The bill would also create two new programs – Freedom Schools and the Whole Child Task Force – both with the intent of offering additional resources and opportunities to Black students.

Jim Dey: “But while the tax issue may or may not be on legislative leaders’ drawing board, four major proposals by the legislative Black caucus were thrown this past week into the legislative hopper and have shaken various public and private sector groups to their core.”

Following the riot at the United States Capitol, Bailey and his wife offered prayer to followers and encouraged a liquid cleanse, according to Politico. “We’ve embarked on a 21-day fast. Liquid only up until the evening, when we enjoy a healthy meal, because our nation needs prayer and it needs prayer now.”

“The state’s lame-duck legislative session in the Bank of Springfield Center opened Friday with unacceptable restrictions on media members. A letter to House Speaker Michael Madigan signed by more than two dozen reporters said the restrictions ‘would impair our collective ability to accurately and thoroughly cover the proceedings of the Illinois General Assembly.'”

ADM and InnovaFeed will grow and harvest billion and billions of insects called black soldier fly, whose larvae are scavengers and thrive on decomposing organic matter and convert it into a nutrient-rich protein that can be transformed into animal feed.

“The president’s encouragement of the insurrection and his intended disruption of our Constitutional duty to count the certified electoral college ballots is a direct threat to our rule of law, national security and democracy,” he said. “His willingness to incite, and potentially facilitate, violence against a coequal branch of government are as much a mortal threat to our Constitutional republic as they are a violation of our nation’s laws.”

The action came on the second day of the General Assembly’s lame duck session, which is focused heavily on a racial and social justice agenda developed over the summer and fall by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.

“You see proliferation for casinos that are specific to Native American communities,” House Bill 5024 sponsor state Rep. Will Davis, D-Hazel Crest, said. “It was something that was offered to them to repair the relationship. I can’t point to something that was given to African Americans in the same vein.”

IDES last week said they’ve stopped 350,000 fraudulent claims, but couldn’t say how much of the $19 billion in claims paid out was the result of fraud.

“[Nursing staff] were trying to take care of [residents] as best as possible but these policies kept happening even though we were trying to sound the alarm,” local VAC Superintendent Steven Kreitzer said.

With 50,000 total applicants, less than 20 percent received money. More than a third of BIG funds went to businesses downstate, 40 percent of grants were made to minority-owned businesses statewide, and more than 80 percent were made to businesses with $1 million or less in annual revenues, according a DCEO press release.

“This is a big problem and requires a bold response. House bill 163 as now amended is a bold response,” said John Rakowski with the Illinois State Bar Association.

Since no official business can be conducted by the House until a speaker is elected, a lengthy balloting process could ensue while pressing matters such as the state budget and pandemic recovery are held in abeyance. Madigan, some Democrats contend privately, is counting at the very least on attrition to eventually return him as speaker as issues mount.