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Weather postpones some July 4th events in Central Illinois
CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) — As possible inclement weather threatens to soil stars, stripes, and sparklers in Central Illinois, some July 4th fireworks displays and activities are being postponed. Jacksonville festivities, including the Nichols Park fireworks and Morgan County VFW Post 1379’s Independence Day Celebration, are being pushed back. The Nichols Park fireworks were originally set […]
Sudden Bizarre Warnings from Ai About 4 Illinois Places to Avoid
Every time I think I understand technology, something like this happens. During some recent research involving artificial intelligence, a strange conversation took place where the bots issued sudden warnings about Illinois places I should avoid at all costs. Spoiler Alert: none of the places in Illinois I was warned about...
New Illinois laws 2024: More laws in effect July 1, including minimum wage, tax increases
A host of new laws went into effect in Illinois Monday, at the halfway point of the year.Some of the new laws mean you will pay more at the pump and at your favorite Chicago restaurants, but it also means many minimum wage workers are getting a raise.ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchMinimum wage increaseMinimum wage workers in Chicago and Cook County will be getting a raise July 1.Those workers will now make a base pay of $16.20 per hour.Chicago tipped minimum wage phase-outChicago started the first phase of cutting out tipped wages for workers. The...
Illinois Residents, Decline Calls From These 8 Area Codes Immediately
I don't know what it is, but my phone has been ringing off the hook nonstop with spam calls and they all come from different area codes. Has it been happening to you, too?. It's so irritating constantly declining calls all day long, especially when I've already flagged and blocked a ton of numbers from continuously re-calling. Obviously not all calls from these area codes are spam, but my phone has been super accurate in flagging those that are either spam or telemarketers trying to make a buck.
Pritzker signs 49 bills impacting elections, hunting, mobile park residents and more
(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted 49 bills Monday that touch on elections, hunting, mobile home park residents, criminal justice, education and more. House Bill 4621, effective immediately with some provisions taking effect July 1, 2025, creates the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services within the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The move allows the office to provide pretrial services to circuit courts and counties that don’t currently have pretrial services agencies. There has been an explosion of pretrial hearings since cash...
New Illinois law sparks fear of possible statewide landlord registry
(The Center Square) – A new Illinois law says mobile home tenants can’t be evicted for not paying rent, but only if the park itself is not up on their license and fees. State Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, carried Senate Bill 2834 in the House and explained the measure already exists in current statute but the replication in the Mobile Home Landlord and Tenants Rights Act is a way to bring greater awareness to residents that this is existing law. ...
Undocumented immigrants now eligible for standard Illinois driver's licenses
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Under an Illinois law that went into effect Monday, undocumented immigrants are now eligible for standard driver's licenses in Illinois.It is a change that seeks to reduce the stigma around driving without citizenship, and to make the roads across the state safer.For more than a decade, undocumented immigrants have been able to drive legally in Illinois so long as they passed their road test and had proof of insurance—under legislation signed into law in 2013 by then-Gov. Pat Quinn. This new law takes things one step further by changing the look and language of their former licenses.What...
New Illinois law expands types of shotgun shells hunters can use on turkeys
(The Center Square) – Beginning next year, a bill signed by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker permits .410 shot shells to be added to the acceptable sizes of turkey shot already allowed by the state. Josh Witkowski with the Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources said hunting groups were proponents of Senate Bill 2767 because it expands hunting to those who want lower recoil. “This expands the opportunities for youth hunting, maybe...
Illinois’ gun ban remains in place, but rights advocates say days are numbered
(The Center Square) – Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has said it won’t take unfinished cases challenging Illinois’ gun ban without final judgment from the appeals court, it’s back to the lower courts. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas declined to hear cases from Illinoisans suing over gun bans. The opposing sides of the debate see […]
Opponents call new Illinois law ‘thank-you gift’ to government unions
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill opponents say is a thank-you gift from the Illinois General Assembly to government unions. Pritzker signed House Bill 4417, which allows public high schools, including charter schools, to designate and annually observe a week known as "Workplace Readiness Week.” Opponents say the law will provide a platform for union propaganda. State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorn Woods, urged a "no" vote...
Gov. Pritzker Signs LGBTQ+ Affirming Bills in Honor of Pride Month
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — Governor JB Pritzker signed SB2930 and HB5507 in advance of the 2024 Chicago Pride Parade. SB2930 requires nonprofits to publicly report the aggregated demographic information about their boards of directors to encourage nonprofits to reflect the diversity of the communities they support. HB5507 removes barriers...
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