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The first day of legal sales of recreational marijuana in Illinois went "extraordinarily well," according to one industry representative, with total sales on Jan. 1 of nearly $3.2 million. "I just I cannot express the gratitude from the dispensary operators to our customers about their courtesy and civility and patience. It was really a lovely, very successful rollout, I think, on the first day," Pamela Althoff, executive director of the Cannabis Business Association of...
Illinois State Sen. Patrick Joyce is kicking off the new year by inviting constituents in the 40th Senate District to visit the new headquarters for his campaign to represent them. Sen. Joyce, D-Essex, will have community members, campaign supporters and volunteers at the grand opening ceremony for his campaign office, at 15 Meadowview Square in Kankakee, from 11 a.m. to noon. Sen. Joyce was appointed to the 40th District seat in November after former Sen. Toi Hutchinson retired to take a job in the Pritzker administration....
If you bought a Lotto ticket in Vernon Hills, you may want to check it right away! A convenience store located in Vernon Hills sold a $16,000,000 winning Lotto ticket in the Monday, December 30, evening drawing. The winning ticket was purchased at Bucky's Convenience Stores, 294 E. Townline Road, in Vernon Hills and matched all six numbers – 01 - 03 - 06 - 09 - 17 - 23 – to win the jackpot. The retailer will receive a bonus of $160,000, or one percent of the prize amount, for...
The state's minimum wage will increase by $1 hourly, recreational marijuana will go on sale to those over 21 years of age, and some state taxes and licensing fees will increase when the calendar hits January. The changes are among hundreds resulting from laws passed during a busy legislative session which adjourned in early June. Minimum Wage: The minimum wage will increase by $1 to $9.25 hourly on Jan. 1, the first such increase since 2010. The wage will increase to $10...
Illinois Department of Agriculture Director John Sullivan said Tuesday that interest in the newly-legalized hemp industry continues to build, but more work needs to be done for the industry to mature. Sullivan spoke to reporters at the state's first Hemp Summit at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield where nearly 700 farmers, processors and other people involved in the hemp industry gathered to talk about what they learned during the 2019 growing season - the first...
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday he fully supports allowing refugees to resettle in Illinois and he is expected to sign a letter to the Trump administration to that effect in the coming days. Such a letter of consent is now required from state and local officials under an executive order that President Donald Trump issued earlier this year. Under that order, state and local officials have until Dec. 25 to issue written statements of consent. "As the great grandson of...
The number of parties suing medical supply sterilization company Sterigenics on claims that its ethylene oxide gas emissions caused serious health problems grew to 73 this week, according to a law firm representing 18 of the plaintiffs. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, chronic exposure to ethylene oxide gas can cause increased cancer risks, reproductive effects and other major medical problems. Sterigenics used the chemical to sterilize medical supplies at its Chicago-area Willowbrook facility for more than 30...
Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx filed motions in court Wednesday to vacate more than 1,000 low-level marijuana convictions, following through on a recently-passed state law legalizing adult recreational use of the drug. "We are undoing the harm prosecutors have caused," Foxx posted on Twitter Wednesday. "Prosecuting these cases was not in the public interest, or in the interest of public safety." They were the first of what are expected to be many filings across the...
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday aimed at ensuring minority workers have access to jobs created through the state's new $45 billion capital improvements plan, as well as access to training for careers in construction and building trades. Senate Bill 177 establishes the Illinois Works Jobs Program, which makes $25 million available to community-based organizations - including public colleges and universities - to recruit new apprentices to work on...
A law mandating baby changing tables be installed in both men’s and women’s restrooms beginning Jan. 1 does not apply to the Illinois State Capitol Complex, but the buildings’ architect plans to add them to some facilities anyway. She said “there is no excuse” not to. Chicago Democrats Rep. Delia Ramirez and Sen. Ram Villivalam sponsored the initiative. With some exceptions — including spaces that ban those under 18 years of age and some health facilities — it applies to public restrooms in buildings constructed o...
As the month of December arrived, many Illinois farmers were still working to harvest their corn and soybeans - the state's two largest field crops - and agriculture officials are anticipating one of the smallest harvests in recent years. As of Nov. 24, only about 88 percent of corn acres in Illinois had been harvested, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, down from 100 percent at the same time last year. Soybean harvesting was 95 percent complete, down from 99...
A Chanukah menorah was added to the holiday display in the Statehouse rotunda Friday, joining a holiday tree, nativity scene, satanic sculpture and Winter Solstice sign installed days earlier. Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, a group that aims to further the worldwide Hasidic Jewish movement, placed the symbol of "spreading light and increasing light," Rabbi Meir Moscowitz said. "The Menorah is the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith, a seven-branch candelabra of the nation of...
