Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Republicans take Democrats to task for taking campaign funds under Madigan control
Republican members of the Illinois Legislature are using the cloud over Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to go after those who get Madigan-connected campaign money.
The Democratic Party of Illinois, which Madigan is the chairman of, called the Republican’s criticism “noise.” Madigan was implicated in a deferred prosecution agreement prosecutors reached with ComEd. Madigan has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine for its role in the bribery and patronage scandal.
Crain's Chicago Business: Illinois braces for a COVID rollback
With the slogan “It only works if you use it,” ads will feature Gen Xers and millennials talking about how not using a mask is pretty dumb—as dumb as, say, not wearing a life safety vest in a boat “because it’s uncomfortable.” Pritzker said the ads will air on cable TV, internet streaming and social media, with a billboard or two.
WTTW: Is campaign money from speaker Michael Madigan 'dirty'?
It’s about the time of year when your mailbox may start to fill up with glossy brochures, pitching you not on a product — but on a candidate.
Most of the mailers make lots of promises — to protect jobs, fight for the economy and the environment — but also to take a tough stance on corruption; to “demand Springfield politicians and lobbyists are held accountable.”
The Center Square: More than $300 million in legal weed sold in Illinois so far this year
Consumers bought more than $300 million worth of legal cannabis for recreational use in Illinois in the first seven months of the year after July sales exceeded previous months by as much as $20 million.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported in July a total of nearly $61 million in recreational cannabis products were sold. That’s $13.3 million more than was sold in June and $16 million more than was sold in May. When sales first started in January, there was a total of $39.2 million for the month. The amount sold dropped the following three months but began increasing again in May and June.
The Center Square: Commission to restore Illinois in wake of COVID-19 set to meet for second time
A commission of state lawmakers designed to help rebuild Illinois’ economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic met for the first time last week.
It has another meeting set for Tuesday, but it will be closed to the public.
Chicago Sun-Times: Teachers, activists rally to keep CPS schools closed during COVID-19 pandemic
As the debate heats up nationwide over the reopening of schools, Chicago teachers, activists and families rallied outside City Hall Monday to oppose a planned return to classrooms when Chicago Public Schools classes resume next month.
The protests are part of similar demonstrations in several cities across the nation and come just days before CPS parents are being asked to tell the district whether their children will go back to in-person learning or continue trying to learn from home.