| IEMA encourages people to stay aware, be prepared for strong to severe storms |
While many parts of Illinois recently experienced an unseasonable April snowstorm, state officials are urging residents to be alert and prepared for strong to severe storms in the coming days. A portion of Illinois is under the threat of severe weather Wednesday night into Thursday. The National Weather Service forecasts damaging winds will be the primary concern, though hail and isolated tornadoes are also possible. With that in mind, the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) is encouraging people to stay aware of local forecasts and be prepared to act quickly if weather warnings are issued.
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
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April 16, 2019 12:13
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| Chicago to start erasing pot convictions |
A top Chicago prosecutor says she hopes to begin expunging minor cannabis convictions in the coming months but acknowledges it won’t be easy to implement her plan and that her office is still figuring out its scope.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 13:30
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| Upper Mississippi named one of most endangered rivers of 2019 |
American Rivers today named the Upper Mississippi River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2019, citing the grave threat that climate change and illegal levee raises pose to public safety and river health. American Rivers and its partners called on state and federal agencies to prohibit the reckless raising of levees and promote better flood protection solutions.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 12:22
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| Chicago bird feeders now a popular spot for hawks |
Chicagoans who have bird feeders in their yards may not know it but they are feeding birds in more ways than they know.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 12:20
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| Sangamon River clean up April 27 |
Celebrate spring and April's Earth Day with a day of outdoor activities. The Macon County Conservation District and Decatur Audubon Society will hold the 38th Annual Festival of Spring and Sangamon River Clean Up on Saturday, April 27 at Rock Springs Conservation Area. Many activities will take place, beginning at 8a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 12:21
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| Trio of eagles caring for eaglets in nest on river |
A nontraditional family of bald eagles is caring for three eaglets that hatched this spring in a nest along the Mississippi River near Fulton, Illinois.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 12:20
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| Site to help dedicate expanded Lewis and Clark trail |
A site in southern Indiana has been selected for a national ceremony next month dedicating a 1,200-mile (1,931-kilometer) expansion of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail.
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
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April 15, 2019 12:19
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| EIU program touts rural teacher jobs |
Eastern Illinois University has launched a pilot program to encourage students training to be teachers to consider looking for employment in rural communities rather than urban centers.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:39
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| Shawnee Forest will see burning of 10,000 acres |
The U.S. Forest Service for the first time in recent history oversaw the burning of more than 10,000 acres this year in southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:38
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| Health officials warn of salmonella outbreak |
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is working with local health departments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau linked to pre-cut melon.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:38
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| American Airlines cancels 737 flights |
American Airlines announced Sunday that it was canceling 115 flights per day through mid-August because of ongoing problems with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:39
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| Inmates in southern Illinois train shelter dogs |
Southern Illinois prison inmates are training dogs from a local animal shelter, and officials say it’s helping both the dogs and the offenders.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:38
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| Pet owners warned: Coyotes are wily, hungry in the spring |
Officials in Cook County and other parts of the state want pet owners to know that coyotes this time a year are both wily and hungry.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:36
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| More flights canceled at O'Hare today after snow |
About 190 flights have been cancelled at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport following a snowstorm that also shut down hundreds of flights over the weekend.
Monday, April 15, 2019
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April 14, 2019 13:37
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| Pritzker signs bill blocking local governments from enacting right-to-work laws |
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday signed into law a bill that prohibits local governments from enacting so-called “right-to-work” laws that are aimed at weakening the power of labor unions.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
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April 12, 2019 11:36
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| House rejects 'ban-the-box' law for college admissions |
The Illinois House on Friday rejected a bill that would have blocked public colleges and universities from asking about a prospective student’s criminal history as part of the application.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
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April 12, 2019 11:37
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| Man convicted of murder, homicide of an unborn child |
A southern Illinois man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of a mother and her unborn child.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
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April 12, 2019 11:35
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| Illinois man wins $1 million in Missouri Lottery game |
An Illinois man who bought a lottery ticket in Missouri is glad he did — he’s a million-dollar winner.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
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April 12, 2019 11:36
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| GOP lawmakers propose bill to separate Chicago from Illinois |
A central Illinois lawmaker says he’s sponsoring legislation proposing the separation of Chicago from Illinois to spark discussion about the overarching influence of the city in state politics.
Saturday, April 13, 2019
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April 12, 2019 11:35
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| Report takes issue with gang database |
A poorly managed police database of 130,000 purported street-gang members in Chicago is rife with errors and offers no practical way for those wrongly entered into it to purge their names, the city’s inspector general office says in a sharply critical report released Thursday.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:41
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| Illinois Progressive Caucus rolls out their mid-session policy endorsements |
Members of a liberal House caucus announced their first set of bill endorsements Thursday, including measures targeting potential immigrant detention centers and homelessness.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:38
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| Illinois Senate recap: Presidential tax return measure heads to the House |
Illinois is one step closer to requiring presidential or vice-presidential candidates to release their tax returns in order to appear on the state’s election ballots – if such a measure is even constitutional.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:39
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| Raoul, Foxx join rally for crime victims |
Two of the state’s top prosecutors joined a rally at the Capitol on Thursday with dozens of crime victims and survivors from across Illinois, calling on lawmakers to support programs to help them recover from their trauma.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:37
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| Senate okays bill to raise teachers minimum salary |
A second bill raising the minimum annual salary for Illinois teachers to $40,000 found legislative success this week.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:36
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| House okays doubling fines for passing buses |
Drivers who don’t stop for school buses could see a doubling in ticket fines under a proposed state law that passed the House on Thursday.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 13:37
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| State gets extra $15M to fight opioid crisis |
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that Illinois will receive an additional $15 million from the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to combat the opioid crisis across the state.
Friday, April 12, 2019
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April 11, 2019 12:19
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| Graduated tax amendment clears Senate committee |
A constitutional amendment which would allow the state to adopt a graduated income tax is on its way to the full state Senate after clearing committee on party lines Wednesday.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
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April 10, 2019 13:29
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| Proponents say $40k minimum salary for teachers will help address statewide teacher shortage crisis |
More than 60 percent of Illinois public school districts have a starting annual salary for teachers of less than $40,000.
