Illinois ranks dead last in lawsuit freedom
Illinois ranks dead last in lawsuit freedom
How free are Illinoisans? Below average in most measures, and not very regarding lawsuits, the Cato Institute found.
Lightfoot trying to save Chicago youngsters from kids’ meal soda pop
Lightfoot trying to save Chicago youngsters from kids’ meal soda pop
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to require Chicago restaurants to first offer a selection of government-approved healthy drink options for kids’ meals. Restaurants would be barred from advertising sugary beverage options.
Chicago city leader with ties to Daley indicted for embezzlement
Chicago city leader with ties to Daley indicted for embezzlement
A Chicago city administrator responsible for accountability faces charges of falsifying bank loans, lying to regulators and taking a $130,000 personal loan he never repaid while on the bank’s board.
Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races
Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races
Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned ‘dark money’ in Illinois’ judicial elections after record spending unseated a longtime Madigan ally from the Illinois Supreme Court. Voters will decide more high court vacancies soon.
Democrats’ legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim
Democrats’ legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim
The plaintiffs representing Black and Latino voters argued Illinois Democrats’ new legislative maps are gerrymandered to break up voting blocs, diluting minority voting power during the next decade.
Chicago aldermen call timeout on sports betting over casino worries
Chicago aldermen call timeout on sports betting over casino worries
Aldermen are worried sports betting taxes will yield chump change while damaging the prospects for new casinos in Chicago. They are calling for a delay in the action.
Vaccination proof may be needed in Chicago for venue access
Vaccination proof may be needed in Chicago for venue access
Chicago’s top doctor hinted the city could introduce a new proof of COVID-19 vaccination requirement for residents to visit bars, gyms, restaurants and other venues as have other major cities.
Illinois reports most identity theft complaints per capita in 2021
Illinois reports most identity theft complaints per capita in 2021
A WalletHub study found Illinois had more identity theft per person than anywhere else in the nation. It overall ranked as the 6th most vulnerable state to identity theft and fraud.
Cook County, Metro East crack top 5 ‘judicial hellholes’ in U.S.
Cook County, Metro East crack top 5 ‘judicial hellholes’ in U.S.
Illinois courts’ long history of being friendly to plaintiffs and personal injury attorneys showed up again in a reform group’s annual ranking. Cook County, St. Clair County and Madison County together moved up in the rankings of “judicial hellholes.”
Chicago police union wins hearing in fight against forced COVID-19 vaccines
Chicago police union wins hearing in fight against forced COVID-19 vaccines
Chicago’s mayor wanted police either vaccinated against COVID-19 or regularly tested, but the pushback from their union has received two recent legal advances.
Illinois ending debit card payments for unemployment benefits
Illinois ending debit card payments for unemployment benefits
Illinois is ending its debit card option and going to paper checks for unemployment benefits, unless recipients arrange for direct deposit. The state has yet to address a $5.8 billion deficit in the unemployment fund.
Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely taking back his ‘gift’
Masks off by holidays? Pritzker likely taking back his ‘gift’
New COVID-19 cases have surged across Illinois, leading some state leaders to question why the only state east of the Mississippi with a universal mask mandate is seeing worse case rates than those without a mandate.
Pritzker again breaks veto promise, signs gerrymandered congressional maps
Pritzker again breaks veto promise, signs gerrymandered congressional maps
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the congressional district map designed to boost Democrats in the U.S. House. With districts that snake and twist across the state, gerrymandering remains a hallmark of Illinois politics despite Pritzker’s pledge to veto such maps.
$20M Illinois Tollway machines get parked after 4 years
$20M Illinois Tollway machines get parked after 4 years
Illinois Tollway’s automatic toll payment machines cost as much as they collected in four years, but are now permanently idled. Most were incapable of making change, so overcharged drivers nearly $500,000.