The foundation supporting the 16th president's library and museum announced Wednesday it no longer needs to auction off a collection of more than 1,000 Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln artifacts. Officials with the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation secured a three-year extension on a loan used to buy historical items - including the bloody gloves the former president had in his pocket when he died and a huge number of Mary Lincoln documents - from former board membe...
A handful of Illinois House Republicans on Wednesday called for a special legislative session – or at least greater urgency in the upcoming regular session – to pass reforms to state ethics laws. "How can this government possibly move forward with credibility without robust anti-corruption safeguards in place," Rep. Blaine Wilhour, R-Beecher City, asked during a Capitol news conference. He was joined by four of the more conservative members of the House GOP caucus in arg...
The Trump administration is about to impose new regulations that would tighten eligibility rules for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, in a way state officials say could cut off benefits for an estimated 140,000 Illinoisans. The new rules apply to a category of SNAP recipients ages 18 to 59 known as "able-bodied adults without dependents," or ABAWDs. Currently, who meet the program's income eligibility limits are limited to three months...
One month before the scheduled rollout of legalized marijuana in Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a follow-up bill to the initial reform Wednesday and took questions about the next phases of the implementation. "It's new territory, we're seeing that in some of the cleanup that we're doing in this bill," said Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, who sponsored the initial marijuana legalization measure. Steans said the bill clarifies that public consumption of marijuana can be...
Seasonal decorations are filling the Illinois Capitol rotunda - a holiday tree, nativity scene, satanic sculpture and Winter Solstice sign surround the ever-present "Illinois Welcoming the World" statue in the center of the space. The display gained national attention in 2018 for the Satanic Temple of Chicago's contribution of a sculpture of a woman's left arm, with a snake coiled around it, holding an apple. The statue is a metaphor representing the biblical story of Adam...
State Sen. Martin Sandoval, whose Statehouse office was raided by federal agents in September, announced late Wednesday that he will step down from his seat effective Jan. 1. "Respect for my constituents and the Senate has convinced me that this action is necessary in order to proceed without distraction to the important work that needs to be accomplished throughout the state of Illinois in the future," Sandoval wrote in a letter addressed to the secretary of the Senate, Tim A...
This column proposes a powerful, practical, if highly unconventional, way to start a national conversation, even a movement, that could possibly help restore a healthy American democracy and solid economic future, and maybe even replace one of our two bankrupt political parties. Politics and policy are today focused on supporting old coots like me (I'm 78), and the boomers who followed, through oppressive government debt, mountainous student loan burdens, inadequate...
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is planning to spend $40,000 of his own money to renovate his State Capitol office next month, according to a news release distributed by his staff. Those changes will be mainly functional, however, with no major changes planned for the carpeting, wallpaper, furniture or other cosmetic areas. “The Office the Governor in Springfield will undergo renovations beginning the week of Dec. 10 with the goal of improving functionality for staff. It is expected to conclude before the end of the year,” Jord...
Antibiotics are one of the most useful medicines available, but they might not be for long if not used properly. That's what Morris Hospital Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. John Bolden stresses heading into the winter, when cases of flu, colds, bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and other such illness most frequently occur. "Antibiotics aren't always needed," said Dr. Bolden, who also serves as chair of the infection control committee at Morris Hospital & Healthcare...
Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Friday that he believes there was "strong evidence" presented in the House hearings this week to warrant the impeachment of President Donald Trump, but two of his Illinois Republican colleagues in the House strongly disagreed. Durbin, along with U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-18th) and Rodney Davis (R-13th) were in Springfield on Friday to take part in a groundbreaking ceremony with Gov. J.B. Pritzker for a local project being...
Last week, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Board of Commissioners approved a contract for YWCA Metropolitan Chicago to serve as the FamilyWorks Agency for Service Area 1 which includes Dearborn Homes in Bronzeville and Cabrini Green Rowhouses on the near northside. In addition, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago will provide FamilyWorks services to CHA residents living in scattered site housing across the northside, including Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park. "We are thrilled...
12-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Douglas Wilson today announced that the USDA is investing over $1.1 million in Illinois as a part of Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants for Illinois. “Today’s announcement is another way that USDA Rural Development is improving rural connectivity in Illinois. Almost 50,000 students will soon have access to college level courses. Healthcare and substance abuse centers will have the ability to offer greater care to rural residents. DLT, alo...
The state’s board of education announced emergency rule changes Wednesday in response to a news story which detailed an overuse of “isolation rooms” in several Illinois public school districts, including those serving students with special education needs. That news investigation, published by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Tuesday, analyzed thousands of pages of records from Illinois schools which showed “every school day, workers isolate children for reasons that violate the law.” There were more than 20,000 documente...