Illinois’ plan to build social equity into the growing cannabis industry by creating licenses for businesses led by minorities and individuals with minor criminal backgrounds is admirable, said panelist Doug Kelly, executive director of the Cannabis Equity Coalition Illinois. But the delay between when the state selected licensees from the pool of minority candidates and when the licenses were officially awarded drained many startups of capital, Kelly said.

“I support combining the offices. I have done more than just talk about it. I have introduced bills in the House and have been a sponsor of these going back many years,” candidate Tom Demmer said. “I think there is an opportunity for savings for taxpayers.” Echoed incumbent Michael Frerichs, “When I ran for office, I supported it. When I ran for reelection, I supported it, and I still support it.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who had mandated the vaccine for several groups including K-12 school staff and state colleges, said it’s up to lawmakers to make the call. His opponent in the Nov. 8 election, Republican Darren Bailey said on Twitter his administration would oppose mandating COVID vaccines for schools.

Facing economic issues such as reduced consumer spending and rent hikes, about a third of Illinois small businesses couldn’t pay their rent in full in October. That is actually down 7% from September.

“In 2019 the governor pushed for the creation of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force to address political concerns a switch to a progressive income tax would do nothing to address the state’s high property tax burden. Ultimately, the task force never issued a final report or any recommendations to lower property taxes…Pritzker has since signed no legislation that would help local governments structurally reform their biggest cost drivers or place limits on property tax increases.”

While legislators in states like Texas and Florida actively punish asset managers, banks and companies that make business decisions based on environmental, social and governance factors, their counterparts in states such as Maine, Illinois and California are taking the opposite approach.

During the investigation, Scott Lennox unlocked his phone and allowed investigators to confirm that he called Bailey’s office and review his Snapchat account. There, investigators allegedly found exchanges between Lennox and four other people about the Bailey incident. One recipient responded to Lennox, “Now THAT’S how you should be participating in elections. If the officials aren’t afraid, something is wrong.”

President Joe Biden will lead a get-out-the vote rally for Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the rest of the Democratic ticket with a focus on boosting suburban Chicago congressional incumbents who are in races that may be tightening. The vice president’s office said Kamala Harris will “deliver remarks” at an Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders event in Chicago. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Asian American and on the Tuesday ballot, is also scheduled to attend the event.

Once again, a handful of races — predominantly in the Chicago suburbs, where Democrats over the past decade have claimed territory in longtime GOP strongholds — will be key to determining the outcome.

“I think you will see instances where civilians take matters into their own hands and use hopefully what’s an appropriate level of force to get the people to stop committing the crime that they’re doing,” Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard said.

“Part of the problem is the rules that we pass empower one person to bottleneck all this stuff that a majority of the public believes in,” Rep. Mike Marron said. “These are nonpartisan issues. This isn’t Republican versus Democrat. Everybody should be able to get behind good government.”