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…
Beginning in January, all Illinois employers will have to start providing sexual harassment training for their employees. It’s part of a new law called the Workplace Transparency Act. Every employer of any size, whether public or private, will now have to provide training based on a model the state’s Department of Human Rights will come…
An Illinois Department of Corrections’ policy prohibiting disparaging language on social media about inmates went into effect November 1. Beginning December 1 transgender individuals were included among protected groups. The original policy forbid department employees from posting vulgar, obscene, intimidating, harassing; or disparaging content to a person or group based or race, religion, sexual orientation…
The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could determine whether a person convicted of battery can still own a gun. The plaintiff is Shawna Johnson, a southern Illinois woman, who had her Firearm Owner I-D — or FOID — card revoked by the state police, and she’s suing to get it back. Johnson…
Speedy drivers have been a particular problem for the Illinois State Police so far this year. Troopers across the state have issued nearly 2,500 tickets…
Missouri has already approved more than 17,000 patients for its yet-to-be-launched medical marijuana program — a stark contrast to neighboring Illinois,…
A new report from a University of Illinois panel on faculty misconduct seeks a broader definition of sexual harassment and more transparency. But a university spokesperson couldn’t say when the reforms would be adopted or how much they would cost. This article was produced in partnership with the ProPublica Local Reporting Network . The University of Illinois…
Lance Pittman arrived at the Danville Correctional Center on Jan. 10 with multiple boxes of books, and bound printouts of articles and book chapters….
The city of Granite City in the Metro East is facing a lawsuit claiming its crime-free housing rules are unconstitutional. Attorneys with the Institute for Justice , a libertarian, public interest law firm based in Arlington, Virginia, filed the lawsuit in the Southern District of Illinois’ U.S. District Court in East St. Louis Thursday on behalf of…