Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Gov. Pritzker expected to sign bill into law Tuesday that would legalize marijuana in Illinois on Jan. 1
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected Tuesday to approve a plan to legalize marijuana in Illinois next year, marking a momentous shift in how the state treats drug use.
The governor is set to sign into law a bill allowing the licensed growth, sales, possession and consumption of cannabis for adults 21 and over, according to state Sen. Heather Steans, a co-sponsor of the bill. While the plant remains illegal under federal law, and the state previously decriminalized possession of small amounts, the new statute would end part of the war on drugs that led to thousands of arrests and convictions.
State Journal-Register: Illinois home care workers to get back pay
More than 49,000 home health care workers will get back pay this week that was approved in 2017 by Illinois lawmakers.
State Comptroller Susana Mendoza said she’ll release money to the Department of Human Services this week to make good on the back pay. She said payments will be made on Friday.
The Southern: IDNR offers up to $1.5 million in state funds as it seeks new operator for Rend Lake resort
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is continuing its quest to find vendors interested in rehabbing and reopening facilities at the Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area near Rend Lake at Whittington, sweetening the deal with up to $1.5 million in financial incentives to help with renovations.
The state terminated a lease agreement in 2016 with Rend Lake Resort Inc. as the previous operator fell tens of thousands of dollars behind in rent payments, utility bills and hotel operator’s taxes. The facilities also had fallen into disrepair.
Chicago Tribune: Defiant ex-Ald. Willie Cochran given 1 year in prison, accuses prosecutors of misconduct: ‘There’s no justice in this’
Former Ald. Willie Cochran was contrite in a federal courtroom Monday, saying he felt “awkward and ashamed” to be facing sentencing for a public corruption conviction.
“Quite a day, quite a day,” Cochran said quietly, shaking his head as he read from a sheet of paper. “Quite a time period, going through all of this. I never thought I’d be making a statement like this under these circumstances. … I’m better than this.”
Chicago Sun-Times: County assessor nixes help wanted request to commissioners after watchdog raises concerns
Never mind.
The Cook County assessor’s office is withdrawing its request for commissioners to offer up members of their staff to answer questions about property tax — after the county inspector general argued the proposal runs afoul of orders designed to curtail the county’s political machine.
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot vows to find money to open Chicago’s 77 branch libraries on Sunday
Mayor Lori Lightfoot vowed Monday to find the money to establish Sunday hours at Chicago’s 77 branch libraries despite grappling with a budget shortfall she claims is “north of $700 million.”
“We’re gonna provide more resources so that our libraries can continue to grow. So that we can expand our hours because it’s important for us to be present and visible for our residents and the libraries are really ground zero for what’s good about Chicago,” Lightfoot said after unveiling the “Summer of Learning” program at McKinley Park library.
Chicago Tribune: Cook County forest district poised to regain 400-acre Barrington Hills farm, but foreclosed owners hope hemp crop can bail them out
One of the largest pieces of open land available in Cook County, a 400-acre horse farm in Barrington Hills, is expected to become a forest preserve again, after a court ruling granting foreclosure of the property.
That is, unless a plan to grow cannabis on the site interferes with the process.
Decatur Herald & Review: 'Time to take action': Decatur city leaders ready to move on neighborhood revitalization
Residents as early as next year could see changes such as sidewalk replacement, targeted demolition and more public street lighting and surveillance as city leaders begin to take first steps in a long-discussed plan to revitalize Decatur neighborhoods.
Decatur City Council members on Monday identified some of the sweeping changes that could be implemented as part of the initiative, which was formally launched in 2017 after a period of gathering public feedback. Progress had stalled because of changes in city administration, which included the hiring of a new city manager, Scot Wrighton, who started in March.
The Southern: City to repay $2 million to SIU Carbondale for water overcharges
Over the next decade, the city of Carbondale will repay $2,115,132.55 to Southern Illinois University Carbondale for overcharges on water due to inaccurate metering and billing, the City Council voted in April.
The water issues were discovered gradually over the last three years, beginning with several undercharged accounts — the university had never been billed for meters in two buildings at the Southern Illinois Research Park, and eight meters installed at various buildings on McLafferty Road, city employees found.