Thursday, April 11, 2019
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April 10, 2019 13:28
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| In Illinois work zones, "Drive Like You Work Here" |
The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, Illinois Tollway, industry partners and frontline construction workers joined forces today for National Work Zone Awareness Week, asking the public to "Drive Like You Work Here." To signal the start of construction season and call attention to the life and death issues facing workers and law enforcement, Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed April 8-12 as "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" in Illinois.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 14:19
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| Language filed for graduated income tax |
Language is filed for a constitutional amendment that would allow the Illinois Legislature to enact a graduated income tax, and the Illinois Senate Executive Committee is scheduled to take up the matter Wednesday.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 14:16
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| Department of Human Services seeks 9% funding increase |
A Senate budget committee on Tuesday began weighing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s request for a $358 million, or 9 percent increase in general revenue funding for the Department of Human Services, the agency that manages most of the state’s social welfare programs.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 12:17
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| Illinois officials warn against potentially deadly
fungus |
Illinois public health officials are warning against a potentially deadly fungus that is resistant to several drugs.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 12:16
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| 4 Chicago police officers are
fighting McDonald-related firings |
A hearing is set for four Chicago police officers who are fighting their dismissals following accusations they covered up a white officer’s 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 12:17
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| Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot to address Illinois House |
Incoming Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot plans to spend two days in the Illinois state Capitol this week.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
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April 9, 2019 12:16
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| Comptroller suspends more than $5.7M in payments |
Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Monday that her office has suspended more than $5.7 million in payments to a company that designed a web portal that manages state employee benefits.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
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April 8, 2019 13:28
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| Illinois has 154 cases of possible deadly fungal disease |
State health officials say Illinois has 154 confirmed cases of a rapidly spreading and potentially deadly fungal disease.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
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April 8, 2019 13:29
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| 4 adults, 2 kids shot and wounded at Chicago baby shower |
Two men who opened fire on a crowd of people gathered for a baby shower, wounding six people, including two children, may have acted in retaliation for an earlier gang conflict, police said Sunday.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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April 7, 2019 11:41
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| Pritzker inks Tobacco 21, calls proponents 'heroes' |
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation making Illinois the first Midwestern state to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products Sunday in Chicago.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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April 7, 2019 11:43
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| Comptroller orders IT
contract progress reports |
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has suspended nearly $6 million owed to a company for an online insurance portal that isn’t delivering the savings or services promised.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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April 7, 2019 11:40
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| R. Kelly gives 28-second performance |
R. Kelly gave a 28-second performance and spent about half an hour more hobnobbing with fans who paid $50 to $100 to see him at a club in the Illinois capital of Springfield.
Monday, April 8, 2019
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April 7, 2019 11:41
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| 3 children, 2 adults die in Illinois 'inferno' trailer fire |
Authorities say three young children and two adults died in a central Illinois mobile home fire that neighbors called an “inferno.”
Monday, April 8, 2019
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April 7, 2019 11:40
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| Local schools to participate in Earth Day in the Parks at Dickson Mounds on May 1 and May 16 |
LEWISTOWN — At Dickson Mounds Museum on Wednesday, May 1, students from Elmwood Elementary School, and on Thursday, May 16 students from Cuba Middle School Community Unit School District #3 will participate in the thirteenth annual Earth Day in the Parks and assist staff with planting a variety of native wildflowers at the museum.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 4, 2019 17:03
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| Slow fund disbursement worries census advocates |
SPRINGFIELD – The 2020 census begins in less than a year, and billions of dollars in federal funding and as many as two congressional seats are at stake for Illinois.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:36
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| Chicago cops lag state troopers in distracted tickets |
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois State Police troopers are taking a hard line against distracted drivers but Chicago police officers aren’t really enforcing the law barring drivers from using mobile devices while on the road, according to data from both agencies.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:35
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| Pritzker signs law to sell iconic Thompson Center |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The state-owned James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago, hailed for its iconic architecture and derided for its functionality issues, is finally for sale.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:20
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| HSHS St. Mary's Hospital encourages public to join the organ donor registry |
DECATUR — HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital will hold an organ donor drive in honor of Donate Life Month on Tuesday, April 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the main lobby of the hospital.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:18
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| IDNR guide to state trees available free of charge |
ILLINOIS — A newly-revised version of the City of Urbana’s Under the Canopy publication, a statewide guide to tree selection, planting and care, will be available free of charge to Illinois residents by mid April.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:16
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| Memorial announces Hands-On Healthcare dates |
SPRINGFIELD – Memorial Medical Center announced its spring sessions for a program designed to help students and community members learn more about healthcare careers.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:17
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| Red Cross urges blood donation during national volunteer month |
ILLINOIS — The American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to give blood or platelets during National Volunteer Month this April. Eligible donors of all blood types – especially type O – are needed to help ensure blood products are available for patients this spring.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:15
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| Bill stripping townships of zoning control over wind farms heads to governor |
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate has passed and sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker a bill aimed at resolving a conflict in eastern Illinois over which unit of local government has authority to control zoning for wind farms.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 12:14
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| Animatronic butterfly a major feature of Kidzeum nature exhibit |
SPRINGFIELD — Kidzeum of Health and Science, located at 412 E. Adams St. in downtown Springfield, is getting its very own animatronic monarch butterfly.
Saturday, April 6, 2019
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April 5, 2019 10:16
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| State colleges get scholarship flexibility |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed a law expanding a college scholarship program which in part is designed to keep Illinois students in the state.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 15:00
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| U of I makes pitch for 16.5% state funding increase |
SPRINGFIELD – Representatives of the University of Illinois System made their official pitch Thursday for a 16 percent budget increase to an Illinois Senate appropriations committee.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 14:59
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| Senate OKs bill tto let EPA combat greenhouse gases |
SPRINGFIELD — The state’s environmental regulatory body was prevented from taking measures to address greenhouse gases in Illinois for more than 20 years.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 14:58
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| House OKs letting kids 12 and up stay home alone |
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is one step closer to lowering from 14 to 12 the age at which a child may legally be left at home alone.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 14:57
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| State to update banking rules for cannabis industry |
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Senate passed Senate Bill 2023. The legislation, championed by Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, would prohibit the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) from any action that would penalize or dissuade banks and credit unions from serving cannabis-related businesses.
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 14:19
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| Diocese of Springfield responds to Jeff Anderson |
SPRINGFIELD — The following can be attributed to Diocese of Springfield in Illinois spokesperson, Andrew Hansen:
Friday, April 5, 2019
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April 4, 2019 11:34
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| Marijuana bill advances without details |
There are no details filed yet for a bill to legalize recreational adult-use marijuana in Illinois, but that did not stop the state Senate Executive Committee from voting on the measure Wednesday.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:47
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| House bill would start college savings accounts for all newborns in Illinois |
Despite vocal opposition from Republicans, the Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday that would automatically deposit $50 into a college savings account for every child born or adopted in Illinois, starting in January 2021.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:30
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| Another dark money group, Illinois Policy, launches anti-graduated tax TV ads |
Another dark money organization has joined the television advertising mix in opposition to a graduated tax proposed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:27
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| In response to Lincolnshire, House advances bill to bar local 'right-to-work' laws |
A bill that would bar municipalities in Illinois from enacting local “right-to-work” laws like one the village of Lincolnshire enacted in 2015 is one step closer to going to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:28
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| Lawmakers aren't the only ones who can draw districts |
A coalition of interest groups want citizens, rather than lawmakers, to decide the boundaries of their own political districts.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:26
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| Police, FBI trying to verify if teen is missing boy |
Authorities conducted DNA testing to try to determine Thursday whether a teenager found wandering in Kentucky is who he claims to be — an Illinois boy who disappeared eight years ago around the time his mother took her own life.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:25
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| Sears is set to open first batch of smaller stores |
After its journey through bankruptcy, Sears is getting ready to open its first batch of smaller stores that won’t carry clothing but will focus on appliances, mattresses and home services.
Thursday, April 4, 2019
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April 3, 2019 13:26
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| Illinois EPA launches online community water reports |
Illinois residents are now able to review the number of lead service lines in their community’s water system.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 14:01
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| New Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot says victory means a city reborn |
Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot’s resounding victory was a clear call for change at City Hall and a historic repudiation of the old-style, insider politics that have long defined the nation’s third-largest city.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 14:00
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| House GOP reaffirms graduated tax opposition |
Republican members of the Illinois House reaffirmed their opposition to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's graduated tax proposal Tuesday, calling it a "blank check" to lawmakers and citing "empty promises" from Democrats in previous General Assemblies.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 13:45
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| Illinois AG Kwame Raoul joins fight against citizenship question on census |
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 17 other state attorneys general Tuesday in opposing a citizenship question on the 2020 U.S. Census.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 13:23
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| Durbin, Gillibrand, Feinstein, Schatz call for end of Electoral College system |
Dick Durbin wants to scrap the Electoral College system of electing the country's president.
