Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense
Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense
Jason Spyres was arrested on drug charges nearly 20 years ago. In the years since, he’s been on a path of personal success and growth. A pardon from Gov. Bruce Rauner should follow.
Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions
Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions
The Alternative to Opioids Act will give more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana.
By Vincent Caruso
State agency investigates Illinois mom for letting 8-year-old walk dog around block
State agency investigates Illinois mom for letting 8-year-old walk dog around block
A Wilmette mother investigated for letting her daughter walk the dog is only the latest target of Illinois’ vague and overreaching child neglect laws.
By Vincent Caruso, Jeffrey Schwab
Illinoisans could see license suspended for texting while driving under new state law
Illinoisans could see license suspended for texting while driving under new state law
A new state law could result in a suspended license for drivers operating handheld electronic devices while behind the wheel.
By Vincent Caruso
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
Chicago police caught using ‘bait truck’ in South Side neighborhood
In what critics have decried as an inappropriate use of scarce public safety resources, Chicago police officials parked a “bait truck” reportedly filled with boxes of Nike sneakers in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.
By Vincent Caruso
Report: Recidivism to cost Illinois more than $13B over next 5 years
Report: Recidivism to cost Illinois more than $13B over next 5 years
Even a small decrease in the recidivism rate can yield millions of dollars in taxpayer savings while improving public safety.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois man’s journey shows state’s failure to forgive
Illinois man’s journey shows state’s failure to forgive
By Joe Kaiser Jason Spyres is one of Illinois’ brightest. This summer, he will be headed to California to attend Stanford University on a full-ride engineering scholarship. Like any student getting into a university of that caliber, it was a grind to get to this point. “I’m lucky that I got in,” Spyres said. “It’s...
Illinois’ fireworks ban could land you in jail
Illinois’ fireworks ban could land you in jail
Illinois remains one of only four states to impose severe restrictions on the purchase and use of consumer fireworks.
Manteno case sheds light on absurdity, severity of Illinois’ eavesdropping law
Manteno case sheds light on absurdity, severity of Illinois’ eavesdropping law
Illinois’ eavesdropping law is clear as mud on the matter of recording authority figures, which has led to a number of contentious legal battles and attempts at reform in recent years. Boron is not alone.
By Austin Berg
Illinois 13-year-old charged with eavesdropping felony for recording meeting with principal
Illinois 13-year-old charged with eavesdropping felony for recording meeting with principal
Illinois’ eavesdropping law is one of the nation’s most severe, but leaves ample room for ambiguity.
By Austin Berg
Jason Spyres
Jason Spyres
“I served 15 years in prison, and now owe $268,000 in fines because I sold pot when I was 19 and 20. “I got out of prison and all of my counselors told me, ‘Jason, you get out there and you make the life you told me you were going to make. We’re so proud....
General Assembly passes bill expanding medical marijuana access as opioid alternative
General Assembly passes bill expanding medical marijuana access as opioid alternative
Lawmakers in Springfield are seeking to offer patients with debilitating conditions the option to replace opioids with medical marijuana.
By Eddie Damstra
Illinois lawmakers pass bill raising legal age of tobacco, e-cigarette purchases to 21
Illinois lawmakers pass bill raising legal age of tobacco, e-cigarette purchases to 21
Pending the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.
By Vincent Caruso
Leave your 13-year-old home alone? Police can take her into custody under Illinois law
Leave your 13-year-old home alone? Police can take her into custody under Illinois law
Illinois’ law mandating a minimum age for leaving children home alone is the strictest of its kind in the nation.
By Jeffrey Schwab