Op-ed: General Assembly, stop hiding the people’s work behind COVID-19 excuses – Chicago Tribune*

Laurence Msall, president of the Civic Federation: “While many other states used their spring sessions to authorize permanent or temporary policies for meeting remotely, and while the city of Chicago and Cook County remotely conducted business as usual, no meaningful legislation to carry out the people’s work in Illinois during this once-in-a-century public health crisis was enacted.”

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Defiant Illinois business owner: ‘If everybody would open up, they would have to give in’ – Center Square

In a live video of Champaign County health inspectors filling out forms after witnessing indoor dining at his restaurant, owner Jeff Buckler said he’s taking a stand despite being fined $500 a day. “COVID rates are down, go to Walmart, go to Target, go to any other shopping mall and it’s packed beyond belief. We’ve got nine people in here.”

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As 34th Resident Dies After LaSalle Veterans’ Home COVID-19 Outbreak, Families Prepare To Sue – Peoria Public Radio

The families have not yet filed suit, but when they do, they’ll be eligible for up to $2 million dollars in damages. The cap on awards that can be made by the Illinois Court of Claims was increased from $100,000 to $2 million in 2018 after the General Assembly passed a law in the wake of 13 deaths at the Quincy Veterans’ Home after a Legionnaires’ outbreak in 2015.

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Column: Taxation pause gives Magnificent Mile backers time to talk – Chicago Sun-Times*

“That glittering street of credit-fueled dreams contains some of Chicago’s most visible scars from the pandemic and civil unrest dating from the warm weather. Retail vacancies, once drum-tight on the Mag Mile, are now about 20% and due to go higher, the (Magnificent Mile) association said, with Macy’s threatening to leave Water Tower Place and the Gap expected to depart at the end of January.”

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Kim Foxx’s vision: Automatically erase more serious convictions for weed dealing, expunge cocaine or heroin arrests – Chicago Sun-Times*

Asked whether she would advocate for expunging convictions for possession of those harder drugs, Foxx answered “yes” — as long as it’s part of a larger, progressive approach to handling addiction. “If we recognize substance abuse disorder as a health condition, then we must modify our justice system to treat it as such. Criminalizing health is not in the interest of public safety.”

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