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 13:24
|
| House passes bill to promote state's version of Obamacare, Get Covered Illinois |
The Illinois House on Tuesday passed a bill that would require all hospitals with emergency rooms to post information in a conspicuous place explaining how people can enroll in health insurance though the state's online marketplace known as "Get Covered Illinois."
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
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April 2, 2019 13:23
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| Cases add up to big doubts about Chicago prosecutor |
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx was elected in 2016 mainly because of anger that the prosecutor she ousted had waited a year to charge a Chicago police officer in the killing of black teenager Laquan McDonald. Then Foxx, who is a survivor of sexual assault as a child, grabbed national attention by charging singer R. Kelly with aggravated sexual abuse.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
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April 1, 2019 12:08
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| 1 of 2 black women will become Chicago mayor |
A former federal prosecutor who has never held elected office was vying for Chicago mayor on Tuesday against a powerful official whose political career spans decades, providing voters a clear contrast in a historic runoff already assured of elevating a black woman to lead the nation’s third-largest city.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
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April 1, 2019 12:09
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| Supreme Court dissent says Illinois' balanced budget mandate should be considered a requirement |
Is a line in Illinois’ Constitution instructing the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget a requirement, or a suggestion?
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
|
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April 1, 2019 12:08
|
| Study: Tax plan could narrow income gap in state |
A graduated income tax could narrow Illinois’ growing income disparity, cut property — as well as income — tax bills and deliver billions of dollars in extra annual revenue to combat state deficits and underfunded public schools and infrastructure, a study released today shows .
Monday, April 1, 2019
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April 31, 2019 11:24
|
| Jesse Jackson plans rally in support of Kim Foxx |
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and other clergy are planning a rally in support of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who’s faced criticism since her office dropped charges against actor Jussie Smollett .
Monday, April 1, 2019
|
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April 31, 2019 11:23
|
| African-American program at UI gets new building |
Fifty years after the University of Illinois opened an African-American cultural program, the group is moving into a new $5.9 million building.
Monday, April 1, 2019
|
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April 31, 2019 11:24
|
| Measles in US this year already more than all of 2018 |
U.S. health officials report that the number of measles cases through the first three months of this year have surpassed the count for all of 2018.
Monday, April 1, 2019
|
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April 31, 2019 11:23
|
| Chicago prosecutor open to investigation into Smollett case |
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is open to an outside investigation into her office’s decision to drop all charges against Jussie Smollett, the prosecutor wrote in a newspaper editorial.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
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March 29, 2019 11:22
|
| Chief Justice seeks bump in judicial funding from state |
The chief justice of Illinois’ top court asked lawmakers this week for what would be the judicial branch’s first budget increase in six years.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
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March 29, 2019 11:19
|
| Man who rerouted UPS mail to Chicago apartment sentenced |
A former UPS worker who pleaded guilty to mail fraud for rerouting mail meant for the shipping company’s headquarters to his Chicago apartment was sentenced to a year in prison.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
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March 29, 2019 11:17
|
| Cook County jail program couples long term inmates with dogs |
A Chicago Animal Care and Control program is connecting dogs in danger of being euthanized with long-term inmates at the Cook County Jail.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
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March 29, 2019 11:17
|
| Illinois risks losing $18 million over food stamp processing |
Illinois could lose more than $18 million in funding if it doesn’t accelerate the processing times on food stamp applications within the next month, U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
|
March 29, 2019 11:18
|
| 2nd Illinois State Police trooper killed in crash this week |
The Illinois State Police say a trooper was killed while on-duty when a wrong-way vehicle struck his squad car on Interstate 94 in northern Illinois.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
|
|
March 29, 2019 11:17
|
| Lawmakers lay out choices for Illinois taxpayers |
Lawmakers in the Senate and House on Thursday presented a series of choices facing Illinois taxpayers as the state continues to dig out from an economic downturn and four years of turmoil under the previous governor.
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 13:36
|
| Catholic leaders continue fight against abortion bills |
Leaders of Illinois’ Catholic Church denounced a package of reproductive health care bills in the General Assembly, calling them “dangerous” and “mounting challenges to human dignity.”
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 12:06
|
| Illinois job growth mainly
concentrated in northern region |
Metropolitan areas in northern Illinois enjoyed most of the job growth that occurred in the state over the past year while a number of central-state communities saw net job losses..
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 12:05
|
| Reputed 'Ripper Crew' member, killer released from prison |
Authorities say a man convicted of murder as a suspected member of the notorious “Ripper Crew” that killed as many as 20 Chicago-area women in the 1980s has been released from prison.
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 12:04
|
| Closing arguments scheduled Monday in man's 4th
murder trial |
Closing arguments have been scheduled for Monday in the fourth Iowa trial of an Illinois man accused of killing a 9-year-old girl in 1990.
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 12:04
|
| Illinois woman accused of
suffocating baby enters plea deal |
A western Illinois woman charged with trying to suffocate one of her children is facing prison time in a plea deal with prosecutors.
Friday, March 29, 2019
|
|
March 28, 2019 12:05
|
| Evidence-based school funding model working |
Illinois’ new evidence-based school funding model is effectively driving added funding to the state’s neediest school districts, but the state must double its annual added investment in the formula if districts are to reach funding adequacy in a timely manner, according to a report released Wednesday by the bipartisan Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 14:06
|
| Illinois is now issuing
driver's licenses complying with US law |
Illinois’ secretary of state is issuing driver’s licenses and state identification cards in compliance with federal mandates aimed at making such cards more secure.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 13:53
|
| State offers $700,000
in grants to specialty crop growers |
Illinois grants of more than $700,000 will be available over three years to specialty-crop growers to encourage fresh, locally grown produce.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 13:54
|
| Former state worker asks courts to recoup union fees |
A former state worker in Illinois who won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case last year striking down mandatory union fees for public employees is now asking a federal appeals court to order the union to refund nearly $3,000 in fees he was forced to pay over the course of his career.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 13:28
|
| Nurse-to-patient ratio passes House committee |
A bill moving through the Legislature sets limits on the number of patients Illinois nurses can care for at any one time.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 13:29
|
| Tax opposition targets 4 Democrats in ad campaign |
Less than a week after a group tied to Gov. J.B. Pritzker launched television advertising in favor of the governor’s marquee graduated tax proposal, another dark money group launched a campaign aimed at persuading a group of Democratic legislators to oppose the measure.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
|
|
March 27, 2019 13:26
|
| Scott's Law: 14 police vehicles have been hit in 2019 |
Already in 2019, motorists have hit 14 squad cars stopped along Illinois roads. One of those incidents cost an Illinois State Police trooper his life.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
|
|
March 26, 2019 14:25
|
| DCFS comes under intense scrutiny |
Some Illinois lawmakers began calling for an overhaul of the state’s child welfare agency, arguing that it has been handed too many responsibilities to handle any of them properly.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
|
|
March 26, 2019 14:24
|
| Bill requires disclosure, city pensions |
Local government pension systems may soon have to start disclosing more information about how certain lump-sum payouts at the end of an employee’s career are used to increase that person’s retirement benefits.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
|
|
March 26, 2019 14:11
|
| Energy bills could be packaged by end of session |
The state’s various energy industries all had their say at a pair of House committee hearings Tuesday in which three widely discussed energy bills advanced with their sponsors promising further negotiations.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
|
|
March 26, 2019 13:28
|
| Bill seeks to increase state's gas tax by 19 cents a gallon |
lawmakers are considering raising the state’s gas tax by 19 cents a gallon and hiking vehicle fees to pay for transportation infrastructure repairs.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
|
|
March 26, 2019 13:27
|
| Middle class protection proposal unlikely to get support |
As the Democratic-controlled state Legislature mulls a constitutional amendment to change the state’s income tax structure, Republicans in the Illinois Senate are touting a plan to require a two-thirds vote to propose or raise any new taxes in the state.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
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March 26, 2019 13:28
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| Local governments want in on online tax revenue |
A U.S. Supreme Court decision last year allows states to collect sales taxes from online retailers, even if they don’t have a physical presence in the state.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
|
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March 25, 2019 12:08
|
| Audit details Rauner admin mishandling of Quincy VA |
Illinois’ auditor general detailed delays, mishandling and poor communication from former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration in its response to a deadly Legionnaires’ disease outbreak at the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy which began in 2015.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
|
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March 25, 2019 12:13
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| Federal judge orders arrests of two Madigan allies |
A federal judge has ordered the arrest of two allies of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan for failing to appear for depositions in a lawsuit filed by Madigan’s opponent in the 2016 election.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
|
|
March 25, 2019 12:07
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| Man charged in fatal stabbing at Joliet casino hotel |
Murder charges have been filed against a Chicago man in the fatal stabbing of a 76-year-old Wisconsin man at casino hotel in Joliet, Illinois.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
|
|
March 25, 2019 12:08
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| House committee advances bill to ban for-profit immigrant detention centers |
A bill banning for-profit prisons in the state, including immigrant detention centers, advanced out of committee at the Illinois Capitol this week.
