Judge orders City of Chicago to install accessible pedestrian signals
CHICAGO (WGN) — Kathy Austin and her guide dog, Rowen, navigate the streets of Chicago together, but it can often be a harrowing experience due to the lack of accessible pedestrian signals in the city.
'It's too difficult to cross down here with all the noise going on around us. You can hear, and it's difficult to hear the traffic,' Austin said. 'It's terrifying. I know one person who has gotten hit in a crosswalk without a signal.'
Austin, a blind resident of Chicago, isn't alone in being able to recount instances when those like her were put in harm's way by not having the right assistance traversing pedestrian crosswalks. Jean Johnson, another blind resident of the city, shared similar sentiments to those expressed by her.
'I've had a lot of close calls. There are times when I know I have the white walking guy and people aren't paying attention,' Johnson said. 'I've been almost hit on several occasions just trying to cross the street.'
As of Wednesday, only 3% of signalized intersections in Chicago have accessible pedestrian signals (APS), which are meant to help visually impaired pedestrians cross the road. Since there are so few intersections have APS in a city as large as Chicago, a group of blind residents filed a class-action lawsuit against the city.
'The case was brought under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which is the part of the ADA that applies to public entities, state and local governments,' said Rachel Weisberg, an attorney with Disability Rights Advocates (DRA). 'We also brought this case under Section 504, of the Rehabilitation Act.'
DRA attorneys were in court Wednesday, where they reviewed a judge's remedial order that will require the city to install APS devices at 71% of its signalized intersections in ten years, and get to 100% compliance in 15 years.
'We're way behind,' Weisberg said. 'And Chicago is a first-class, incredible city, and everyone who lives here deserves to be able to safely and independently navigate our pedestrian signals.'
While the remedial order serves as a sign of progress in Chicago, blind residents like Austin and Johnson still expressed a blend of disappointment and optimism.
'These should be in place already,' Johnson said. 'Ten years is a nice pad for them, but I think it's too long.'
'You go to any other cities, and many of them already have every intersection already equipped with these APS signals,' Austin said. 'So, it's a long time coming. Hopefully, it will happen quickly.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Novo Nordisk: Higher dose of Wegovy® provided average weight loss of 21% in people with obesity – with a third achieving 25% or more – according to data presented at ADA
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 21, 2025, 04:38 IST Higher dose of Wegovy® provided average weight loss of 21% in people with obesity – with a third achieving 25% or more – according to data presented at ADA Results from the phase 3b STEP UP trial showed that a higher dose of Wegovy ® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) delivered 21% weight loss in people with obesity, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their weight, compared to placebo 1 (semaglutide 7.2 mg) delivered 21% weight loss in people with obesity, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their weight, compared to placebo Safety and tolerability of the higher dose of Wegovy ® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) was consistent with the currently approved dose (semaglutide 2.4 mg) 1 (semaglutide 7.2 mg) was consistent with the currently approved dose (semaglutide 2.4 mg) The STEP UP data add to the existing evidence base on the value of Wegovy® in delivering significant weight loss and health gains for people living with obesity Bagsværd, Denmark, 21 June 2025 – Novo Nordisk today presented the results from the phase 3b STEP UP trial in people with obesity without diabetes at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions, in Chicago, US. In the STEP UP trial, the higher dose of Wegovy® (semaglutide 7.2 mg) demonstrated a mean weight loss of 21%, with a third of participants losing 25% or more of their body weight compared to placebo at 72 weeks.1 'The STEP UP trial demonstrated that we can increase the dose of semaglutide and achieve greater weight loss than previously seen, and in line with semaglutide's established safety profile. This may offer another option to people who do not attain their weight goals,' said Sean Wharton, lead study author and medical director of the Wharton Medical Clinic, Canada. 'We are already aware that semaglutide can have health benefits for people with heart disease, liver disease, knee osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. These findings help to give patients with obesity more options for improvements in their weight and overall health.' STEP UP co-primary endpoints at 72 weeks *1 : semaglutide 7.2 mg semaglutide 2.4 mg PlaceboWeight loss 20.7% 17.5% 2.4% 5% or more weight loss 93.2% 92.5% 35.7% When evaluating the effect of treatment regardless of treatment adherence, people receiving semaglutide 7.2 mg achieved 18.7% weight loss vs 3.9% with placebo, and 90.7% achieved 5% or more weight loss with semaglutide 7.2 mg vs 36.8% on placebo. 'With these results, semaglutide reaffirms its significant weight loss for people with obesity. The STEP UP trial delivers a substantial weight loss of over 20%, in addition to health benefits previously demonstrated with semaglutide,' said Ludovic Helfgott, executive vice president of Product & Portfolio Strategy at Novo Nordisk. 