fatal injuries from firearms. Along with the reduction in offenses, Rinehart said his office pushed firearm restraining orders issued by a judge from single digits between 2019 and 2021, to 25 in 2022, 32 in 2023 and 46 last year. In Waukegan, Neal said in 2022 there were 60 firearm offenses, 36 in 2023, 73 last year and 21 through Monday, which puts the city on pace for 44 this year. In 2023, Waukegan held a gun buyback for $100 per firearm, taking 107 off the street. 'We are getting illegal guns off the street from traffic stops and investigations,' he said. In addition to homicides, Neal said gun crimes include aggravated battery with a firearm, armed robbery with a firearm, armed robbery where a firearm was discharged, armed robbery where there was great bodily harm or death, and aggravated vehicular automobile hijacking of the elderly. In North Chicago, Police Chief Lazaro Perez said incidents of shots fired have dropped dramatically since the city started using ShotSpotter in late 2020. There were 399 incidents reported in 2022, 251 in 2023 and 96 last year. 'It has helped a lot,' he said. 'The police know immediately where it is. They dispatch themselves to the call. They get information from neighbors, which leads to arrests.' Opening a substation on 10th Street — the roadway dividing North Chicago and Waukegan — in North Chicago has made a difference in getting the community involved. North Chicago Deputy Police Chief Gary Lunn said it is making a difference in the neighborhood. 'It's building trust and partnership with the community,' Lunn said. 'They're forming watch groups and calling us. They're coming to us.' Neal said that people who see or hear of criminal activity, including gun use in Waukegan, can use an anonymous tip app that lets a community member make police aware of suspicious activity without disclosing their identity.


West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Gina Rinehart labels net zero a ‘magic pudding' and says Australia should aspire to be like the United States
Gina Rinehart says net zero is an 'unobtainable and expensive magic pudding', and believes Australia should follow the lead of the US. Mrs Rinehart made the comments hours after her Hancock Prospecting and Rio Tinto committed to spending $2.5 billion to extend the life of their jointly-owned Hope Downs iron ore mine in the Pilbara. Australia's richest person said projects like Hope Downs will not be built in the future if Australia does not 'honestly confront and urgently address the reasons' for its declining levels of investment in recent years. 'It's time not to be distracted by name calling like 'far right' and other names and stick to the fact that investment is beneficial, and unfortunately declining in Australia,' she said. 'We need to stand up, ignore the truth twisters, truth hiders and truth avoiders, and to point out what's needed if we want to see such investment bring jobs and benefits to many Aussies. 'Not forgetting even if Australia reduces its approximately one per cent share of emissions, what benefit is there really in the overwhelming expense and consequences that such reduction brings.' Mrs Rinehart said chasing the 'unobtainable and expensive magic pudding that net zero is' will 'negatively impact our way of life' for generations to come. 'Why not let those who want to reduce their emissions do so, and who want net zero efforts, be the ones who pay for them,' she said. 'While Australia instead follows the lead of (the) USA and other countries who put their citizens first.' Rio and Hancock on Tuesday said they are contributing an equal share to bring the Hope Downs 2 and Bedded Hilltop iron ore deposits into production. Rio said the 'above-water-table' iron ore pits have an annual production capacity of 31 million tonnes and will sustain production from the Hope Downs joint venture 'into the future'. Ore mined at the two sites will be transported to Hope Downs 1 for processing, with first ore from the two new deposits scheduled for 2027. More than 950 jobs will be created during construction, according to Rio, and once operational the extension project 'will help sustain' a workforce of about 1000 full-time equivalent roles in the Greater Hope Downs mining area.


Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Law & Order column: Lake County State's Attorney will not ask about individual's immigration status
In the wake of increased national immigration enforcement by federal agencies, Lake County State's Atty. Eric Rinehart issued a statement recently saying that his office will not ask about an individual's immigration status, especially people who are crime victims. Rinehart's office issued the statement on June 13, saying in part that LCSAO will not share immigration status information with federal authorities unless presented with a valid warrant. 'The Lake County State's Attorney's Office is dedicated to serving all residents of Lake County and upholding justice for EVERY victim — regardless of immigration status — with a trauma-informed approach built on the principles of trust and safety,' Rinehart said. 'It is imperative that victims and witnesses feel safe to report crimes so that perpetrators don't go unpunished. We won't have safe and healthy communities if people are afraid to contact the police or cooperate with the prosecutor's office.' Rinehart said his office operates under the Trust Act, which was signed into law by former Gov. Bruce Rauner and limits cooperation between state law enforcement agencies and federal immigration. His office, Rinehart, said, will not ask about or require immigration documentation and does not keep records of immigration status. * Lake County Sheriff's Office and other area detectives concluded an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a Park City man on drugs and weapons charges. Marital D. Hayes, 39, of the 700 block of Chestnut Avenue, was taken into custody after police conducted a search at his home and found crack cocaine and other drugs along with a loaded firearm. As a convicted felon, Hayes cannot legally possess a gun, police said. He was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and illegal possession of a firearm. The Special Investigations Group, a federally funded sheriff's office task force, began investigating Hayes after developing information that he was selling drugs. Detectives working undercover said that Hayes was selling heroin laced with fentanyl and crack cocaine. Gurnee and Park City police officers aided the investigation. Prosecutors are seeking to have Hayes detained until trial, police said. * Lake County authorities have identified the man who was struck and killed by a vehicle this week in Gurnee near Six Flags amusement park. The deceased was identified as Richard Bennett, 59, of Gurnee. Bennett was struck by a vehicle as he walked along Washington Street near Illinois Route 21 at around 10:05 p.m. Monday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The motorist who struck Bennett remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. Police said they are not sure why Bennett was walking along the road but they think he lived in the area. * The Lake County Sheriff's Department Auxiliary Unit was recently recognized by the county board for its volunteerism and commitment to public safety. Last year, auxiliary deputies contributed more than 13,000 hours of community service, which the sheriff's office said saved taxpayers more than $700,000. The auxiliary deputies perform a number of services, including providing support services like traffic direction at accident and crime scenes, as well as assisting in missing persons and evidence searches. Auxiliary deputies undergo 145 hours of training. 'Every year, our Auxiliary Deputies go above and beyond, whether aiding in emergencies or fostering community spirit at events,' Sheriff John Idleburg said. 'Their commitment, professionalism, and compassion profoundly enhance public safety, community resilience, and we are very grateful for their service.'

Sydney Morning Herald
29-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
The houses where Australia's billionaires live, and how much they cost
How much does it cost to live like a Rich Lister? Many of Australia's billionaires amassed their fortunes in the property industry, but even those who built wealth in other sectors such as mining or technology have then been keen purchasers of residential real estate. Australia is now home to 161 billionaires, up from 150 a year ago, the Financial Review Rich List for 2025, published in full on Friday, reveals. The top industry for wealth creation was mining, whose rich listers are worth a collective $141.3 billion, followed by property, worth $125.8 billion across 44 entrants. Australia's richest person is mining magnate Gina Rinehart, worth $38.1 billion. Rinehart's residence in Perth's Dalkeith consists of three blocks in a cluster, a strip of land next door and an adjacent empty block that has been for sale for several years and has a price guide of $9 million. Second on the list is property developer and Meriton founder Harry Triguboff, worth $29.7 billion, who owns an expansive waterfront block in Sydney's Vaucluse, purchased in 1983 for $4.1 million, and next door added in 1998 for $6 million. He was followed by cardboard box king Anthony Pratt and family, of Visy, valued at $25.9 billion. Pratt recently made a move to the US, but the family's historic Raheen mansion is in Kew in Melbourne's leafy east.

The Age
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
The houses where Australia's billionaires live, and how much they cost
How much does it cost to live like a Rich Lister? Many of Australia's billionaires amassed their fortunes in the property industry, but even those who built wealth in other sectors such as mining or technology have then been keen purchasers of residential real estate. Australia is now home to 161 billionaires, up from 150 a year ago, the Financial Review Rich List for 2025, published in full on Friday, reveals. The top industry for wealth creation was mining, whose rich listers are worth a collective $141.3 billion, followed by property, worth $125.8 billion across 44 entrants. Australia's richest person is mining magnate Gina Rinehart, worth $38.1 billion. Rinehart's residence in Perth's Dalkeith consists of three blocks in a cluster, a strip of land next door and an adjacent empty block that has been for sale for several years and has a price guide of $9 million. Second on the list is property developer and Meriton founder Harry Triguboff, worth $29.7 billion, who owns an expansive waterfront block in Sydney's Vaucluse, purchased in 1983 for $4.1 million, and next door added in 1998 for $6 million. He was followed by cardboard box king Anthony Pratt and family, of Visy, valued at $25.9 billion. Pratt recently made a move to the US, but the family's historic Raheen mansion is in Kew in Melbourne's leafy east.