Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Amid sweeping federal investigation, panel begins work to overhaul Illinois ethics, lobbying laws
A bipartisan panel of state officials tasked with overhauling Illinois’ government ethics and lobbying laws began its work Monday amid an ongoing federal corruption investigation that has reverberated from Chicago City Hall to suburban village halls to the Illinois Capitol in Springfield.
The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform has until the end of March to issue a report recommending changes in the wake of an investigation that has led to criminal charges against 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke, Democratic state Sen. Tom Cullerton of Villa Park and former Democratic state Rep. Luis Arroyo of Chicago. It also led to the resignation, effective Jan. 1, of Democratic Sen. Martin Sandoval.
The Center Square: With record number of travelers, IDOT reminds drivers to check road conditions
With a record number of travelers are expected on the roads for the holiday and drivers can expect, state agencies and local police are preparing for the busy travel season and reminding motorists to be safe no matter where they are headed.
The Illinois Department of Transportation reminded drivers that information about road conditions is available online.
Herald-News: Channahon approves marijuana tax
During last week’s village board meeting, trustees unanimously approved setting a 3% cannabis retailers’ occupation tax on any future sales of cannabis products within the village limits. The board has not yet voted on whether it will allow the sales in the village.
The possession of certain amounts of marijuana will be legal in the state of Illinois on Jan. 1.
Belleville News-Democrat: What employers and workers need to know about marijuana once it’s legal in Illinois
Ahead of the new year, local businesses and employers across Illinois are trying to determine how legal recreational marijuana will impact them.
The law change, which came only six months ago, is forcing many employers to rethink how their workplaces handle drug policy and testing.
The Center Square: New workplace standards become law in Illinois next week
One of the hundreds of new laws taking effect next Wednesday in Illinois will require nearly all employees in the state to take harassment training and small businesses have been working to comply with the new requirement.
The new law that takes effect Jan. 1 will put in place a requirement that employers require employees to complete harassment training. Restaurants have a different type of training requirement.