'As pioneers in obesity, we continue to develop new innovative treatments to fit the needs and preferences of people living with obesity. This includes maximising the value of semaglutide for individuals, healthcare systems and society, and developing a new oral formulation of Wegovy® that, pending FDA approval, can become the first GLP-1 pill to offer double-digit weight loss.' In the STEP UP trial, semaglutide 7.2 mg demonstrated a well-tolerated safety profile consistent with previous Novo Nordisk semaglutide trials.1 The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal, and the vast majority were mild to moderate during dose escalation and diminished over time, consistent with the GLP-1 class.1 In STEP UP, 3.3% of people treated with semaglutide 7.2 mg discontinued due to gastrointestinal adverse events, compared to 2.0% with semaglutide 2.4 mg and 0% with placebo.1 Novo Nordisk expects to file the higher dose of Wegovy® for a label update in the EU in the second half of 2025, followed by regulatory submissions in other markets where Wegovy® is already approved. STEP UP selected confirmatory secondary endpoints at 72 weeks * 1 : semaglutide 7.2 mg semaglutide 2.4 mg Placebo10% or more weight loss 86.0% 77.6% 20.0%15% or more weight loss 70.4% 57.5% 7.9%20% or more weight loss 50.9% 35.1% 2.9% 25% or more weight loss 33.2% 16.7% 0% * Based on the trial product estimand: treatment effect if all people adhered to treatment. About the STEP UP trials Novo Nordisk has completed two trials, STEP UP and STEP UP T2D, investigating the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg in people with obesity with or without type 2 diabetes. The 72-week STEP UP trial was a randomised, double-blinded, parallel-group, placebo-controlled, superiority trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 7.2 mg compared to semaglutide 2.4 mg and placebo as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention. The trial included 1,407 adults with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 without diabetes. The primary objective was to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. Key confirmatory secondary endpoints included the number of participants achieving 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% weight loss, respectively. The 72-week STEP UP T2D trial investigated semaglutide 7.2 mg in 512 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes, with the primary objective to demonstrate superiority of semaglutide 7.2 mg against placebo on weight loss. About Wegovy® Semaglutide 2.4 mg is marketed under the brand name Wegovy®. In the EU, Wegovy® is indicated as an adjunct to a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for weight management in adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater (obesity) or adults with a BMI of 27 kg/m2 or greater (overweight) in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. In the EU, Wegovy® is also indicated for paediatric patients aged 12 years and older with an initial BMI at the 95th percentile or greater for age and gender (obesity) and body weight above 60 kg. The clinical section of the label also includes data on Wegovy® major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) risk reduction, improvements in HFpEF-related symptoms and physical function, as well as pain reduction related to knee osteoarthritis. In the US, Wegovy® is indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce the risk of MACE in adults with established cardiovascular disease and either obesity or overweight, as well as to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in paediatric patients aged 12 years and older with obesity and in adults with obesity or with overweight in the presence of at least one weight-related comorbid condition. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information References Wharton, S, et al. (2025). Once-weekly semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with obesity: the randomised, controlled, phase 3b STEP UP trial. 1966-LB poster. American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, US, June 20 – 23, 2025.17. Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Novo Nordisk's subcutaneous and oral amycretin data published in The Lancet and presented at ADA 2025
By GlobeNewswire Published on June 21, 2025, 04:34 IST Subcutaneous amycretin phase 1b/2a data on the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential in people with overweight or obesity was published in The Lancet and presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. 1,2 and presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Scientific Sessions. Oral amycretin phase 1 data on the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential in people with overweight or obesity was also published in The Lancet. 3 Findings from the clinical trials indicate amycretin appeared tolerable with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonists.1,2,3 Bagsværd, Denmark, 20 June 2025 – Novo Nordisk announces subcutaneous amycretin data being presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85 th Scientific Sessions in Chicago, US.1 Full results of two clinical trials evaluating the safety, tolerability and weight loss potential of subcutaneous and oral amycretin in people with overweight or obesity were published today in The Lancet medical journal.1,3 Amycretin is the first treatment that combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonism biology in a single molecule. The published and presented results from the once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin phase 1b/2a clinical trial showed that participants who received the treatment demonstrated significantly greater weight loss across the full range of doses investigated compared to placebo. Data being presented at ADA were collected from two parts of the trial; dose escalation (amycretin 60 mg), and dose escalation and maintenance (amycretin 20 mg, 5 mg and 1.25 mg).1,2 