Monday, March 25, 2019
|
|
March 24, 2019 12:03
|
| 2 charged in fatal shooting of off-duty Chicago officer |
Two men are charged with first-degree murder in the weekend slaying of an off-duty Chicago officer who was repeatedly shot while sitting in a parked car.
Monday, March 25, 2019
|
|
March 24, 2019 12:02
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| Passion, love drives founder of teen center |
Michelle Witzke knows every teen struggles along the way.
Monday, March 25, 2019
|
|
March 24, 2019 12:03
|
| Illinois prosecutor shot and killed in Wisconsin home |
An Illinois prosecutor was shot and killed over the weekend in Wisconsin in what authorities allege was a case of domestic violence.
Monday, March 25, 2019
|
|
March 24, 2019 12:01
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| Voters consider air conditioning for Bradley schools |
If kids could vote, a ballot proposal next week in Kankakee County probably would win in a breeze.
Monday, March 25, 2019
|
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March 24, 2019 12:01
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| Springfield Memorial offering community events |
Saturday, March 23, 2019
|
|
March 22, 2019 11:51
|
| Chicago Symphony on strike |
CHICAGO (AP) — A line of classical musicians marching with picket signs in front of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s historic downtown building is fast becoming one of the city’s must-see spots.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
|
|
March 22, 2019 09:55
|
| Wilderness survival program for kids at Dickson Mounds |
LEWISTOWN, Ill. — At Dickson Mounds Museum on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, “Essential Concepts of Wilderness Survival 1.0” will be held for kids ages 9-16 years old. Through hands-on experience, participants will learn how to prepare for the wilderness and survive the forces of nature. This two-day program will highlight the most critical concepts of wilderness survival.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
|
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March 22, 2019 09:49
|
| ISP initiating forensic services improvements |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Governor JB Pritzker and Acting Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan Kelly are pleased to announce several initial steps to strengthen the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services (DFS).
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
|
March 21, 2019 14:16
|
| Bourne Opposes Extreme Abortion Bills |
LITCHFIELD, Ill. — Assistant House Minority Leader Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) held a press conference in the Capitol Blue Room Tuesday to inform Illinoisans about two extreme abortion bills that are making their way through the General Assembly. The bills, House Bill 2495 and 2467, are abortion expansion bills that will make Illinois an outlier in the nation on abortion, and will repeal many of the current restrictions on abortions.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
|
March 21, 2019 14:15
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| Plans to legalize sports betting released |
SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois lawmaker leading the charge to bring sports betting to the state has laid out the first concrete details on how that might happen.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
|
March 21, 2019 14:12
|
| Illinois unemployment 4.3 percent, unchanged since November |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The unemployment rate in Illinois was 4.3 percent in February.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
|
March 21, 2019 12:15
|
| Murder charges filed in fatal Chicago nightclub shooting |
CHICAGO (AP) — A suburban Chicago man has been charged with murder in the shooting death of a security guard outside a nightclub earlier this month.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
|
March 21, 2019 12:16
|
| Talks of police, fire pension
consolidation resume in Illinois |
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers resumed discussion Thursday of a topic that has come up numerous times before — consolidating the state’s 656 local downstate police and firefighter pension funds into a single system.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
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March 21, 2019 12:15
|
| Choosing Lincoln's greatest words |
SPRINGFIELD — As March Madness heats up, a battle to determine Abraham Lincoln’s greatest words is getting underway, too. The public can vote on 32 of his most famous quotes, eliminating them one at a time until a champion emerges.
Friday, March 22, 2019
|
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March 21, 2019 11:23
|
| Men found crammed in SUV accused of entering US illegally |
Fourteen men from central and South America were found crammed into an SUV that was pulled over last month on Interstate 64 in southern Illinois, authorities said Wednesday.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
|
|
March 20, 2019 11:19
|
| Teacher licensing tests come under fire in Illinois |
Looking for ways to ease the state’s growing teacher shortage, some Illinois lawmakers are again turning their attention to the battery of tests that prospective teachers must take to be licensed, arguing those tests deter many college students from trying to enter the profession.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
|
|
March 20, 2019 11:21
|
| 2 charged in child abuse death of 2-year-old boy in Chicago |
A woman and a young man from Chicago have been charged in the child abuse death of the woman’s 2-year-old son, who had sores and bruises on his body.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
|
|
March 20, 2019 11:18
|
| Former northern Illinois chief charged with eavesdropping |
A former northern Illinois police chief has been charged with official misconduct for allegedly recording a conversation with her boss.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
|
|
March 20, 2019 11:19
|
| Semi-trailer strikes, seriously injures Illinois trooper |
An Illinois State Police trooper was seriously injured when a semi-trailer struck him and his squad car while he was responding to a multi-vehicle accident.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
|
|
March 20, 2019 11:18
|
| Supreme Court rejects
re-sentencing for Chicago cop |
The Illinois Supreme Court has rejected a bid to give a different sentencing to former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke for the 2014 on-duty killing of Laquan McDonald.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
|
|
March 19, 2019 11:34
|
| Proposal would give voters authority to force school boards into resource-sharing agreements |
A state lawmaker is looking to give voters the authority to force their locally-elected school boards into resource-sharing agreements with other districts for certain administration offices and functions.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
|
|
March 19, 2019 11:35
|
| Preschoolers allegedly
punished by standing naked in closet |
Two teachers in Illinois are on paid leave as authorities investigate allegations that one forced preschool children to stand naked in a closet with the door open as punishment for misbehaving.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
|
|
March 19, 2019 11:33
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| Contract to raze decrepit Cairo housing projects OK'd |
Demolition of two complexes run by the troubled Alexander County Housing Authority in southern Illinois will begin next month.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
|
|
March 19, 2019 11:34
|
| Collinsville man charged in Edwardsville couple's killings |
A 23-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of an Edwardsville couple.
