NORMAL — A recent study that tied the use of gas stoves in homes to rates of childhood asthma — especially in Illinois — inadvertently brought gas stoves to the forefront of the culture wars, adding a new layer to ongoing public discourse on climate change, business interests, and public and environmental health concerns. Researchers…
DECATUR — There’s a new legal spat between two parties on the same side of the gun rights issue in Illinois. An attorney who won a court ruling against the state’s new assault weapons ban has a problem with how a similar lawsuit was filed. State Rep. Dan Caulkins, a Republican who represents parts of…
SPRINGFIELD – A $15 million state investment at the Old State Capitol in Springfield means more renovations to the historic site. The funding will help pay for removing and replacing the historic site roof, repairing damaged plaster, replacing wood flooring on the main and upper levels, basement waterproofing, restoring the perimeter fence, and upgrading one hydraulic…
UAW Local 974 second vice president Tony Newton said 98% of membership voted in favor of strike authorization.
The University of Illinois Board of Trustees has approved tuition increases at the Urbana-Champaign and Chicago campuses, starting this fall. But trustees chose to keep tuition flat at the Springfield campus. Incoming in-state freshmen will see tuition rise 1.9% at UIUC and UIC. That will raise Urbana-Champaign tuition by $238 to $12,712 a year. In…
SPRINGFIELD — In recent days, there has been a flurry of legal action aimed at a new assault weapons ban signed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Jan. 10. The law prohibits the manufacture, possession and sale of dozens of types of semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity ammunition cartridges. It also requires current owners of such…
NORMAL — Illinois State University is studying data on whether wearable tracking devices could reduce workplace injuries. Sensors that workers wear around their waist can detect strained movement of the back and neck or repetitive motions that can lead to injury. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s402/audio/2023/01/james-jones-safety-prevention.mp3 Listen to this story here. James Jones, executive director of ISU’s Katie School…
The new law would preempt local ordinances more restrictive than the new state standards.
ROCKFORD — Around one-third of teachers in the U.S. say they’ve experienced at least one incident of verbal harassment or threat of violence from students during the pandemic. That’s according to a 2022 survey from the American Psychological Association. It’s a big jump from before COVID, when 10% of teachers reported being threatened. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s528/audio/2023/01/0118safef.mp3 Listen…
The Peoria health center doesn’t offer in-clinic abortions, but it does provide abortion pills and other sexual health services, including sexually-transmitted infection testing and treatment, pregnancy tests, and transgender hormone therapy.
The Illinois State Rifle Association lawsuit appears to be the first in federal court to challenge Illinois’ new weapons ban, but it is part of a burgeoning legal effort aimed at undoing the new law. Other lawsuits have been filed in state court.
MACOMB — A number of sheriffs in Illinois –including those in McDonough and Knox counties — have issued statements saying they won’t enforce an assault weapons ban signed this week by Governor J.B. Pritzker. The Protect Illinois Communities Act The measure (HB 5471) became law upon the governor’s signature. It bans AR-15 style guns. However,…
But now that thousands of dollars of a Des Plaines gun shop owner’s inventory is illegal to sell, he and other retailers are navigating what steps to take next.
PALATINE — Nabeela Syed was a senior in high school when she decided to go into politics. It was 2016 and former President Donald Trump was campaigning on banning immigration from Mexico, African nations and Muslim-majority countries. “Just seeing how Trump was growing in popularity, and the kind of support he was getting,” Syed said….
“The people of the great state of Illinois have been waiting decades for legislation just like this,” said bill sponsor state Rep. Bob Morgan, D-Deerfield. “Let them wait no longer.”