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Thursday, November 14, 2019
'Cannabis Use Disorder' Up in States That Legalized Recreational Pot
Recreational Marijuana
States that legalized recreational marijuana
have seen an increase in problematic pot use among teens and adults aged 26 and
older, a new study finds.
The researchers compared marijuana use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska and
Oregon -- the first four states to legalize recreational marijuana -- before
and after legalization. The investigators also compared trends in those states
with states th...
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Chicago casino bill stalls, some not happy with state’s smaller cut
Chicago Mayor (16)
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Gambling, Gaming
Cullerton, John--State Senate, 6
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Syverson, Dave--State Senate, 35
In the moments before it was to be called for a vote, state lawmakers put
the brakes on a change to Illinois’ gambling tax rates that would have
delivered Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot a big win.
A spokesman for Senate President John Cullerton said late Wednesday that he
“remains optimistic” lawmakers can come to an agreement on the
legislation.
An amended Senate...
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Op-Ed: Illinois voters will have to force change at all levels of government to reduce property taxes
Legislature (56)
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Taxes, property (87)
The 88-member Property Tax Relief Task Force charged with coming up with a
plan to reduce property taxes was supposed to deliver an initial report to Gov.
J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly on Halloween.
That didn't happen. There was no treat for the state's overtaxed homeowners
this year. Just crickets.
That Oct. 31 deadline was enshrined in the very law that created the tas...
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Some consider proposed changes to recreational cannabis law minor, others say substantive
Guns and Gun Control, FOID, Concealed Carry (46)
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Recreational Marijuana
Bryant, Terri--State House, 115
Lawmakers are considering a number of changes to the state recreational
cannabis law, some said the changes are minor, while others said they would
be substantive and require further study.
Lawmakers passed adult-use recreational cannabis legislation in the Spring
session. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the bill. Legal sales are set to begin Jan.
1.
But Senior Advisor to the Governor o...
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Still no movement on ethics reforms despite more bills being filed by Republicans
Ethics, Campaign Reform, Transparency (12a)
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Pay to Play, Corruption
Barickman, Jason--State House, 105
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Cullerton, John--State Senate, 6
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Cullerton, Thomas--State Senate, 23
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McConchie, Dan--State Senate, 26
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Sandoval, Martin--State Senate, 11
While the number of ethics reforms filed by Republicans in the Illinois
statehouse continue to stack up, the clock is running out for anything to pass
by the end of the week.
Thursday is the last day of session this year. While Senate President John
Cullerton, D-Chicago, said it’s possible for some reforms to pass in one day,
he wants more time to review the proposals.
“I&#...
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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Nipping it in the bud; SIU does not plan to change policies regarding Marijuana use
Education--Higher (37)
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Recreational Marijuana
Marijuana use will be
legalized on Jan. 1, 2020 in Illinois, however SIU doesn’t plan on changing its
policy regarding the drug.
Illinois is the 11th state to legalize marijuana, and the first to implement
a comprehensive statewide marijuana marketplace designed by legislators.
SIU is a smoke-free campus, in complian...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Daylight saving time bill gets approval even though it wouldn’t stop time change
Education--Elementary and Secondary (36)
Holmes, Linda--State Senate, 42
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Manar, Andy--State Senate, 48
Illinois lawmakers are one step closer to approving permanent daylight
saving time, but the change would require federal approval, something that’s
only been granted twice.
State Sen. Andy Manar’s < read more >
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady
Legislature (56)
Brady, Bill--State Senate, 44
Joey McLaughlin talks with Illinois Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady about the latest from the Veto Session.
https://wtax.com/podcasts/illinois-senate-republican-leader-bill-brady-4/
...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Local pension consolidation proposal passes committee despite objections to changes
Fire Marshal, fire, fire fighters (84)
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Local Government (60)
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Pensions (70)
,
Police (28)
Batinick, Mark--State House, 97
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Hoffman, Jay--State House, 113
Four words – “A third party, including” – in two sections of
a proposed amendment to the suburban and downstate police and fire pension
consolidation bill could sink the effort, but lawmakers said the plan remains a
work in progress.
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
With clock ticking, ethics reforms remain elusive at statehouse
Ethics, Campaign Reform, Transparency (12a)
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Pay to Play, Corruption
Arroyo, Luis--State House, 3
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Cullerton, Thomas--State Senate, 23
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Kifowit, Stephanie--State House, 84
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Madigan, Michael--State House, 22
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Sandoval, Martin--State Senate, 11
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Spain, Ryan--State House, 73
,
Wehrli, Grant--State House, 41
Leaders from both sides of the
aisle have called for more stringent ethics rules amid federal corruption
probes involving state lawmakers, but it remained unclear what, if any, reform
proposals would be tackled before legislators leave for the week.