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
|
|
March 19, 2019 11:32
|
| Village okays immigration detention center |
Trustees of a small village near Chicago are moving closer to allowing a private immigration detention center to be built in the area, despite pushback from activists and communities.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:28
|
| Hundreds of homes have flooded as rivers breach a dozen levees |
Hundreds of homes flooded in several Midwestern states after rivers breached at least a dozen levees following heavy rain and snowmelt in the region, authorities said Monday while warning that the flooding was expected to linger.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:29
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| Home care workers to get overdue raises |
More than 40,000 employees of the Illinois Department of Human Services who provide senior care in the home and child care services will get long-overdue salary increases.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:28
|
| State's high court lets Van Dyke sentence stand |
The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would let stand a less than seven year prison sentence for a white Chicago police officer convicted of killing black teenager Laquan McDonald that many criticized as far too lenient.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:27
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| Lake Zurich park to become arboretum |
The northwestern Chicago suburb of Lake Zurich is taking a barely used park and turning it into an arboretum.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:27
|
| Illinois ag director lists broadband, economic development as priorities |
Illinois’ new agriculture director says rural economic development and increasing broadband access are among his top priorities.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
|
|
March 18, 2019 13:27
|
| Treasurer: State cannabis industry could collapse if banking rules aren't updated |
Illinois’ emerging cannabis industry could collapse if updates are not made to federal and state banking rules that threaten financial institutions with closure if they do business with the cannabis industry, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs said today.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
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March 17, 2019 12:18
|
| C. Kennedy to headline university forum |
Judson University says Caroline Kennedy will headline this year’s World Leaders Forum in suburban Chicago.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
|
March 17, 2019 12:17
|
| IDOC to break ground on mental health hospital |
The Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Illinois Capital Development Board will be joined by state legislators, Joliet city leaders, and AFSCME 31 officials to break ground on a state-of-the-art Inpatient Treatment Center in Joliet. The event will take place Monday, March 18, 2019 at the Joliet Treatment Center at 10 a.m.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
|
March 17, 2019 12:17
|
| Southern Illinois Healthcare org is seeking trauma center designation |
Southern Illinois Healthcare is taking steps to expand access to trauma care in the southern part of the state where the lack of trauma centers can add stress, cost and risk for those needing immediate attention.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
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March 17, 2019 12:18
|
| 25 job offers revoked after U o I back ground checks |
Data shared with trustees show that the University of Illinois withdrew 25 job offers across its three campuses after doing background checks last year.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
|
March 17, 2019 12:16
|
| Illinois orgs prepare for 2020 Census |
Experts in Illinois say preparations for next year’s U.S. Census are important because there’s a lot at stake, including billions in federal funding and congressional seats.
Monday, March 18, 2019
|
|
March 17, 2019 12:17
|
| More Illinois high school grads enrolling out of state |
Illinois high school graduates have increasingly chosen to enroll in out-of-state colleges and universities in recent years, according to new state data.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 12:41
|
| Illinois Chamber of Commerce
celebrates Women's History Month with Women in Business Conference |
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce hosted about 150 attendees at its second annual Women in Business Conference March 15, 2019 at Pinstripes in Oak Brook, Ill.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 12:08
|
| Pritzker's office releases tax estimate data |
Fewer than 20,000 Illinois millionaires would account for 80 percent of an estimated $3.4 billion in added income tax revenue under a graduated tax plan being touted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, his office said in a release Friday.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
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March 15, 2019 11:34
|
| Road closes for spring snake migration |
A stretch of road in southern Illinois is closed to allow snakes and amphibians the chance to migrate to their summer homes.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 11:32
|
| Should state allow 12-year-olds to be home alone? |
At what age should it be legal for a child to be at home alone, or to be caring for younger siblings?
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 11:33
|
| Judge rejects state motion to reconsider new trial for man |
A central Illinois judge has rejected a state motion to reconsider granting a new trial to a man who has spent 27 years in prison for his father’s 1991 beating and stabbing death.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 11:30
|
| Are eggs good or bad for you? New research rekindles debate |
The latest U.S. research on eggs won’t go over easy for those who can’t eat breakfast without them.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 11:32
|
| UIC creates scholarship fund for slain ER doctor |
The University of Illinois at Chicago has created a scholarship in memory of an emergency room doctor who was killed in a shooting at a Chicago hospital last year.
Saturday, March 16, 2019
|
|
March 15, 2019 11:30
|
| Tobacco 21' bill clears Illinois Senate |
A four-year effort by lawmakers and advocates to raise the minimum age to purchase tobacco products in Illinois appears nearly complete now that legislation approved by both chambers heads to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 12:26
|
| Prosecutors argue against new trial in 1991 stabbing death |
Prosecutors are asking a central Illinois judge to reconsider granting a new trial to a man who has spent 27 years in prison for his father’s 1991 beating and stabbing death.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 11:34
|
| House panel advances bill to expand Medicaid coverage for early autism diagnosis, treatment |
It’s been a decade since Illinois became one of the first states to pass legislation mandating private insurers cover the cost of autism diagnosis and treatment in children, and legislators are looking to expand that coverage.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 11:24
|
| Romeoville man pleads guilty in 2014 baseball bat death |
A suburban Chicago man has pleaded guilty to fatally striking a 55-year-old man in the head with a baseball bat.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 11:23
|
| Bill encouraging organ donation advances in state Senate |
A bill aimed at promoting voluntary donation of organs such as kidneys or bone marrow from living donors is advancing in the Illinois Senate.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 11:24
|
| University of Illinois increases faculty as
enrollment rises |
The University of Illinois plans to hire hundreds of new faculty members at its three campuses as enrollment rises.
