Toggle main menu visibility| July 2, 2020 8:20 pmDueling court decisions are leading to a lack of consensus over which of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s actions intended to stop the coronavirus from spreading still stand.Clay County Judge Michael McHaney has previously , R-Xenia, and on Thursday did so again, when he said that any and all COVID-19 related executive orders issued by Pritzker since early April are “void ab initio” as in, nullified as if they never existed in the eyes of the law.“The Court declares Defendant had no Illinois constitutional authority as Governor to restrict a citizen’s...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 2, 2020 8:20 pmDueling court decisions are leading to a lack of consensus over which of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s actions intended to stop the coronavirus from spreading still stand.Clay County Judge Michael McHaney has previously , R-Xenia, and on Thursday did so again, when he said that any and all COVID-19 related executive orders issued by Pritzker since early April are “void ab initio” as in, nullified as if they never existed in the eyes of the law.“The Court declares Defendant had no Illinois constitutional authority as Governor to restrict a citizen’s...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 28, 2020 7:17 pmBy the time parents notice anything out of the ordinary – their baby is “floppy” or isn’t able to roll – it’s too late to reverse the damage done by spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA.“Once these infants start to lose function, demonstrate signs of weakness/disease, that loss is irreversible,” said , the chief medical officer for Elk Grove Village-based . “That’s why it’s so critical to screen and treat before they develop symptoms.”If left untreated, the genetic, progressive neuromuscular disorder is the number one cause of children...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 28, 2020 7:17 pmBy the time parents notice anything out of the ordinary – their baby is “floppy” or isn’t able to roll – it’s too late to reverse the damage done by spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA.“Once these infants start to lose function, demonstrate signs of weakness/disease, that loss is irreversible,” said , the chief medical officer for Elk Grove Village-based . “That’s why it’s so critical to screen and treat before they develop symptoms.”If left untreated, the genetic, progressive neuromuscular disorder is the number one cause of children...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 20, 2020 7:39 pmIllinois lawmakers took the rare move of temporarily kicking out one of their members Wednesday.Members of the House voted to remove Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, for refusing to wear a mask during a special legislative session, as required by new ruled adopted to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus.Earlier on Wednesday, Bailey had told WTTW News that he had brought a mask but would make a spur-of-the-moment decision about whether to wear it.He said he would be “led by the spirit and decide in the moment.”Bailey is suing Gov. J.B....…Toggle main menu visibility| May 20, 2020 7:39 pmIllinois lawmakers took the rare move of temporarily kicking out one of their members Wednesday.Members of the House voted to remove Rep. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, for refusing to wear a mask during a special legislative session, as required by new ruled adopted to stop the potential spread of the coronavirus.Earlier on Wednesday, Bailey had told WTTW News that he had brought a mask but would make a spur-of-the-moment decision about whether to wear it.He said he would be “led by the spirit and decide in the moment.”Bailey is suing Gov. J.B....WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 26, 2020 6:31 pmChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is asking residents to anonymously report tips about house parties after a Saturday night bash in Chicago drew international disdain, and she hinted that party organizers and attendees could face repercussions.Social distancing guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus call for people to keep 6 feet apart, at minimum.Dozens of young adults flouted those rules Saturday night, as they were packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a house party that appears to have been held in Chicago.Some wore Chicago...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 26, 2020 6:31 pmChicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is asking residents to anonymously report tips about house parties after a Saturday night bash in Chicago drew international disdain, and she hinted that party organizers and attendees could face repercussions.Social distancing guidelines in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus call for people to keep 6 feet apart, at minimum.Dozens of young adults flouted those rules Saturday night, as they were packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a house party that appears to have been held in Chicago.Some wore Chicago...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 17, 2020 3:12 pmLongtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan denies having done anything criminal or improper despite being implicated Friday in court filings that charge utility Commonwealth Edison with bribery.in which ComEd admits to arranging jobs, contracts and payoffs to Madigan associates, some of whom did little or no work for the company, from 2011 to 2019 in order to win influence and curry favor with Madigan, given the powerful legislator’s ability to help ComEd advance laws that benefitted the company by paving the way for higher electric...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 17, 2020 3:12 pmLongtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan denies having done anything criminal or improper despite being implicated Friday in court filings that charge utility Commonwealth Edison with bribery.in which ComEd admits to arranging jobs, contracts and payoffs to Madigan associates, some of whom did little or no work for the company, from 2011 to 2019 in order to win influence and curry favor with Madigan, given the powerful legislator’s ability to help ComEd advance laws that benefitted the company by paving the way for higher electric...