Small business advocates are discussing the impact new Illinois laws going into effect Jan. 1 could have on employers.

Several laws will go into effect in 2024, including Senate Bill 2034, which extends bereavement time for workers when dealing with the loss of a child. Other measures include the previous General Assembly’s Senate Bill 208, which mandates paid time off to be used for any reason.

Chicago officials say that for the first time the Texas Division of Emergency Management has sent a private chartered plane carrying asylum-seekers to O’Hare Airport.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office confirmed the state is responsible for the flight that departed from El Paso, Texas, and said more than 120 passengers were on board. A spokesman for Abbott said the state is “expanding our operation” to include sending migrants by plane to Chicago, in addition to the hundreds of buses they’ve already used to transport migrants to the city since last year.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in February on whether the Environmental Protection Agency can continue enforcing its anti-air-pollution “good neighbor” rule in 10 states, an effort to restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution.

The high court put off a decision on whether to halt enforcement of the rule Wednesday, allowing it to stay in effect at least until after it hears arguments during its February session.

An avalanche of passengers surged through O’Hare International Airport Wednesday as the holiday travel season took off.

The Chicago Department of Aviation projects 3.4 million flyers will converge at O’Hare and Midway International Airport between Wednesday and Jan. 2.

You may have seen some eyebrow-raising license plates, but ones like IOWASUX, WOOPASS, and DZNUTZ will not be found on Illinois plates.

This year, 304 custom license plates have been rejected by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’ office for being too ‘offensive to good taste and decency’. The number is down from 383 in 2022.