Friday, March 15, 2019
|
|
March 14, 2019 11:23
|
| New bills target pharmacy
middlemen for state regulation |
As part of an effort to rein in the rising cost of prescription drugs in Illinois, Democratic state lawmakers introduced bills Wednesday to impose state regulations on a little-known industry, pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, who negotiate drug prices and benefits on behalf of insurance plans.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:59
|
| ISP offers Physical Fitness Inventory Test Seminar |
Illinois State Police (ISP) officials would like to invite all individuals who are interested in becoming ISP Troopers to participate in a Physical Fitness Inventory Test (PFIT) Seminar being held on Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Olivet Nazarene University in the Student Recreation Center located at One University Drive, Bourbonnais, Illinois 60914.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:57
|
| House passes bill requiring LGBT content in state-funded textbooks |
The Illinois House on Wednesday passed a bill requiring public school textbooks purchased with certain state funds be nondiscriminatory and unbiased in their treatment of racial and ethnic minorities, and that they highlight the contributions that LGBT individuals have made to American history and culture.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:58
|
| Groundbreaking on prison mental health center set for Monday |
Illinois officials are planning a groundbreaking ceremony for a 200-bed hospital to treat mentally ill prison inmates.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:56
|
| Plan for Chicago police, fire
academy approved by aldermen |
Plans to build a new Chicago police and fire academy will move forward despite protests by activists and the opposition of mayoral candidates
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:56
|
| 14-year-old boy charged in 13-year-old boy's fatal shooting |
Chicago police say a 14-year-old boy faces felony charges in the accidental shooting of a 13-year-old boy.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
|
|
March 13, 2019 11:57
|
| Harris, Manar push effort to lower prescription drug prices |
Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago, is joining state Sen. Andy Manar to announce their efforts to rein in unfair insurance programs and regulate pharmacy benefit managers that dramatically increase out-of-pocket costs for patients at a press conference and rally on Wednesday March 13 at 2 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
|
|
March 12, 2019 13:28
|
| 1 killed, 3 injured in south suburban Chicago club shooting |
Authorities say one person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting at south-suburban Chicago nightclub.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
|
|
March 12, 2019 11:02
|
| Pritzker unveils tax calculator, calls for specific counterproposals to graduated tax plan |
Passage of a statewide graduated income tax structure isn’t possible until after November 2020, but Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker continued to stump for such a proposal Tuesday, announcing the launch of an online “fair tax calculator” at a Chicago news conference.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
|
|
March 12, 2019 11:03
|
| 4-year-old boy, grandparents
survive Illinois plane crash |
Two adults and a 4-year-old boy were injured but survived a small plane crash in southern Illinois.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
|
|
March 12, 2019 11:01
|
| Coroner: Woman dead in central Illinois ditch was strangled |
A coroner says a 35-year-old woman whose body was found in a central Illinois ditch was strangled.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
|
|
March 12, 2019 11:02
|
| Survey shows Illinois teacher shortages |
The shortage of teachers in Illinois has gotten more serious over the past year, reaching into virtually every subject area and region of the state, and forcing schools to either cancel programs, enlarge class sizes or use teachers who are not fully licensed in a particular subject area.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 14:02
|
| Scherer legislation promotes work-based learning in schools |
Working to improve job creation and economic opportunity, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, is advancing legislation to create a work-based learning database in Illinois schools.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 13:42
|
| Census explainer: Hard to count communities |
With up to two Illinois congressional seats and $1 billion or more in federal funding on the line if Illinois’ population is not correctly counted in the 2020 census, nonprofit groups warn that changes to the census format this year could exacerbate an undercount in already hard-to-reach communities.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 12:12
|
| Ex-Chicago
officer
convicted of shaking down drug dealers |
A former Chicago police officer who was captured nearly 15 years after he fled while awaiting trial on charges that he ripped off drug dealers has been convicted in federal court.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 12:10
|
| After 23 days, blind dog found OK in Illinois pasture |
A blind dog named Callie has been found — more than three weeks after she dashed from her western Illinois home.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 12:10
|
| Underground line could carry Iowa wind power to Chicago |
The company behind a proposed underground transmission line that would carry electricity generated mostly by wind turbines in Iowa to the Chicago area said Monday that the $2.5 billion project could be operational in 2024 if regulators approve it.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 12:11
|
| Smollett expected at hearing to discuss
cameras in courtroom |
“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett is expected at a Chicago hearing to discuss whether cameras will be allowed in the courtroom during his disorderly conduct case.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
|
|
March 11, 2019 12:10
|
| Staffing and budget issues still haunt DCFS, union officials say |
Labor officials who represent workers in the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services say staff shortages in that agency have been making it difficult for case workers to keep up with a large volume of reports about abuse and neglect.
Monday, March 11, 2019
|
|
March 10, 2019 12:08
|
| Bobcat
harvest up 8 percent to 343 in Illinois this year |
Illinois officials say 343 bobcats were taken by hunters and trappers this winter.
Monday, March 11, 2019
|
|
March 10, 2019 12:07
|
| Illinois university's orientation class improves retention |
Southern Illinois University in Carbondale is starting to make strides toward improving retention through a program that offers freshmen a special orientation aimed at getting them acquainted with college life.
Monday, March 11, 2019
|
|
March 10, 2019 12:08
|
| Missing southern Illinois woman dies of exposure |
Authorities say a 19-year-old southern Illinois woman who went missing died of hypothermia due to exposure to the elements.
Monday, March 11, 2019
|
|
March 10, 2019 12:06
|
| Kentucky-Illinois bridge closed by flooding has reopened |
An Ohio River bridge linking Kentucky and Illinois that has been closed since Feb. 22 due to flooding has reopened.
Monday, March 11, 2019
|
|
March 10, 2019 12:07
|
| Weekly Outlook: Corn at the halfway point |
URBANA, Ill. — The midpoint of the 2018-19 marketing year for corn arrived March 1. Typically, the market begins to focus on new crop acreage and production prospects. Uncertainty regarding trade negotiations and lower use in domestic consumption categories may keep old crop consumption closer to the forefront than usual, according to University of Illinois agricultural economist Todd Hubbs.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 17:35
|
| Add beauty to the garden with cool season annuals |
URBANA, Ill. — Gardeners looking for high-performing cool-season annuals should consider alyssum, nasturtium, Swiss chard, snapdragon, pansies, and ornamental kale, according to Nancy Kreith, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 17:32
|
| 2019 All-America Selection winners |
URBANA, Ill. — Fluctuating weather patterns over the past few months have brought snow and rain, warmth and dangerously cold temperatures, ice and now flooding in parts of the state. These weather patterns can have an impact on our mental states, giving us the winter blues. The joy of garden planning, complete with garden catalog deliveries, can change those winter blues into spring green.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 17:30
|
| ISP announce body of Brooke S. Naylor has been located |
CARMI, Ill. — On March 6th, Illinois State Police Zone 7 Investigations requested the public’s assistance in locating a missing 19-year-old Harrisburg woman, Brooke S. Naylor.
She was last seen in Harrisburg on March 3, 2019. Her abandoned Chevrolet Malibu was located on the Eldorado Ridgeway Blacktop approximately halfway between Illinois Route 142 and Illinois Route 1.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
|
|
March 8, 2019 12:59
|
| Plan your vegetable garden early |
URBANA, Ill. — If you’re itching for homegrown tomatoes this year, now is the perfect time to plan your vegetable garden. “Growing your own vegetables is a great way to save money at the grocery store, get some exercise, and teach kids where their produce comes from,” says Gemini Bhalsod, a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
“For a successful vegetable garden, a little bit of planning can go a long way to tasty harvests.”
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 17:34
|
| Understanding and reversing winter damage to evergreens |
URBANA, Ill. – Evergreen plants, which retain their leaves throughout the seasons, are some of the showstoppers of the winter garden, providing some much-needed color in otherwise bleak winter landscapes. Although evergreens do go into dormancy during winter, their foliage is subject to extreme exposure over the winter months, which can result in damage by spring.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 17:31
|
| ISP pursue and arrest wanted suspect |
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — On March 7, 2019, at approximately 9:15 a.m. Illinois State Police (ISP) officials responded to the Extended Stay America Hotel in Rockford, Illinois to assist with reports of an Active Shooter.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:54
|
| Pritzker releases initial rates for income tax overhaul |
SPRINGFIELD — Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker framed Illinois’ $3.2 billion structural budget deficit as having three possible solutions Thursday: a 15 percent across-the-board cut to state spending, including education; a 20 percent income tax increase on every Illinoisan; or his preferred solution of a graduated income tax structure, which he claims will lower taxes on 97 percent of Illinoisans.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:51
|
| Statewide capital bill unlikely to come by construction season |
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Transportation was one among a variety of related local and state groups to talk about its funding needs for Illinois’ next major capital bill, which some lawmakers say they want by the end of the legislative session.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:35
|
| Study: Illinois auto plant layoffs may trigger more job loss |
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Fiat Chrysler’s decision to cut almost 1,400 jobs from a northern Illinois plant could trigger the loss of nearly 2,300 additional jobs across the region, according to a university study.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:34
|
| Illinois district considers physical education alternativea |
ELGIN, Ill. (AP) — A school district in a Chicago suburb is considering a pilot program that will let students choose how they stay physically active instead of participating in a traditional gym class.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:32
|
| Shooting outside Chicago
nightclub leaves 1 dead, 1 hurt |
CHICAGO (AP) — Police say a shooting outside a Chicago nightclub left an employee dead and another man wounded.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:33
|
| Man arrested, charged 25 years after fatal Chicago shooting |
CHICAGO (AP) — Murder charges have been filed more than 25 years after a deadly shooting on Chicago’s South Side.
