Best new laws of 2015
Best new laws of 2015
From a ban on creating new units of local government to the end of Chicago’s happy-hour prohibition, here are five laws passed in 2015 worth celebrating.
Top 5 corruption stories of 2015
Top 5 corruption stories of 2015
From taxpayer- and donor-funded spending sprees by the president of an Illinois public college, to Chicago’s red-light-camera ticketing and kick-back schemes, 2015 has been rife with instances of public corruption and lack of government transparency.
Lisa Madigan outlaws fantasy sports for Illinois
Lisa Madigan outlaws fantasy sports for Illinois
Shortly before bowl season kicks off for college football and just over two weeks before the NFL playoffs begin, Illinois’ Attorney General has ruled that fantasy sports are illegal. A bill to regulate the industry was introduced in October.
“Home Alone”: How one extreme Illinois case led to overbroad laws about child supervision
“Home Alone”: How one extreme Illinois case led to overbroad laws about child supervision
Illinois’ real-life “Home Alone” story inspired legislation that gives the state too much power to intrude into parents’ reasonable decisions about their children.
State drops child-neglect citation for mother who let her kids play outside
State drops child-neglect citation for mother who let her kids play outside
An inadequate-supervision case recently dropped by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services reveals why the department must reform its policies regarding what constitutes child neglect.
What will it take for Chicago to elect a mayor who embraces free-market reforms?
What will it take for Chicago to elect a mayor who embraces free-market reforms?
As a majority of recently polled likely Chicago voters believe Mayor Rahm Emanuel should resign, AM 560’s Dan Proft and Pat Hughes, co-founder of the Illinois Opportunity Project, look ahead to the 2019 mayoral election and the possibilities for reform-minded candidates.
Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015
Illinois Corruption Watch: November 2015
November saw Chicago’s City Council let the term of the legislative inspector general, who is tasked with overseeing City Council, expire without hiring a replacement, as well as several other instances of breach of public trust and influence peddling around the state.
Illinois considers privacy law while the state violates privacy of thousands
Illinois considers privacy law while the state violates privacy of thousands
While the state moves to impose costly new requirements on private businesses in the name of privacy, the state is itself violating the privacy of thousands of Illinoisans.
Illinois secretary of state will investigate adopting electronic driver’s licenses
Illinois secretary of state will investigate adopting electronic driver’s licenses
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is seeking bids to determine the feasibility of allowing electronic driver’s licenses.
Busting the Springfield power monopoly: Madigan, Dunkin and why Illinois needs term limits
Busting the Springfield power monopoly: Madigan, Dunkin and why Illinois needs term limits
The defiance of certain Democrats in the General Assembly shows House Speaker Mike Madigan’s stranglehold on power is weakening.
City of Rolling Meadows earns Sunshine Award with perfect online transparency score
City of Rolling Meadows earns Sunshine Award with perfect online transparency score
Rolling Meadows provides its residents access to vital government information through the city’s “transparency portal".
Libertarians sue to lift Illinois’ ban on campaign giving by medical marijuana industry
Libertarians sue to lift Illinois’ ban on campaign giving by medical marijuana industry
Plaintiffs ask the court to find the campaign contribution ban unconstitutional and forbid its enforcement.
Task force to consolidate Illinois’ glut of local governments
Task force to consolidate Illinois’ glut of local governments
Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the nation. With 6,963 units of local government, Illinois beats its nearest competitor by more than 1,800.
FBI seizes files as Chicago aldermen oust oversight
FBI seizes files as Chicago aldermen oust oversight
Chicago aldermen are now operating without a city watchdog.