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 1, 2020 8:47 pmJuly 1 marks the start of Illinois’ new fiscal year, which ushers in a bushel of new laws.Here are a handful that may come in handy:Minimum wage increaseIllinois is on the path to reaching a statewide $15 minimum wage in 2025 by going up a dollar a year starting in January. The wage floor increased this January, from $8.25 to $9.25, but also bumped up midway through 2020: As of July 1, the minimum wage in Illinois is $10.Low-wage earners will no doubt appreciate a boost in their paychecks, but the Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s Rob...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 1, 2020 8:47 pmJuly 1 marks the start of Illinois’ new fiscal year, which ushers in a bushel of new laws.Here are a handful that may come in handy:Minimum wage increaseIllinois is on the path to reaching a statewide $15 minimum wage in 2025 by going up a dollar a year starting in January. The wage floor increased this January, from $8.25 to $9.25, but also bumped up midway through 2020: As of July 1, the minimum wage in Illinois is $10.Low-wage earners will no doubt appreciate a boost in their paychecks, but the Illinois Retail Merchants Association’s Rob...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 14, 2020 8:39 amFirst, it was masks. The federal government sent the surgical variety, instead of the N95 respiratory-grade masks Illinois asked for and needed.Now, swabs are the issue.It’s the latest trouble with supplies sent to Illinois by the federal government to deal with the coronavirus.WTTW News got a tip about the mix-up, which the administrations of both Gov. J.B Pritzker and President Donald Trump confirmed.Pritzker’s office said after some back-and-forth, the feds promised for use in testing for COVID-19.Some arrived without issue: A shipment of...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 14, 2020 8:39 amFirst, it was masks. The federal government sent the surgical variety, instead of the N95 respiratory-grade masks Illinois asked for and needed.Now, swabs are the issue.It’s the latest trouble with supplies sent to Illinois by the federal government to deal with the coronavirus.WTTW News got a tip about the mix-up, which the administrations of both Gov. J.B Pritzker and President Donald Trump confirmed.Pritzker’s office said after some back-and-forth, the feds promised for use in testing for COVID-19.Some arrived without issue: A shipment of...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 5, 2020 9:06 pmNot long ago, if you got pulled over while driving with an expired license, you could have gotten a ticket.An expired vehicle registration? That might have led to a fine.That’s no longer the case, due to the coronavirus.All Illinois driver's license facilities have been closed since mid-March.“Realizing that this was going to be a problem, Sec. (Jesse White) took the initiative, by law, to extend the driver’s license date and the registration date, which is the sticker on the back of your back license place, for 90 days, 9-0, from the day that...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 5, 2020 9:06 pmNot long ago, if you got pulled over while driving with an expired license, you could have gotten a ticket.An expired vehicle registration? That might have led to a fine.That’s no longer the case, due to the coronavirus.All Illinois driver's license facilities have been closed since mid-March.“Realizing that this was going to be a problem, Sec. (Jesse White) took the initiative, by law, to extend the driver’s license date and the registration date, which is the sticker on the back of your back license place, for 90 days, 9-0, from the day that...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 17, 2020 12:07 pmBars, restaurants and other businesses that open to customers in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order now risk being charged with a misdemeanor.The  has been in effect since Friday afternoon when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration quietly filed the emergency rule. While Pritzker’s executive order requires restaurants, salons and gyms to remain closed to on-site patrons due to COVID-19, the rule change codifies it under Illinois Department of Public Health regulations – violators of which can be charged with a Class A...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 17, 2020 12:07 pmBars, restaurants and other businesses that open to customers in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order now risk being charged with a misdemeanor.The  has been in effect since Friday afternoon when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration quietly filed the emergency rule. While Pritzker’s executive order requires restaurants, salons and gyms to remain closed to on-site patrons due to COVID-19, the rule change codifies it under Illinois Department of Public Health regulations – violators of which can be charged with a Class A...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| May 17, 2020 12:07 pmBars, restaurants and other businesses that open to customers in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order now risk being charged with a misdemeanor.The  has been in effect since Friday afternoon when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration quietly filed the emergency rule. While Pritzker’s executive order requires restaurants, salons and gyms to remain closed to on-site patrons due to COVID-19, the rule change codifies it under Illinois Department of Public Health regulations – violators of which can be charged with a Class A...…Toggle main menu visibility| May 17, 2020 12:07 pmBars, restaurants and other businesses that open to customers in defiance of Illinois’ stay-at-home order now risk being charged with a misdemeanor.The  has been in effect since Friday afternoon when Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration quietly filed the emergency rule. While Pritzker’s executive order requires restaurants, salons and gyms to remain closed to on-site patrons due to COVID-19, the rule change codifies it under Illinois Department of Public Health regulations – violators of which can be charged with a Class A...WW…