No plateauing in weight reduction was observed at the end of treatment (ranging from 20 to 36 weeks) with all tested doses, suggesting that a longer treatment duration may potentially contribute to additional weight loss.1,2 Estimated mean change in body weight from baseline with once-weekly subcutaneous (SC) amycretin: 1,2 * Dose Treatment % Weight change % Weight change duration (SC amycretin) (placebo) 60 mg 36 weeks -24.3% -1.1%20 mg** 36 weeks -22.0% 1.9%5 mg** 28 weeks -16.2% 2.3% 1.25 mg** 20 weeks -9.7% 2.0% * If all people adhered to treatment i.e. if all people followed the planned dosing schedule for the full trial period without any treatment discontinuations. ** Administered during a 12-week maintenance period. Once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin treatment escalated up to 60 mg appeared tolerable with a safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonists.1,2 The number of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) increased in a dose-dependent manner, were mostly gastrointestinal, and were comparable to the rate and profile of TEAEs reported in early-phase studies of GLP-1 receptor, GLP-1 receptor/gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) receptor, and amylin receptor agonists.1,2 The majority of TEAEs were mild to moderate in severity and resolved by the end of the study period.1,2 Of the participants who discontinued the trial, the majority were due to non-TEAE reasons.1,2 'As pioneers in obesity innovation, we are exploring multiple biological pathways to develop potentially transformative medicines that support the individual needs and preferences of people with obesity on their weight loss journey towards overall improved health,' said Martin Holst Lange, executive vice president for Development at Novo Nordisk . 'Amycretin is the first investigational treatment that combines GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonism biology in one molecule, working on distinct pathways and offering complementary effects on appetite control. The findings published and presented today are encouraging. We are excited to advance the clinical development of subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 to assess its potential as a therapeutic option for weight management.' The published once-daily oral amycretin phase 1 clinical trial data showed that participants receiving amycretin achieved greater weight loss compared to placebo.3 After 12 weeks of treatment with amycretin up to 50 mg and up to 2 times 50 mg, participants achieved a mean change in body weight of -10.4% and -13.1% respectively, compared to -1.2% with placebo.3 There were no apparent signs of weight loss plateauing within the 12 weeks of treatment in either of these amycretin-treated groups.3 Once-daily oral amycretin appeared to have an acceptable safety profile and was tolerable in all tested doses, with TEAEs in line with what was expected from targeting GLP-1 and amylin receptors.3 All reported TEAEs occurred in a dose-proportional manner, were mild to moderate in severity, and mostly gastrointestinal. No new safety signals appeared during the study.3 Based on the findings from the oral and subcutaneous amycretin trials, Novo Nordisk recently announced it will advance amycretin into phase 3 trials to further investigate the treatment as a potential new therapeutic option for weight management.4 About amycretin Amycretin is a unimolecular long-acting GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist under development by Novo Nordisk, to provide an efficacious and convenient treatment for adults with overweight or obesity and for adults with type 2 diabetes. Amycretin is developed for subcutaneous and oral administration. Oral amycretin Phase 1 trial – The trial evaluated the single-ascending dose and multiple ascending doses for oral amycretin, up to 2 times 50 mg, in 144 people with overweight or obesity, with a total treatment duration of up to 12 weeks. Subcutaneous amycretin Phase 1b/2a trial – The trial investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and proof-of-concept of once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin in 125 people with overweight or obesity. The trial was a combined single ascending dose, multiple ascending dose and dose-response trial investigating three different maintenance doses with a total treatment duration of up to 36 weeks. About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 77,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit , Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn and YouTube . Contacts for further information _______________________ References The Lancet: Dahl K, Toubro, S, Dey S, et al. Amycretin, a novel, unimolecular GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist administered subcutaneously: Results of a randomised, controlled, phase 1b/2a study. Dahl, K, et al. (2025). Amycretin, a Novel, Unimolecular GLP-1 and Amylin Receptor Agonist: Results of a Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial. Poster 2002-LB. American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, US, June 20 – 23, 2025. The Lancet: Gasiorek A, Heydorn A, Gabery S, et al. Safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of the first-in-class GLP-1 and amylin receptor agonist, amycretin: a first-in-human, phase 1, randomised, placebo-controlled study. Novo Nordisk Company Announcement. Novo Nordisk to advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin for weight management into phase 3 clinical development. Available at: Attachment Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson blasts 'narrow-minded' judging on SCOTUS: ANALYSIS
