‘Home Alone’ in real life could land you in an Illinois jail
‘Home Alone’ in real life could land you in an Illinois jail
Illinois sees leaving a child younger than 14 ‘Home Alone’ as a crime, one that state employees have vigorously applied.
Illinois prison inmates to get ID cards upon release
Illinois prison inmates to get ID cards upon release
Inmates should have fewer troubles returning to their lives thanks to a new program intended to hand them an ID as they leave Illinois prisons.
Pritzker offers National Guard if Chicago cops’ COVID-19 vax statuses thin ranks
Pritzker offers National Guard if Chicago cops’ COVID-19 vax statuses thin ranks
With Chicago Police officers refusing to report their COVID-19 vaccination statuses, city streets soon could go unprotected. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is offering to call out the National Guard to keep order.
Chicago police union fighting Lightfoot COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Chicago police union fighting Lightfoot COVID-19 vaccine mandate
Chicago’s police union is planning to challenge Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate and encouraging officers to ignore demands to report their vaccination status by Oct. 15. Only about 25% of police are vaccinated.
Fireworks ban makes outlaws out of Illinoisans on Independence Day
Fireworks ban makes outlaws out of Illinoisans on Independence Day
For nearly 80 years, Illinoisans have voted against the state fireworks ban by crossing state lines each July to buy fireworks, despite threatened penalties. The state is now one of four nationwide to prohibit celebrating Independence Day with fireworks.
Digital license plates could solve Chicago carjackings, but give hackers data
Digital license plates could solve Chicago carjackings, but give hackers data
Chicago’s surge in carjackings prompted an Illinois Secretary of State candidate to call for digital license plates. The plates could be a convenience that could create privacy problems.
Lightfoot pushes permanent 10 p.m. curfew on liquor store sales in Chicago
Lightfoot pushes permanent 10 p.m. curfew on liquor store sales in Chicago
Grocery and liquor stores would be barred from selling beer, wine and liquor after 10 p.m. if Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot gets her way. She said the move would curb crime by stopping gatherings outside liquor stores and help recovering bars and restaurants.
Year after George Floyd’s death, police contracts stop Illinois reform
Year after George Floyd’s death, police contracts stop Illinois reform
It has been a year since George Floyd died beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee, setting off riots in Chicago and protests across Illinois. Lawmakers vowed reforms, but nothing will change as long as police contracts overpower state law.
Bill Powell
Bill Powell
"It’s truly ridiculous to realize that unions trump state law. There are some things in the contracts that impede disciplinary reforms."
Illinois lawmakers want to outlaw fishing with sharp objects along highways
Illinois lawmakers want to outlaw fishing with sharp objects along highways
Recent Illinois House votes aim to protect the state and its residents from pitchfork fishing along highways and from releasing too many balloons. The state’s big problems remain ignored.
Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away
Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away
Illinoisans planning a balloon release will need to count carefully. State lawmakers voted to fine repeat offenders who wantonly release 50 or more balloons.
Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities
Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities
Both police reform advocates and law enforcement supporters face the same serious obstacle in Illinois: police union contracts include provisions protecting officers from discipline. Those contracts carry more weight than state law.
Exposing insider politics of red-light cameras is aim of Illinois bill
Exposing insider politics of red-light cameras is aim of Illinois bill
After paying $1 billion in red-light camera fees, Illinoisans deserve to know more about how the devices are being pushed with their local political leaders.
Illinois law lets police union contracts overpower state law
Illinois law lets police union contracts overpower state law
If the Illinois General Assembly wants to see true police reforms, it must first change the state law that gives police union contracts more power than public laws and regulations. Without that change, reforms become empty intentions.