Read the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Illinois marijuana tax revenue soars
Illinois collected $19.2 million in cannabis taxes last month, up 38 percent from July, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Chicago Sun-Times: Another key player in CPS’ Barbara Byrd-Bennett scandal gets to leave prison because of COVID-19
A key player in the scandal that brought down one of then-Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s handpicked schools chiefs is set to leave prison three years early because of the coronavirus, court records show.
Gary Solomon, 52, will be moved to home confinement Sept. 22 after securing approval on Aug. 27, according to a joint status report filed Monday by prosecutors and Solomon’s attorney. That approval followed a Bureau of Prisons review of inmates with COVID-19 risk factors.
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Lori Lightfoot again disputes that Chicago cops were asked to protect U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s office amid unrest: ‘That narrative is false’
Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday again disputed that Chicago police were asked to protect U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush’s office amid looting in June, saying the allegation is “false,” but investigations into the controversial incident are ongoing.
Lightfoot was asked at an unrelated news conference about the status of the city’s internal investigation into the incident. She also was asked about assertions by Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara that cops had been asked to protect Rush’s office.
Crain's Chicago Business: City has fewest houses for sale in over 13 years
“It’s a four-bedroom on a nice street and walking distance to schools” both public and private, said Grossman, a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Biros Real Estate agent. “That’s what everyone is looking for in Beverly now, and we don’t have enough of them on the market.”
Crain's Chicago Business: More suits filed over state weed lottery
Both suits target a provision in the process that gave an extra five points to applicants that were led by military veterans. The state is preparing to hold a lottery to award 75 new licenses. It will choose from 21 applicants who received the maximum 252 points possible, which included the points for veteran status.
Shaw Media: DeKalb activists say 'let the people decide' on backyard chickens ahead of Monday's council vote
On Monday, the DeKalb City Council will decide whether to place the decision to allow backyard chickens in residential areas in the hands of the people.
A referendum is up for vote on the matter Monday, which if approved would place a decades-long push by some in the city to keep chickens at home to the ballot in the April 2021 election. The vote comes after a divisive council meeting Aug. 24 in which several aldermen expressed concerns about the birds in backyards. City push back on the issue dates back to 2011, when the Citizens Environmental Commission first began pushing for poultry on privately-owned land, with regulations on number of birds one could own, and stipulations on inspections and other safety measures.
Journal Star: Chickens are out again in Washington
Backyard chickens are illegal once again in the city.
The Washington City Council last week repealed an 11-month-old ordinance, allowing only the four applicants whose requests for chickens were approved by the council to have chickens as long as an annual permit is obtained for a $25 fee and there are no violations of regulations that were in place.