Friday, March 8, 2019
|
|
March 7, 2019 12:32
|
| House to condemn forms of hate after Omar words |
Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday the House will vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, white supremacy and other forms of hate after freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar’s comments about Israel sparked turmoil among Democrats.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 14:01
|
| Statewide bag tax advances out of committee |
A bill levying a 7-cent tax on plastic and paper shopping bags advanced out of the state Senate's revenue committee Wednesday with its sponsor promising to bring an amended proposal back to the committee in the coming weeks.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 13:51
|
| Illinois filmmaker looking for extras |
A southern Illinois filmmaker is looking for movie extras.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 13:52
|
| Could lose seat and billions if residents dodge census |
The loss of two congressional seats and billions of dollars in federal funding are only two of the problems facing Illinois if it cannot get all of its residents to respond to the 2020 census.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 13:28
|
| Bill would penalize nursing homes for staff shortages |
Senior care advocates promoted legislation Wednesday that is aimed at enforcing minimum staffing mandates, limiting the use of psychotropic drugs and heightening transparency for care violations at Illinois nursing homes.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 13:27
|
| Lawmaker proposes confiscating guns of owners with revoked FOID cards |
A state senator is proposing legislation that would tighten gun ownership laws in Illinois and require law enforcement officers to confiscate weapons and ammunition from people who have had their firearms permits revoked.
Thursday, March 7, 2019
|
|
March 6, 2019 13:26
|
| Fire captain dead, 3 hurt in burning Illinois home collapse |
Authorities say a fire captain has died and three other firefighters were injured following a partial collapse of a burning home in southern Illinois.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
|
|
March 5, 2019 13:31
|
| Schock to reimburse funds in exchange for dropped charges |
Former Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois agreed Wednesday to repay tens of thousands of dollars in taxes and to campaign committees in exchange for prosecutors dismissing his felony corruption case.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
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March 5, 2019 13:25
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| New ISBE superintendent supportive of added education funding |
During just her third day on the job, Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Carmen Ayala told a Senate appropriations committee Tuesday she was encouraged by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s public education funding proposal for fiscal year 2020.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
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March 5, 2019 13:24
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| Illinois to offer students new, shorter standardized test |
The Illinois Board of Education says it is switching to a new standardized test this month for third through eighth graders across the state.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
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March 5, 2019 13:22
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| Chicago man charged in crash that killed 2-year-old girl |
Police say a 21-year-old Chicago man who sped away from a traffic stop and then crashed, killing a 2-year-old girl who was thrown from the vehicle, has been charged with reckless homicide and several other counts.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
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March 5, 2019 13:21
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| DCFS wants to improve policies after 2-year-old's death |
The interim director of Illinois’ child welfare agency told a state House committee it’s taking steps to improve policies and practices after a 2-year-old Decatur girl died from starvation and deprivation.
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
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March 5, 2019 13:22
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| Legendary Napa Valley vintner, Illinois native John Shafer dies |
Legendary Northern California vintner John Shafer, who was part of a generation that helped elevate sleepy Napa Valley into the international wine powerhouse it is today, has died. He was 94.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:34
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| Illinois among the states challenging Trump administration abortion rule |
California and 20 other Democratic-led states announced they were challenging the Trump administration’s effort to set up obstacles for women seeking abortions, including barring taxpayer-funded family planning clinics from referring patients to abortion providers.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:33
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| Illinois kids to get replacement test |
Illinois third through eighth graders will be given a new, shorter standardized test called the Illinois Assessment of Readiness this month instead of the widely criticized PARCC exam, state officials said.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:33
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| Above-average precipitation in February |
Weather experts say February was cold and stormy in Illinois with above-average precipitation and below-average temperatures.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:32
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| Help available for gambling addicts |
Illinois is launching a new state website aimed at helping people affected by gambling addictions.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:33
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| Shriners Hospital replacing
prosthetic stolen from 3-year-old |
A children’s hospital in St. Louis is replacing a 3-year-old southern Illinois boy’s prosthetic leg that was stolen in a car break-in.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:31
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| 132 laid off at Western due to budget |
Western Illinois University has laid off 132 employees due to budget difficulties.
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
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March 4, 2019 13:32
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| Illinois bill defines consent for sex ed classes |
An Illinois lawmaker has proposed legislation that aims to provide a more comprehensive definition of consent for sex education classes in the state.
Monday, March 4, 2019
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March 3, 2019 14:05
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| Ex-Chicago officer to go to trial 15 years after fleeing |
A former Chicago police officer is to go to trial for federal drug and conspiracy charges more than 15 years after he fled and went on the run.
Monday, March 4, 2019
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March 3, 2019 12:21
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| MacArthur Foundation launches $100M competition |
A Chicago foundation is launching the second $100 million grant competition open to organizations that can identify a critical social problem and propose a lasting solution.
Monday, March 4, 2019
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March 3, 2019 12:21
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| Lawmakers plan hearing after death o f Decatur two-year-old |
Illinois lawmakers plan a hearing about the death of a 2-year-old Decatur girl who died from starvation and deprivation. Democratic state Rep. Sue Scherer of Decatur says she requested the Tuesday hearing. She says legislators want to find out what happened and how to improve the system. The girl’s mother, Twanka L. Davis of Decatur has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges in Ta’Naja Barnes’ Feb. 11 death.
Monday, March 4, 2019
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March 3, 2019 12:20
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| Slaying of one of their own unnerves gangland reporters |
Shawn Cotton no longer drives his $55,000, bright pink Corvette to work because he’s afraid it could get him killed like his friend. But there are two things he won’t leave home without: his bulletproof vest and the 9 mm pistol he slips into his pocket.
Monday, March 4, 2019
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March 3, 2019 12:21
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| Heated battle ahead for abortion bill |
Illinois is poised to provide greater access to reproductive health care and abortion procedures than any other state in the country.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
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March 1, 2019 11:43
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| Scherer, Child Welfare Committee to hold
hearing examining DCFS and death of Decatur child |
State Rep Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, and members of the House’s top child welfare committee will examine the tragic case of Ta’naja Barnes, a two-year-old child from Decatur, and the response of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) at a hearing on Tuesday, March 5 at 2 p.m. in room 122B in the Capitol.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
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March 1, 2019 11:22
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| Drug industry takes heat in legislative hearing |
Illinois lawmakers heard stories Friday about how the rising cost of prescription drugs is endangering the lives of many of the most vulnerable people in society – the poor, the elderly and people with HIV – while advocates for those people laid the blame squarely at the feet of big businesses.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
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March 1, 2019 11:08
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| Study: Illinois marijuana industry will have to expand to meet legalization demand |
A fully-matured adult-use marijuana program in Illinois could produce between $440 million and $676 million in annual revenue, and the expected demand would be far greater than the state’s current supply, according to a demand study released Friday.
