Chicago aldermen advance ordinance to restrict hemp sales | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A Chicago city council committee has advanced an ordinance that would ban most hemp sales in the city. Chicago 13th Ward Alderman Marty Quinn’s proposal prohibits the sale of any hemp-derived cannabinoid product across the city, except by cannabis business establishments. Quinn spoke to the city council’s Committee on License and Consumer […]
Illinois quick hits: Son of ‘El Chapo’ guilty; still above $3 a gallon | Illinois
Son of ‘El Chapo’ guilty A notorious gang leader’s son has been convicted on federal drug charges. Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s son, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, 39, pleaded guilty Monday to drug conspiracy and engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise. “El Chapo’s” son has been detained in U.S. custody since his arrest in July 2024. Still […]
IL U.S. House candidate: drug screen expectant moms getting subsidies | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A doctor running for Congress in Illinois’ 5th Congressional District says the first step to improving the state’s Department of Public Health would be to remove Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The Illinois Department of Public Health’s Maternal Mortality Data Report released last week found that 91% of pregnancy-related deaths were potentially preventable […]
Illinois rejects federal ‘no tax on tips’ rule, keeps state tax on tipped income | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois is not adopting the new federal “no tax on tips” provision, meaning tipped workers in the state will still owe Illinois income tax on tips, even when those tips are exempt at the federal level. Manish Bhatt, senior policy analyst with the Tax Foundation, said Illinois’ tax structure makes it […]
Hundreds of flights canceled in Chicago as winter storm wreaks havoc | Illinois
(The Center Square) – More than 1,000 flights were canceled or delayed at Chicago’s airports Saturday as a winter storm threatened up to 10 inches of snow. Tens of thousands of tracvelers were stranded as a result. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop Saturday morning due to snow, ice and winds. At O’Hare […]
Illinois quick hits: Deer harvest totals; IHSA voting begins | Illinois
Deer harvest totals Illinois hunters harvested a preliminary total of 51,409 deer during the first weekend of the state’s firearm deer season Nov. 21-23, down from 54,661 deer harvested during the first firearm weekend in 2024. Illinois’ seven-day firearm deer season is scheduled to conclude Dec. 4-7. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reminding […]
‘Trouble in Toyland’ report sounds alarm on AI toys | National
(The Center Square) – Parents should take precaution this holiday season when it comes to artificial intelligence toys after researchers for the new Trouble in Toyland report found safety concerns. Illinois Public Interest Research Group Campaign Associate Ellen Hengesbach said some of the toys armed with AI raised red flags ranging from toys that talk […]
IL congressman’s retirement announcement sparks calls for election fixes | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Common Cause Illinois is urging lawmakers to close what it calls an “anti-democratic” loophole after Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García cleared the path for his chief of staff to run unopposed. García, D-Chicago, filed for reelection on Oct. 27, but minutes before the Nov. 3 deadline, his chief of staff entered the […]
Illinois quick hits: Migrant youth allegedly murdered homeless Chicago man | Illinois
Migrant youth allegedly murdered homeless Chicago man Three juvenile Venezuelan migrants are part of a group that allegedly attacked, murdered, and robbed a homeless man in downtown Chicago early Sunday, according to prosecutors and a Chicago police report. CWB Chicago reports that a 16-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boy are facing charges in connection with […]
Federal court blocks Trump from dismantling four agencies | National
(The Center Square) – A federal court has issued a permanent injunction stopping the Trump administration from dismantling four federal agencies that deal with issues varying from libraries to homelessness. The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled the executive branch violated the Administrative Procedure Act, as well as the U.S. Constitution’s Take […]