Culture clash at the Du Quoin State Fair Culture clash at the Du Quoin State Fair Thursday, July 11, 2019 The musical group Confederate Railroad was scheduled to perform Aug. 27. But when Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Chicago Democrat, learned about it, he ordered the Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of the fair, to cancel the event.
Community colleges weighing options for offering cannabis programs Community colleges weighing options for offering cannabis programs Thursday, July 11, 2019 Some community colleges and four-year universities in Illinois are exploring the possibility of launching educational programs to train people in the business of growing and marketing marijuana in light of a new state law legalizing adult-use recreational marijuana.
State leaders scoff at legal challenge to state bonds State leaders scoff at legal challenge to state bonds Monday, July 1, 2019 State officials in Illinois reacted with scorn this week to a legal filing in Sangamon County that challenges the constitutionality of two sets of bonds the state issued in 2003 and 2017 totaling... Read more
Some new laws taking effect; others already in place Some new laws taking effect; others already in place Wednesday, June 26, 2019 Starting Monday, July 1, it will officially become illegal in Illinois for anyone to sell or provide tobacco cigarettes or other tobacco products to people under age 21. Illinois lawmakers passed... Read more
Report: Most Illinois toddlers not fully ready for kindergarten Report: Most Illinois toddlers not fully ready for kindergarten Tuesday, June 25, 2019 The second annual Kindergarten Individual Development Survey, or KIDS report, shows about only one-fourth of those students, 26 percent, demonstrated readiness across all three key development... Read more
Rural pharmacies to receive state financial help Rural pharmacies to receive state financial help Monday, June 24, 2019 Independent pharmacies that serve Medicaid patients in small communities in Illinois will soon start receiving additional payments from the state. The Department of Healthcare and Family... Read more
AFSCME members ratify new state contract AFSCME members ratify new state contract Monday, June 24, 2019 Nearly 40,000 state employees will receive long-awaited pay raises and many will receive back pay for raises they did not receive for the past four years under a new labor agreement that was... Read more
Pritzker signs immigrant protection bills Pritzker signs immigrant protection bills Friday, June 21, 2019 Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed three bills into law Friday that aim to protect undocumented immigrants in Illinois, policies that he said stand in sharp contrast with those of President Donald Trump. Read more