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State Journal-Register: Illinois Home-to-Market Act could expand opportunities for cottage food producers
Samantha Danosky of Samsational Sweets is known at the ALMH Market for the edible artwork she creates using royal icing and scratch-made fondant. But the home-based baker is itching to dust off her buttercream recipes for use at her farmers market booth.
Illinois law currently doesn’t include the ultimate cake topper on its approved list of products for cottage food producers. But the Home-to-Market Act working its way through the statehouse could change that as early as June, as well as expand where at-home bakers and cottage food producers can sell their wares.
NPR Illinois: Proposed Legislation Would Legalize Supervised Injection Facilities To Combat Drug Overdoses
Americans have responded to drug addiction in a number of different ways in recent decades. The War on Drugs of the 1980s and 90s spawned mass incarceration of Black and Brown populations. Some addicts, many of whom have some measure of wealth and privilege, are sent to rehab.
In the face of the opioid crisis of the last decade, there has been a growing recognition of the inevitability of drug use. That attitude change has led to the proliferation of clean needle exchange centers and providing overdose medication like naloxone to drugs users, their families and law enforcement.
The Center Square: Pritzker downplays court decision to allow challenge of his executive orders to proceed
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he’s confident he’s within the bounds of his authority with continued COVID-19 orders lasting more than a year impacting restaurants. Now, he may have to prove that in court.
While other challenges have either been dismissed or withdrawn, a Sangamon County judge Wednesday denied Pritzkers’ motion to dismiss a Geneva restaurant’s challenge.
Crain's Chicago Business: Here are proven alternatives to the mayor's proposed affordable housing ordinance
NPR Illinois: Can Cops Say That? Police In Trouble Over Divisive Social Media Posts
Facebook posts by two Springfield police officers last year harmed police operations and community relations. That was the conclusion of internal affairs investigations by the city police department, as well as reactions from capital city activists working to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the people they serve.
In a widely reported incident last May, Officer Andrew Barnes criticized the city’s two Black city council members. In a post on his personal Facebook page, Barnes called Ald. Shawn Gregory a “fucking idiot.” Barnes was pushing back on comments made by Gregory and then-Ald. Doris Turner in which the two criticized how police responded to block parties in Gregory’s majority-Black ward.
Chicago Sun-Times: County Democrats vote to scold alderman for opposing Foxx, urge Springfield to pass school board bills, opposing Lightfoot
The Cook County Democratic Party voted to slap the wrist of one of their own ward committeepersons on Wednesday for his decision to support the Republican who unsuccessfully challenged Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx last fall.
In addition to deciding to send a letter of reprimand to Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd), county Democratic leaders also voted to support state legislation that would create an elected school board — two bills that Mayor Lori Lightfoot vehemently opposes.