Pilot program for medical marijuana as alternative to opioids goes into effect
Pilot program for medical marijuana as alternative to opioids goes into effect
The Opioid Alternative Pilot Program launched Jan. 31, giving more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana in place of opioids.
Harry Jackson
Harry Jackson
“At 20 years old, you don’t think, ‘We found some pot. This could affect the rest of my life.’ “We were riding dirt bikes out in the woods. And we stopped to take a rest, and went ‘what is that?’ And they were these tall little hemp plants. “They were useless. I had them months...
Lingering in the left lane? Illinois State Police may give you a $120 ticket
Lingering in the left lane? Illinois State Police may give you a $120 ticket
Illinois State Police announced plans to aggressively crack down on misuse of the left lane on interstate highways, deploying “covert vehicles” to boost enforcement.
By Vincent Caruso
Home alone: Unattended 13-year-old? Police can arrest the parents in Illinois
Home alone: Unattended 13-year-old? Police can arrest the parents in Illinois
Illinois’ law mandating a minimum age for leaving children home alone is the most restrictive in the nation. That should change.
By Vincent Caruso, Jeffrey Schwab
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Prosecution lawyers for an Illinois school district have decided not to move forward with their case against Paul Boron, who was charged with felony eavesdropping at age 13 for recording audio of a meeting with his middle school principal.
By Austin Berg
These Illinois Halloween laws might scare you
These Illinois Halloween laws might scare you
Scraping through a few hundred municipal codes in Illinois didn’t turn up any trick-or-treat ordinances allowing for jail time. But fines associated with age limits, curfews, masks and more were aplenty.
By Austin Berg
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
There are clear First Amendment issues with outlawing this kind of political speech.
By Austin Berg
Rauner signs bill removing barriers for human trafficking survivors
Rauner signs bill removing barriers for human trafficking survivors
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law a measure allowing human trafficking survivors to apply to have their criminal records sealed for offences committed under coercion.
By Janelle Cammenga
Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense
Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense
Jason Spyres was arrested on drug charges nearly 20 years ago. In the years since, he’s been on a path of personal success and growth. A pardon from Gov. Bruce Rauner should follow.
Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions
Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions
The Alternative to Opioids Act will give more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana.
By Vincent Caruso
State agency investigates Illinois mom for letting 8-year-old walk dog around block
State agency investigates Illinois mom for letting 8-year-old walk dog around block
A Wilmette mother investigated for letting her daughter walk the dog is only the latest target of Illinois’ vague and overreaching child neglect laws.
By Vincent Caruso, Jeffrey Schwab
Illinoisans could see license suspended for texting while driving under new state law
Illinoisans could see license suspended for texting while driving under new state law
A new state law could result in a suspended license for drivers operating handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel.
By Vincent Caruso
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
In what critics have decried as an inappropriate use of scarce public safety resources, Chicago police officials parked a “bait truck” reportedly filled with boxes of Nike sneakers in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.
By Vincent Caruso