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson unloaded on her Supreme Court colleagues Friday in a series of sharp dissents, castigating what she called a "pure textualism" approach to interpreting laws, which she said had become a pretext for securing their desired outcomes, and implying the conservative justices have strayed from their oath by showing favoritism to "moneyed interests." The attack on the court's conservative majority by the junior justice and member of the liberal wing is notably pointed and aggressive but stopped short of getting personal. It laid bare the stark divisions on the court and pent-up frustration in the minority over what Jackson described as inconsistent and unfair application of precedent by those in power. Jackson took particular aim at Justice Neil Gorsuch's majority opinion in a case brought by a retired Florida firefighter with Parkinson's disease who had tried to sue under the Americans with Disabilities Act after her former employer, the City of Sanford, canceled extended health insurance coverage for retirees who left the force before serving 25 years because of a disability. MORE: Supreme Court upholds a state law banning some gender-affirming care for transgenders kids Gorsuch wrote that the landmark law only protects "qualified individuals" and that retirees don't count. The ADA defines the qualified class as those who "can perform the essential functions of the employment position that such individual holds or desires." "This court has long recognized that the textual limitations upon a law's scope must be understood as no less a part of its purpose than its substantive authorizations," Gorsuch concluded in his opinion in Stanley v. City of Sanford. It was joined by all the court's conservatives and liberal Justice Elena Kagan. Jackson fired back, accusing her colleagues of reaching a "stingy outcome" and willfully ignoring the "clear design of the ADA to render a ruling that plainly counteracts what Congress meant to -- and did -- accomplish" with the law. She said they had "run in a series of textualist circles" and that the majority "closes its eyes to context, enactment history and the legislature's goals." "I cannot abide that narrow-minded approach," she wrote. MORE: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson says 'whole truth' about Black history must be taught Gorsuch retorted that Jackson was simply complaining textualism didn't get her the outcome she wanted, prompting Jackson to take the rare step of using a lengthy footnote to accuse her colleague of the same. Saying the majority has a "unfortunate misunderstanding of the judicial role," Jackson said her colleagues' "refusal" to consider Congress' intent behind the ADA "turns the interpretative task into a potent weapon for advancing judicial policy preferences." "By 'finding' answers in ambiguous text," she wrote, "and not bothering to consider whether those answers align with other sources of statutory meaning, pure textualists can easily disguise their own preferences." Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who joined parts of Jackson's dissent, explicitly did not sign-on to the footnote. Justice Elena Kagan, a member of the liberal wing, joined the conservative majority in all three cases in which Jackson dissented, but she did not explain her views. In 2015, Kagan famously said, "we're all textualists now" of the court, but years later disavowed that approach over alleged abuse by conservative jurists. MORE: Supreme Court allows Trump to begin removing 500,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela In two other cases decided Friday, Jackson accused her colleagues of distorting the law to benefit major American businesses and in so doing "erode the public trust." She dissented from Justice Amy Coney Barrett's majority opinion siding with major tobacco manufacturer, R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co., that gives retailers the ability to sue the Food and Drug Administration over the denial of new product applications for e-cigarettes. Barrett concluded that a federal law meant to regulate the manufacture and distribution of new tobacco products also allows retailers who would sell the products to seek judicial review of an adverse FDA decision. Jackson blasted the conclusion as "illogical" again taking her colleagues to task for not sufficiently considering Congress' intent or longstanding precedent. "Every available indictor reveals that Congress intended to permit manufacturers -- not retailers -- to challenge the denial," she wrote. MORE: Justice Stephen Breyer's blunt message to Supreme Court conservatives: 'Slow down' Of the court's 7-2 decision by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, giving gasoline producers the right to sue California over limits on emission-producing cars, Jackson said her colleagues were favoring the fuel industry over "less powerful plaintiffs." "This case gives fodder to the unfortunate perception that moneyed interests enjoy an easier road to relief in this Court than ordinary citizens," she wrote. Jackson argued that the case should have been mooted, since the Trump administration withdrew EPA approval for California's emissions standards thereby eliminating any alleged harm to the auto and fuel industry. MORE: Supreme Court limits environmental impact studies, expediting infrastructure projects "Those of us who are privileged to work inside the Court must not lose sight of this institution's unique mission and responsibility: to rule without fear or favor," she wrote, admonishing her colleagues. The court is next scheduled to convene Thursday, June 26, to release another round of opinions in cases argued this term. Decisions are expected in a dispute over online age verification for adult websites, parental opt-out rights for kids in public schools exposed to LGBTQ themes, and, the scope of nationwide injunctions against President Donald Trump's second-term policies.
