CHAMPAIGN — Owners of Illinois glass pipe shops are elated to begin selling bongs after the state’s law legalizing recreational marijuana took effect. Jeremy Sample, part-owner of CU Glass Connection, told The News-Gazette that he and primary owner Owen Serpetis opened their shop Dec. 16 in anticipation of the new Illinois law that started Jan. 1. “I’ve…
DECATUR – The mayor of Decatur said she’s waiting to see how the legalization of recreational cannabis in Illinois plays out in towns across the state before she’ll be swayed in her position against allowing cannabis sales in her city. Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and the City Council voted last fall to ban the sale…
A pair of laws recently enacted in Illinois were designed to take into account how children are affected by their parents’ incarceration and to find…
Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed Friday in Baghdad. The U.S. secretary of defense said Soleimani “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members throughout the region.”
The Illinois economy continues to grow at a steady rate. The University of Illinois Flash Index ticked up to 105.6 in December, slightly higher than November’s 105.4. Any number above 100 indicates economic growth.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday issued pardons for more than 11,000 low-level marijuana convictions.
As we close the book on 2019, we thought we’d take a few minutes to listen back to what has been a most consequential year in Illinois government and…
SPRINGFIELD – The minimum wage in Illinois is about to go up by a dollar. According to the Illinois Department of Labor, it will be $9.25 per hour on January 1, 2020. It will rise to $10 per hour on July 1, 2020. State lawmakers approved the wage hike in February, and it’s the first…
The more than 255 new Illinois laws taking effect on New Year’s Day may affect everything from your car to your paycheck. We took a look at some of the biggest changes coming in 2020. Higher Wages, Tip Ownership Illinois minimum wage is going up by a dollar, from $8.25 to $9.25, starting New Year’s Day…
A group of Illinois officials met Monday to begin a review of the state’s ethics laws for lobbyists and elected office holders. The meeting comes in the wake of a remarkable year for corruption allegations, even by Illinois standards. Several state and local lawmakers, lobbyists, and municipalities have either been charged with crimes, had their…
House Democrats in large part supported two impeachment articles against President Donald Trump, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois was one of three lawmakers who missed the historic House votes The Republican from the 15th congressional district is not seeking reelection and was on a long-planned…
Illinois’ Attorney General is suing e-cigarette maker JUUL Labs, alleging the company intentionally hooked teens on vaping.
After an abrupt end to a contentious day of debate, the panel reconvened Friday morning to pass the articles on party-line votes. The full House of Representatives is expected to vote next week.
Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert says the new trade agreement the U-S has brokered with Canada and Mexico offers hope after a tough year for the state’s farmers. Guebert says Canada and Mexico were already strong trading partners for Illinois farmers, but the ongoing trade dispute with China has made U-S’ neighbors to the…
A pair of credit rating agencies issued warnings Tuesday on the finances of both the state of Illinois — and its largest city. Moody’s Investors Service looked at whether America’s 25 biggest cities are prepared for a recession. Among them, just two were rated notably “weaker” than their peers: Detroit and Chicago. Moody’s warns that high debt…