Three state lawmakers have come
under federal scru...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Loans may be only option left for Illinois residents recovering from flooding
Floods (42)
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Rivers (23)
As hope for federal funding dwindles, residents and business owners affected by
historic flooding in Southern Illinois’ options for relief are shrinking.< read more >
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Lightfoot lobbies Springfield for Chicago casino, with rare visit to Democratic caucus
Chicago Mayor (16)
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Gambling, Gaming
— With Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s legislative wish list still up in the air, the mayor took questions from a packed House Democratic caucus Tuesday — reminding them a Chicago casino “benefits the entire state.” It was a rare — and largely symbolic — visit to the caucus for a Chicago mayor, both Lightfoot and Illinois House Speaker Mik...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan would sync city’s and Illinois’ pot laws, cut penalties for possession
Chicago Mayor (16)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is set to introduce an ordinance that would reform how Chicago enforces the rules and regulations related to marijuana less than two months before its recreational use is deemed legal in Illinois, administration officials said. Among other things, residents caught with small amounts of cannabis will face less stiff penalties and fines than they have i...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Despite scandal, lawmakers vote to block Illinois Gaming Board from preventing video gambling owners from selling without approval
Gambling, Gaming
Less than a week after the Illinois Gaming Board attempted to stop video gambling operators from selling their businesses without state approval, a panel of lawmakers in Springfield blocked the move. The General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules voted 10-0 against the Gaming Board on Tuesday, rejecting the gambling regulators’ rationale for ma...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Feds recorded calls of close confidant of House Speaker Michael Madigan: sources
ComEd (94)
Madigan, Michael--State House, 22
Federal authorities recorded phone calls of one of House Speaker Michael Madigan’s closest confidants as part of the burgeoning investigation into ComEd’s lobbying practices, two sources with knowledge of the probe told the Chicago Tribune. Recordings of phone conversations involving Michael McClain, who lobbied for ComEd and parent company Exelon before retir...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to consolidate 650 local police and fire pensions into two statewide funds hits a snag
Fire Marshal, fire, fire fighters (84)
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Pensions (70)
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Police (28)
Days after a path forward appeared clear for Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to consolidate hundreds of suburban and downstate police and fire pension funds, the compromise reached over the weekend hit a snag. Four words in an amendment to the proposal led the Illinois Municipal League, a longtime advocate for pension consolidation and a backer of Pritzker’s initial...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Hey downstate lawmakers, butt out of Chicago’s fight over taxing the rich! This is between us and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Chicago Mayor (16)
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Legislature (56)
As you may have heard, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot wants to raise the tax rates on the sale of high-end properties to help her balance the city budget. You may like the idea. I do. Chicago’s in a deep fiscal hole, and since the money to fill that hole has to come from somewhere, I’d rather a greater share of it come from those better able to afford the upchar...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Mayor Lori Lightfoot meets with state lawmakers, heading home without a deal on casino, real estate transfer tax plans
Chicago Mayor (16)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot headed to Springfield on Tuesday looking for help on legislation aimed at eventually shoring up Chicago’s troubled finances — a sweetened casino tax structure and the power to hike taxes on expensive real estate deals. She was leaving Springfield without a deal in place on either. Lightfoot stressed the urgency of ge...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Mayor proposes wage hike for tipped workers Her plan would boost their pay—but not to the full $15 that some employee advocates were hoping for.
Chicago Mayor (16)
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Minimum Wage (10)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has introduced her proposal to raise the city’s minimum wage to $15 by 2021 and boost base wages for tipped workers—but not to the full $15 that some employee advoc...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
As fed probe deepens, City Club grapples with fallout
ComEd (94)
Amid reports its office was raided and its president paid $3.1 million to lobby for ComEd, the City Club struggles with how to handle the aftermath—including more canceled speeches by public officials.The City Club of Chicago is contending with the fallout of its president's involvement in a federal probe of Commonwealth Edison influence in Springfield....
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Lake County considering options on recreational marijuana sales
Recreational Marijuana
The Lake County Board may be ready to start the process of determining whether to allow the sale of recreational marijuana in unincorporated areas. Board members last week directed staff to create an ordinance that would authorize marijuana sales when use and possession becomes legal in Illinois on Jan. 1. But that doesn't mean a majority of the boa...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
How to plug big-time shortfalls in police and fire pension funds? Some cities are selling sewer systems for big bucks
Fire Marshal, fire, fire fighters (84)
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Local Government (60)
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Pensions (70)
,
Police (28)
In 2018, Alton’s pension funds for firefighters and police officers had
about $117 million in unfunded liabilities -- the retirement money that will
have to be paid to retirees.
But in June, the city cut that shortfall nearly in half. How? They sold the
city’s sewer system to a company, Illinois American Water, for $53.8 million.
Godfrey also sold its wastewater syst...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
A lot of road work is on the way Can local contractors handle the demand?
Transportation (91)
The 2020 construction season for Illinois looks to be an ambitious one. The Illinois Department of Transportation’s updated five year plan has about forty different projects lined up for La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties — valued at an estimated $103.7 million. By contrast, contractors tackled about $72.5 million in local projects ove...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Secret medical data-mining project is more proof that Big Tech needs rules
Health (49)
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Internet, Social Media (98)
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Technology (98)
In a frightening illustration of how completely Americans today have lost
control over their personal data, Google has partnered with Clayton-based
health care giant Ascension to collect detailed medical information on millions
of Americans — including patient identities and dates of birth — without
notifying them or their doctors.
The search-engine behemoth, trying to nose in on o...
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Wednesday, November 13, 2019
County board delays decision on proposed ban of cannabis-related businesses
Recreational Marijuana
The Sangamon County Board wants to wait at least a month before deciding whether businesses should be able to sell, test, grow, process or transport recreational marijuana in unincorporated areas of Sangamon County in 2020 and beyond. The board on Tuesday voted 18-8, with one person voting “present,” to send a proposal to ban cannabis-related businesses back t...
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