Illinois becomes 1st state in Midwest to raise tobacco age to 21
Illinois becomes 1st state in Midwest to raise tobacco age to 21
A new state law prohibits Illinois store owners from selling tobacco products and e-cigarettes to residents under the age of 21.
Illinois one of few states limiting freedom to choose fireworks on Independence Day
Illinois one of few states limiting freedom to choose fireworks on Independence Day
Illinois residents are denied the legal celebration of at least one freedom on July 4, but take their fireworks dollars to every border state to ignore the law.
The time is ripe for Illinois to end gerrymandering
The time is ripe for Illinois to end gerrymandering
With support for fair maps in the Illinois General Assembly, a hungry electorate and a national conversation on gerrymandering, is the Land of Lincoln finally ready to change its own backwards mapmaking?
By Austin Berg
Report: IDOT workers abused parking for White Sox games
Report: IDOT workers abused parking for White Sox games
While ordinary fans paid up to $20 for parking at Chicago White Sox games, a recent report shows Illinois Department of Transportation employees offered free parking at a nearby state facility to special contacts.
Former Ald. Willie Cochran sentenced to 1 year in prison
Former Ald. Willie Cochran sentenced to 1 year in prison
A federal court sentenced former Chicago Ald. Willie Cochran to one year in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
Lightfoot moves to reform infamous Chicago workers’ comp program
Lightfoot moves to reform infamous Chicago workers’ comp program
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called out Ald. Ed Burke after corruption indictments. Now she is reforming the city’s mismanaged workers’ compensation program that a lawsuit said Burke used to build a political army.
Lightfoot calls for independent commission to redraw Chicago’s 50 wards
Lightfoot calls for independent commission to redraw Chicago’s 50 wards
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot voiced support for establishing a fair mapmaking process in Chicago ahead of the 2020 census.
Regulatory confusion swipes frozen pizzas off local pub counters
Regulatory confusion swipes frozen pizzas off local pub counters
Revisions to state food safety regulations have forced some local pubs to ditch their toaster ovens.
Chicago Ald. Ed Burke indicted on 14-count corruption charge, pleads not guilty
Chicago Ald. Ed Burke indicted on 14-count corruption charge, pleads not guilty
Chicago’s longest-serving alderman pleaded not guilty to a host of new federal corruption charges.
Illinois Senate bill would abolish daylight saving time
Illinois Senate bill would abolish daylight saving time
One Illinois lawmaker has proposed to do away with the unpopular practice of changing the clock twice a year.
Pritzker under federal investigation for property tax scheme
Pritzker under federal investigation for property tax scheme
Removing toilets from the governor’s Gold Coast mansion saved his family more than $331,000 in property taxes.
By Austin Berg
To end gerrymandering, Pritzker should push redistricting reform
To end gerrymandering, Pritzker should push redistricting reform
Illinois’ governor pledged to veto any map gerrymandered by state lawmakers, but it’s the process of mapmaking that needs to change.
By Joe Tabor
Parents could get more say about leaving preteens home alone after Illinois House passes bill
Parents could get more say about leaving preteens home alone after Illinois House passes bill
Illinois parents can face neglect charges for leaving a 13-year-old home alone. The Illinois House just took a step toward relaxing the nation’s strictest law on unattended children.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill
Illinois voters could eliminate townships that share city limits under bill
Illinois townships often spend more on administration than services when they cover the same territory as a local municipality. One bill would make it easier for voters to change that.
By Ben Paoletti