Get the latest news from around Illinois.
NPR Illinois: In post-Madigan power vacuum, Illinois Democrats settle once more into détente ahead of midterm election
An internal power squabble within Illinois’ Democratic Party leadership, which briefly turned public — and ugly — had already resolved nearly 24 hours before Saturday’s meeting to elect a new chair to lead the state party for the next four years.
But the fight hung over the party’s State Central Committee meeting at Springfield’s largest union hall as U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-2) accepted her ouster in favor of State Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) to lead the Democratic Party of Illinois — an organization that had, for years, largely been another fundraising tool for longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), and not a traditional state party.
WGN: State compliance deadline approaching for people with disabilities ruling
The deadline is next year for Illinois to be in compliance with a landmark ruling for people with disabilities.
Shore Community Services is already preparing for the deadline.
Daily Herald: Demand for food pushes Northern Illinois Food Bank to expand services
As the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food costs have brought new challenges to families, the Northern Illinois Food Bank has introduced new ways to get food into the homes of those who need it.
Social distancing sparked the drive-through, pop-up events held throughout the region that continue to be a popular resource today. The food bank also launched “My Pantry Express” in the spring of 2021, allowing people to place a food order online and pick it up in person or have it delivered to their home through DoorDash.
Illinois Business Journal: Pritzker administration issues second wave of cannabis dispensary licenses
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issued 28 additional Conditional Adult Use Dispensing Organization Licenses to applicants selected in three lotteries for 185 licenses on Friday, July 29, 2022. These awardees join the 149 conditional licenses issued by the Department on July 22, bringing the total number of issued licenses to 177. The Department’s Adult Use Cannabis webpage has been updated to include the latest awardees.
Of the businesses selected for licenses, 41 percent are majority Black-owned, 7 percent are majority White-owned, and 4 percent are majority Latino-owned, while 38 percent of awardees did not disclose the race of their owners. All businesses qualify as Social Equity Applicants under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
Capitol News Illinois: Dems seek unity as new, former chair take no questions from media after party vote
The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the drama had occurred in the days prior in a power struggle of some of the state’s most prominent Democrats.
Hernandez was backed Gov. JB Pritzker and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. She served with Welch on a special investigating committee of House Speaker Michael Madigan in 2020, which chose to take no action against the speaker for his alleged role in a yearslong bribery scheme with a public utility. Several months later, Madigan was indicted.
NBC 5 Chicago: Illinois REAL ID Requirements: Here's Which Documents Are Needed For New Identification Card
Although still more than nine months away, the federal deadline to obtain a REAL ID is inching closer. And for Illinois residents wanting to get theirs sooner than later, there’s good news: you don’t have to wait.
Residents seeking a REAL ID are required to visit a Secretary of State Driver Services facility and provide documents that prove their identity, their Social Security number, a written signature and two documents that show proof of residency.
The Center Square: Raoul: Concerns over referring workers comp fraud allegations to outside prosecutor a ‘nothing burger’
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says concern over his referring allegations of workers compensation fraud fraught with political connections to an outside prosecutor is a “nothing burger.”
Late Wednesday, Raoul’s office said it referred allegations of workers comp fraud against former Illinois State Police Merit Board employee Jenny Thornley to an appellate prosecutor.