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The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal challenging a controversial state law that allows someone to be convicted of murder if a death occurs during the commission of another forcible felony, even if it is caused by someone else. The ruling means the Illinois law still stands, although at least two bills have been introduced in the state General Assembly to narrow how it's applied. One of those bills was prompted by a recent controversy in Lake County when...
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday vetoed a bill that would have provided a sales tax exemption on the sale of private jet parts and components retroactive to 2010 and continuing through 2024. House Bill 3902 cleared the state House on Oct. 30 by a vote of 113-0, with one member voting "present." It passed the Senate Nov. 14 by a vote of 48-1. Sen. Rachelle Crowe, a Glen Carbon Democrat and lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate, argued that the tax exemption had been on...
Just eight days after a nonprofit organization founded by conservative commentator Glenn Beck requested it be lent a priceless, handwritten copy of the Gettysburg Address to display at a "pop-up" museum in Dallas, Texas, the staff at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum had the document packed and ready to move. The man who is said to have overseen and expedited that loan was fired in September by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and the state's Office of the...
Senate President John Cullerton will resign from the General Assembly sometime in January, he told his caucus in a meeting after the fall veto session concluded Thursday, Nov. 14. A definitive date has not been set. The Chicago Democrat spent almost 40 years in the General Assembly, first serving in the House before moving to the Senate. He was elected president of that chamber in 2009, and one of his tasks was presiding over the impeachment trial of former Gov. Rod...
The adjournment of the fall veto session Thursday night means a number of bills that failed to pass both chambers this week must wait for further action when the General Assembly returns on Jan. 28. House Bill 3904, allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness, was one of the most publicized efforts that stalled this week. Hillside Democratic Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, who successfully moved the bill out of the House with strong bipartisan...
Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs on Monday continued to promote a new state program which he says is a first step to alleviating a nationwide "retirement crisis." At a Chicago news conference, Frerichs said more than 32,000 Illinoisans have saved more than $8.5 million for their retirement as part of Illinois Secure Choice, a program which has been implemented in the past year after it was created by state law in 2015. That number marks an increase of more than 8,000...
The Illinois House voted with an overwhelming majority Wednesday to advance a bill aimed at capping the out-of-pocket cost of prescription insulin for state-regulated health insurance plans. Senate Bill 667 passed 100-13 with one "present" vote. The House amended a portion of the bill pertaining to a required report on the cost of prescription insulin, so it will go back to the Senate for a vote before it can head to the governor. It already passed that chamber 48-7 on Oct....
Two major issues that lawmakers were expected to deal with during the fall veto session regarding a Chicago casino and the upcoming legalization of adult use recreational marijuana stalled Wednesday in the General Assembly as the session entered its final day. While both chambers of the Legislature still have time to act on the marijuana follow-up measure, Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, conceded Wednesday the Chicago casino bill would not clear both chambers...
A plan to consolidate 649 downstate municipal police and firefighter pension funds into just two unified systems hit an unexpected snag Tuesday, but officials on both sides of the disagreement vowed to continue talking in hopes of reaching an agreement. Just hours before the bill was scheduled for a hearing in a House committee, the Illinois Municipal League, which has long supported pension fund consolidation, issued a statement saying a last-minute change to the bill forced that organization to withdraw its support. “I w...
As allegations of government corruption continue to plague the Statehouse, Republican legislators including State Senators Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) and Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) and State Representatives Tim Butler (R-Springfield) and Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), announced new legislation during a press conference at the Capitol on November 13 that aims to ensure members of the Illinois State Board of Elections aren’t funding political action committees. “Under current state law, a person can serve as a mem...
Republican lawmakers added to their pile of recently-filed ethics legislation Wednesday, promoting two bills aimed at limiting conflicts of interest on the Illinois State Board of Elections. Sen. Dan McConchie, a Hawthorn Woods Republican, unveiled Senate Bill 2300 during a Statehouse news conference. The measure would prohibit a member of the State Board of Elections from contributing to or being an officer of a state or federal political committee. Per the bill, a member of the Board of Elections who serves as an officer...
CHICAGO-Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) brought together local governments and advocacy groups for a roundtable Thursday at the Lipinski Community Center in Justice to discuss options on how to close the five-mile gap in the I&M Canal Trail that exists between Willow Springs Road in the Village of Willow Springs and the Chicago Portage National Historic Site in the Village of Lyons. The roundtable was scheduled to develop feasible alternatives to complete the gap in the...
Illinois lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on Tuesday, with all eyes waiting to see what, if any, action will be taken on ethics reform in the General Assembly. But a host of other issues are on the table as well, including action that would enable the city of Chicago to attract casino developers, follow-up on the landmark adult-use marijuana legalization bill passed during the regular session, regulations on vaping and flavored tobacco products and labor relations...
