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If the lawsuit is successful, it could hurt Illinois’ ability to borrow its way out of the current crisis. But even if it fails, the fact that it’s moving forward could cause problems for the state.
Special Prosecutor Dan Webb and his team reached five conclusions outlined in the report; among them, there were potential violations of ethics by Foxx and her staff. However, there was not evidence to support criminal charges against Foxx or her staff.
Michael Lappe, vice president of the board of trustees for the Policemen’s Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, said 59 police officers are retiring in August, with another 51 retirements set for next month. He said a change in health insurance benefits is a factor, while the police union president blames Mayor Lori Lightfoot for not backing police officers.
State Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo, represents part of Region 4: “COVID-19 hospitalization rates in these counties remain low with no threat of exceeding medical capacity. Nevertheless, the Governor has decided that bar stools, reception halls, and groups of 26 or more people are not allowed for the next 14 days.”
On Facebook, there are notices for more to occur on the Magnificent Mile later this month and into September.
“Madigan is at once the most powerful and the most hated elected official in Illinois. But unless you’re one of the 108,000 residents of his Southwest Side district, you don’t get to vote for or against him. Meanwhile, the fair tax is the most important issue on the ballot this fall. It shouldn’t be tied to Madigan.”
“In real terms, Webb shows, Foxx gave Smollett special treatment at the cost of fairness to every other person who must deal with the Cook County justice system without clout or fame or connections.”
“We talk about it all the time. But every night, we’re scared,” one cigar shop owner said. “Is it going to happen again? I’m going to get a call and I’m going to come back in here and see everything is broken again.”
The judge added, though, that he doubts he has the authority to step in and make any changes to the deal between prosecutors and the federal government, and he promised to rule swiftly on the high-dollar motion.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the travel map is meant to be a resource for people when planning travel for work or leisure.
A task force formed by the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection conducted 38 investigations into large gatherings and parties this weekend, including eight at residential locations, officials said.
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi, R-Elmhurst, said, “The spirit of the Shakman Decree is that our public jobs should not be used to coerce support for a political machine…that’s a major step in the wrong direction for the people of Illinois.”
In 2018 alone, the American Federation of Teachers – not its political action committee – gave $250,000 to Madigan’s personal election committee, according to records filed with the U.S. Department of Labor.
“This isn’t about one person in the state of Illinois,” Sen. Melinda Bush said. “This is about the General Assembly, this is about adopting ethics changes that will really address what has been a systemic culture.”
All over the suburbs, homes have been selling fast in recent weeks, at assorted price levels. Agents in most cases say it’s the result of a long-lingering pandemic that has people realizing their homes are too small and have too little outdoor space to suit the new all-at-home lifestyle that the crisis has prompted. Epochally low interest rates are also a big factor.
When asked about the kettling Monday, Police Supt. David Brown said, “I haven’t heard those allegations, that there was kettling going on. There’s video captured. People can judge for themselves.”
Two people were found with merchandise stolen during the looting in their possession, which was returned to the businesses.
“Most citizens of Chicago are sick of it all…. We hope Mayor Lightfoot’s remarks are a turning point for Chicago, and that she uses all the resources at her disposal—including help from federal law enforcement if needed—to make good her words about zero tolerance for criminal behavior.”
“Chicagoans have been told that it is necessary to spend 40% of the Chicago budget on police in order to prevent violence and promote public safety. Yet this weekend, just 24 hours after a 12-year-old boy was shot and at the same time as another shooting was taking place on the South Side, Mayor Lightfoot and Superintendent Brown stationed thousands of officers downtown, where they kettled, pepper sprayed and beat demonstrators,” the statement read, in part.
A 12-year-old boy and five teenagers were among those wounded.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot discusses violent protests, the spread of COVID-19, remote learning for CPS students, and her opinions of the federal government’s response during her appearance on Face the Nation.
” Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is asking voters to approve a $3.4 trillion “Fair Tax” amendment to the state constitution. At least it’s going to plug the state’s problems? Far from it. The pressure of pension costs is sucking up the oxygen.”
Governor Pritzker made the announcement Sunday afternoon, as the region passes an eight percent test positivity rate. “(N)either arbitrary dates on a calendar nor political pressure will dictate Illinois’ efforts to protect our people. If the data shows we need to go backwards in our reopening, I won’t hesitate to tighten restrictions to protect our collective health.”
“Put the statues back, because it’s history. It’s part of Chicago…there is no reason – no reason – that there can’t be dialogue, and we can discuss putting these statues back,” said Frank Coconate of the group Hands Off Christopher Columbus.
“We look great, but if neighbors get looted and this neighbor gets looted and the block next to us gets looted… we still have to reap the repercussions of all that,” said the owner of a sweet shop on South Michigan Avenue. “We still don’t have the foot traffic anymore because now people don’t want to come downtown.”
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