In the ruling, Effingham County Judge Joshua Morrison said he believed attorney Tom DeVore and his clients were likely to prevail on their claims that the new weapons ban violated their rights under the Illinois state constitution to keep and bear arms, and their rights under the state constitution to equal protection and due process. He further found the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claims that the state’s Democratic supermajority unconstitutionally rushed the legislation through the Illinois General Assembly during a lame duck session, providing virtually no opportunity for lawmakers or Illinois citizens to debate or discuss the

Mayoral challenger Jesús “Chuy” García is not accused of wrongdoing, and through a spokesman, denies he played any role in the push by former House Speaker Michael Madigan to appoint Juan Ochoa to the utility’s board, which is one of the centerpiece allegations in the ComEd bribery conspiracy case set for trial in March.

The lawsuit seeks to represent all individuals placed in DCFS care since Jan. 1, 2018, that spent at least seven consecutive days incarcerated after a court order for their release upon request. The plaintiffs estimated the class includes “well over 100 children.”

The judge’s order and opinion linked here.

“As we see in California and elsewhere, too often bad policy developed in progressive states are exported elsewhere, and Illinois’ type of installment loan rate cap is being considered by federal policymakers. However, instituting a national interest rate cap would prevent low-income Americans from accessing loans to pay the bills for necessities like water and electricity.”

The legislation carries risks for Illinois, which is still smarting from the departure of hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, a frequent critic of the state tax code and the owner of Citadel LLC. To combat a potential pattern of billionaire outmigration, state Rep. Will Guzzardi said, the states have to collaborate. “That’s part of why we are working as a multistate coalition. We want to send a message that there is nowhere to hide.”

Here, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin comments on the debt ceiling, classified documents found at the personal properties of Joe Biden and Donald Trump, arson at Peoria Planned Parenthood, and Illinois’ role in the presidential primary.

According to the Illinois Policy Institute’s research, since 2020, Illinois lawmakers have seen more yearly increases than every other state except New York, which is highest in the nation for lawmaker pay.

“We’re going to say that for all the stocks and financial instruments that you all own, we’re going to value your assets, and when they go up in worth, we’re going to tax them, just like it’s income,” said state Rep. Will Guzaardi, who sees this as the start of a nationwide movement.