Senators want Chicago included in national anti-gang initiative

Ten cities already in the program have each received $2.5 million for anti-gang efforts.

Meanwhile, in Chicago there was a big drop in violence from one weekend to the next.

There were unofficially 13 shootings across the city this past weekend, including one Sunday on West Erie. Those shootings resulted in three fatalities.

That compares to 36 shootings during the previous weekend.

Senator Durbin was critical of Governor Rod Blagojevich's decision to cut funding to the community group, Ceasefire.

"I think the governor made a big mistake in cutting the Ceasefire funding," said Durbin. "That's an agency that I have supported over the years, sent a lot of federal money their way because it works. They really get down on the ground in the neighborhood and bring peace to many neighborhoods that have been racked by gang violence."

Regarding the federal anti-gang initiative, Durbin says there is no reason for Chicago to be left off the list.