Saturday, March 2, 2019
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March 1, 2019 11:08
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| Fed court system in Illinois turns 200 |
The federal court system in Illinois where Abraham Lincoln argued cases before becoming president and where Al Capone saw his Prohibition Era crime spree come to an end is marking the 200th year since its founding.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:38
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| Midway visitors last week faced measles exposure |
Travelers passing through Chicago’s Midway International Airport last week may have been exposed to measles.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:37
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| Universities detail billions in construction needs |
With talk of the first capital bill in nearly a decade permeating the Capitol, representatives of the state’s public universities and community colleges put in their wish lists at a House Appropriations Committee hearing Thursday.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:38
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| Illinois filmmaking revenue grows by 12% in 2018 |
Spending and wages from the Illinois film industry were up 12 percent in 2018 from 2017, according to a release Thursday from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Film Office at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:37
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| Ambitious sights set in clean energy legislation |
A group of 45 mostly Democratic lawmakers is sponsoring legislation to move Illinois to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050, and make the state’s power sector carbon-free by 2030.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:35
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| State forecasters see modest economic growth next year, but warning signs ahead |
The state of Illinois can expect to see moderate economic growth in the upcoming fiscal year that will lead to higher tax receipts for the state. But there are warning signs on the national horizon that could signal an economic downturn in 2021.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:36
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| Study finds legal marijuana demand in Illinois would outpace the supply |
A new study that state legislators commissioned has found legal recreational marijuana in Illinois could drive demand to far more than what licensed growers could supply.
Friday, March 1, 2019
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March 31, 2019 13:35
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| State lawmaker pushes for textbooks that highlight LGBT contributions |
A bill that would require school textbooks purchased with certain state funds to highlight the contributions of LGBT individuals to American history and culture is making its way through the Illinois House.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 13:36
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| Republicans want details on rate structure of Pritzker's income tax plan |
In the absence of public details regarding a rate structure for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed graduated income tax, opposing factions are painting starkly different pictures of the proposed change’s potential impact on the state and its residents.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 13:36
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| SIU-C takes steps toward creating nursing program |
Officials at Southern Illinois University say the Carbondale school intends to create a nursing program.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 12:16
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| Decatur woman pleads not guilty in death of 2-year-old |
A central Illinois woman accused in the death of her 2-year-old daughter has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder charges.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 12:16
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| Contrasts abound for black women in Chicago mayoral runoff |
A political outsider who campaigned on reforming Chicago’s police department after a white officer’s fatal shooting of a black teenager said Wednesday that voters likely had the high-profile case on their minds when they advanced her to an April runoff for mayor, assuring for the first time a black woman will lead the nation’s third-largest city.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 12:15
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| Planned Parenthood says funds threat won't end their abortion referrals |
Planned Parenthood of Illinois says it will continue providing abortion referrals despite the risk of losing millions of dollars in federal funding under a new rule enacted by the Trump administration.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 12:15
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| Illinois House Democrats unveil bills to rein in drug prices |
Democrats in the Illinois House unveiled a package of bills Wednesday they say would help control the spiraling cost of prescription drugs.
Thursday, February 28, 2019
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February 27, 2019 10:07
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| Officials gear up for Illinois flooding |
Officials staffing the state Emergency Operations Center in Springfield will be monitoring flooding in southern Illinois and will prepare to deploy assistance should local officials request it.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
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February 26, 2019 13:30
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| Insiders may have helped R.Kelly get underage girls |
After R. Kelly met a girl celebrating her 16th birthday at a restaurant, it was his manager who handed her Kelly’s business card with the R&B star’s personal phone number on it, telling the teen that Kelly wanted her to give him a call, according to prosecutors.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
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February 26, 2019 13:29
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| Decade-old law binds state to change electoral process |
On Tuesday, Capitol News Illinois reported on Springfield GOP Rep. Tim Butler’s bill to change how Illinois allocates its Electoral College votes for president.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
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February 26, 2019 13:29
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| First time: Chicago will elect black woman as mayor |
A former federal prosecutor and a county board leader will face each other in a runoff to become Chicago’s first black female mayor after leading a large field Tuesday that included a member of the Daley family that has dominated the city’s politics for much of the last six decades.
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
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February 26, 2019 13:24
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| Illinois hospitals seek reform of state's Medicaid managed care system |
Hospitals in Illinois are complaining that slow payments and unnecessary denial of claims from the state’s privatized Medicaid system are putting both hospitals and their patients at risk, and they are asking state lawmakers to do something about it.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
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February 25, 2019 13:27
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| Emmanuel's successor: Voters getting a chance to pick Chicago's next mayor |
There are 14 candidates — all promising to steer Chicago in a new direction — when voters cast ballots today for the city’s next mayor.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
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February 25, 2019 13:27
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| Springfield Republican wants to end 'winner takes all' in presidential votes |
It is unlikely that Illinois will become the third state to change how it allocates its electoral votes for president, but that isn’t stopping some state lawmakers from trying.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
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February 25, 2019 12:16
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| Progressive income tax discussions could begin soon |
Just three months removed from the most expensive gubernatorial campaign in the nation’s history, divisive political ads could soon begin populating Illinois residents’ screens once again, this time relating to a “fair tax” – or a “jobs tax” – depending on whose ad is being seen.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
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February 25, 2019 12:14
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| Millikin University president plans to retire in 2020 |
Millikin University will conduct a national search for a new president after President Patrick White announced plans to retire next year.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
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February 25, 2019 12:13
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| Chicago-area man allegedly had machine gun, silencers |
A Chicago-area man faces federal charges for allegedly possessing a machine gun, three silencers and ammunition.
Monday, February 25, 2019
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February 24, 2019 13:30
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| Arrangements being made to pay R. Kelly's $100K bail |
R. Kelly, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, remained jailed over the weekend as confidants make arrangements to pay the $100,000 bail needed to free him as he awaits trial for aggravated sexual abuse, his lawyer said.
Monday, February 25, 2019
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February 24, 2019 11:52
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| Illinois man charged in shooting death in Missouri |
A Chicago-area man is charged in the shooting death of a Columbia man who had fatally shot a community activist.
Monday, February 25, 2019
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February 24, 2019 11:50
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| WIU history
professor
examines
dockworkers' power in book |
A Western Illinois University history professor has published a book on the power dockworkers have shown over time in the struggle for racial equality and social-justice issues.
Monday, February 25, 2019
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February 24, 2019 11:50
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| 3 killed when Amtrak train collides with car near Kalamazoo |
Michigan State Police say three people were killed when their car collided overnight with an Amtrak train near Kalamazoo.
Monday, February 25, 2019
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February 24, 2019 11:51
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| Pritzker's budget could irritate bond markets |
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered an ambitious plan to lawmakers this week to pay down the state’s backlog of unpaid bills, slow down payments into the state’s troubled pension systems while at the same time asking them to put together an ambitious, multi-billion-dollar plan to repair the state’s crumbling roads, bridges, airports and college buildings.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
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February 22, 2019 13:20
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| Pro-life law firm says Illinois could become the Abortion Capital of America if we're not on guard |
SPRINGFIELD — Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed to make Illinois “the most progressive state in the nation for access to reproductive health care,” and a conservative pro-life law firm based in Chicago agrees that will happen if Democratic-sponsored legislation becomes law.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
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February 22, 2019 13:19