State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant wishes veterans across the region a happy Veterans Day. Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) urges residents to look for opportunities to thank local veterans on Monday, Nov. 11 and throughout the year. "Veterans Day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices our brave heroes have made to protect our democratic rights and freedoms," Bertino-Tarrant said. "I urge residents to take time this month to reach out to the veterans in your life to thank...
Thin Ice Ensemble Theater kicks off its 2019-20 on December 6th and 7th with the iconic theatrical adventure The Wizard of Oz. Journey over the rainbow with Dorothy as she is swept by a frightening twister into the bucolic but troubled land of Oz. Eventually, Dorothy learns that courage, loyalty, and friendship can conquer all and most importantly, there is "no place like home". The Thin Ice Ensemble Theater production includes the wonderful characters audiences have come to...
Over a dozen local students had the opportunity to put their passions and concerns front and center by proposing ideas for new laws directly to State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove). The students came from four local high schools to take part in the Senator's annual Youth Advisory Council program earlier this week. "This program is a chance for students to not only learn more about government, but to see that their voices are heard in Springfield," said Curran. "I hope...
Amtrak routes that connect Chicago to St. Louis and Milwaukee saw record numbers of riders in the federal fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 while the national passenger rail system turned in its best financial performance in several years. Amtrak reported Friday that the Chicago-St. Louis corridor recorded 756,062 riders during the fiscal year, up 5.5 percent from the previous year, and 24 percent higher than fiscal year 2011. That corridor includes the "Lincoln Service" route...
If Sen. Andy Manar has his way, people in Illinois would move their clocks ahead one hour this coming spring, then never have to change them again. Manar, D-Bunker Hill, said in a Twitter post Wednesday he plans to push for passage of Senate Bill 533 when lawmakers return next week for the final three days of the fall veto session. That bill calls for setting clocks ahead one hour to Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, March 8, 2020, then leaving the state on Central Daylight...
On Monday, monuments and memorials dedicated to those who served in the armed forces in Illinois will serve as the background for events to recognize Veterans Day, a federal holiday observed annually on Nov. 11 to honor military veterans. The monuments, which range from big to small and old to new, were built with the purpose of serving as permanent markers. The biggest include stadiums, like Chicago's Soldier Field or Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of...
Multi-Grammy Award winning recording artist, Bill Gaither will present the Gaither Christmas Homecoming music spectacular at the Willow Creek Church, located at 67 E Algonquin Road in South Barrington, IL, on Friday, December 6. The legendary recording artist will present an exciting celebration, filled with the very best in Christian music, including Gaither's own multi-award winning group, The Gaither Vocal Band (pictured in attached jpg). This special event will begin at...
In the spirit of Christmas, your local Menards home improvement stores are proudly serving as a toy drive drop site. We have participated in this wonderful opportunity for a number of years now and are excited to help put smiles on the faces of less fortunate children in the community again this year! We'll have a drop box near the exit door of all stores to collect new, unwrapped from now through the end of November. These presents will be distributed by a non-profit...
Lloyd Karmeier is the third Illinois Supreme Court justice from Nashville, home to about 3,200 people two hours south of Springfield. Karmeier said “almost every one” of the cases the state’s highest court has considered over the 15 years he spent on the bench has been “interesting.” Perhaps the most important were two that established state employee pensions as an undiminishable benefit as guaranteed by the Constitution. The 79-year-old justice tendered notice last week he will resign from the Supreme Court, effective...
Legislation providing heightened protections for those with pre-existing conditions has failed to garner the 3/5 majority needed to override the Governor's veto. State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) called for the motion Wednesday, Oct. 30, during the fall Veto Session. Senate Bill 2026 would require the State of Illinois to receive approval from the General Assembly prior to applying for any federal waivers that would reduce or eliminate any protections under the Affordable...
The Forest Preserve District of Will County offers a wide variety of programs year-round. Here are some of the upcoming offerings: CHANNAHON – "Little Explorers," 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11, at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center. Monthly themes are: November, beavers; December, how animals get ready for winter. Activities may include a story, games, dancing, art, a hike, other outdoor activities and more. The free program is for ages 3-5, but y...
A bill allowing college athletes in Illinois to be paid for the use of their image, name and likeness passed the state House Wednesday with broad bipartisan support after lengthy debate. Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, pushed ahead with House Bill 3904 despite a Tuesday announcement from the NCAA – the association which oversees most intercollegiate athletics – which said it would "start the process" of changing its rules to allow athletes to profit from their nam...