Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Better Government Association: The Costly Toll of Dead-End Drug Arrests
Raymond Galloway, a 48-year-old line cook at a Chicago soul food restaurant, got arrested on the West Side twice this year carrying small amounts of heroin.
Both times, the courts quickly tossed out his charges. Cook County’s judicial system, under an unwritten policy that even Cook County’s top prosecutor calls a failure, routinely dismisses minor drug possession cases — but usually not until after those arrested spend a few weeks in jail, often with life-changing consequences.
FOX 32 Chicago: Pritzker says Illinois mask mandate to stay in place amid rising COVID numbers
In light of the Omicron variant and increasing COVID-19 numbers, Governor JB Pritzker says Illinois’ mask mandate is staying in place for now.
“We have an indoor mask requirement in the state of Illinois and we’re not lifting that, especially not now,” Pritzker said.
MyStateline.com: Illinois approves ComEd rate hike, electricity prices going up
Illinois state regulators have approved the second of two electric rate hikes for ComEd.
The increase is allowed under the annual formula rate process which has been a source of controversy.
WIFR: $300 million in COVID-19 relief available for Illinois child care providers
Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday that his administration is putting $300 million into a new COVID-19 relief program for child care providers. This is the latest push to support the early childhood industry and help more Illinoisans get back to work.
Illinois has already given $725 million to more than 5,000 providers since the pandemic started. Pritzker says 97% of grant recipients last year still have child care centers open today.
Intelligencer: First cannabis testing lab company to expand into Illinois
On Thursday, Steep Hill, the United States’ first commercial cannabis testing lab, announced it was expanding into Illinois with a new licensee partner. Illinois was the 11th state to legalize an adult-use cannabis program (in 2019) and the first to legalize adult-use by an act of state legislature, along with the medical program established in 2014.
Steep Hill Illinois will be led by a team of experienced, reliable cannabis industry veterans combined with successful entrepreneurs, strategists and investors, Steep Hill said in a press release. Steep Hill has a history of testing and analyzing medical and recreational cannabis to ensure compliance with current safety standards.
ABC 7 Chicago: Chicago aldermen file petition setting stage for voters to determine new ward map
More than a dozen Chicago City Council members filed a petition Thursday that sets the stage for voters to determine the map that will decide aldermanic boundaries for the next 10 years. The move could force a compromise, or lead to a costly referendum.
Armed with their 500-page petition, a group of aldermen representing the Latino Caucus and two other members marched into the city clerk’s office Thursday morning filing for a referendum.