Illinois House Approves Plan To Create Elected School Board In Chicago
The Illinois House of Representatives late Wednesday passed legislation that would create a fully elected school board in Chicago by 2027.
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The Illinois House of Representatives late Wednesday passed legislation that would create a fully elected school board in Chicago by 2027.
"Why not wait? If we know that the bill itself is deeply flawed, why are we rushing to ratify?" Lightfoot said.
The Illinois Senate voted 36-15 on Tuesday to approve legislation that would create a 21-member school board starting in 2025.
Illinois lawmakers passed several key pieces of legislation Tuesday, including a proposal for an elected school board for Chicago.
"We're very lucky our revenues came up," said House Majority Leader Greg Harris, a Chicago Democrat.
The law would allow pet shops to sell cats and dogs only if they are obtained from animal control facilities or shelters that comply with regulations set out in the bill.
Minority entrepreneurs may soon have a better shot at getting into the marijuana industry, thanks to legislation that just passed the Illinois House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation would prohibit any Illinois school from applying their uniform or dress code to hairstyles "including hairstyles historically associated with race, ethnicity, or hair texture, including, but not limited to, protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists."
Democrats face a June 30 deadline to enact the maps or give Republicans a 50-50 chance at drawing the new boundary lines.
If the bill is passed, it would go into effect immediately, but would only be allowed for six months.
Illinois Secretary of State's office facilities, courts, and utility offices are all open now – but our unemployment offices that many still desperately need remain closed.
A member of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch's staff tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, as lawmakers and their staffs returned to Springfield after their two-week spring break.
"In the spirit of good governance and in the best interest of the people of the state of Illinois I decline the one month salary to which I am entitled by law," Kodatt said in an email to the Illinois State Comptroller.
Madigan and other Democratic committeepersons from the 22nd District picked Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar to fill the seat.
Illinois State Rep. Edward Guerra Kodatt, who was picked to succeed former state Rep. Michael Madigan in the Illinois House, has resigned only three days after he was appointed to his seat.
A spokesperson confirmed Madigan plans to keep his position as chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois.
Majority Democrats in the Illinois House adopted procedural rules on Wednesday that the GOP complained are nearly identical to the suppressive ones they labored under in the decades-long rule of former Speaker Michael Madigan.
Illinois state lawmakers can now get the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase 1B of the state's inoculation plan, after Gov. JB Pritzker approved the Illinois General Assembly's request to receive the shots.
Welch was elected earlier this month by the House to replace fellow Democrat Michael Madigan after Madigan was implicated in an ongoing bribery investigation.
The chief of staff to newly-elected Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch tested positive for COVID-19 while lawmakers were in Springfield this week for the lame duck session and the inauguration of the new Illinois General Assembly.
Sources told CBS 2 Political Investigator Dana Kozlov that Welch has secured the necessary votes from House Democrats to win the speakership when the new Illinois General Assembly is sworn in Wednesday afternoon.
Welch joined the race for Speaker on Monday after Madigan suspended his own campaign and challenged the House Democratic Caucus to "work to find someone, other than me, to get 60 votes for Speaker."
"This is not a withdrawal. I have suspended my campaign for Speaker. As I have said many times in the past, I have always put the best interest of the House Democratic Caucus and our members first," Madigan said.
Neither Madigan nor any of his challengers currently have the votes to win the speaker's gavel after the new Illinois General Assembly is sworn in next week.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin last summer filed documents seeking a charge of conduct unbecoming a legislator against Madigan after federal prosecutors implicated the longtime leader in a bribery scheme involving ComEd.
Chicago air quality has plummeted into unhealthy territory as wildfire smoke from Canada has settled in an acrid haze over the area.
Police are warning of armed robbers targeting gold necklaces across Chicago.
Four people were injured after a multi-vehicle crash on the Eisenhower Expressway early Thursday morning.
Health professionals at Rush Medical Center say Thursday's air quality is expected to be unhealthy for everyone, as the particles from the wildfires will be high and dense.
A "license suspended" sign hangs on the door of a downtown bakery after a failed health inspection, just one of many across the city recently.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to announce if he'll seek re-election next year, but a new poll reveals he faces a tough road ahead if he does run for another term.
Chicago Public Schools officials on Wednesday announced plans to lay off hundreds of teachers and other staff and impose five furlough days to help close a $732 million deficit for next school year.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing to lead the Justice Department in a permanent capacity.
The measure also allows states to opt out if they take action before the federal law is enacted.
Of the 162 employees, 82 were from central office positions and the remaining 80 were from those citywide positions, CPS said.
Chicago remained the most bed bug-treated city in the country, according to Orkin's latest annual rankings covering a full year of residential and commercial treatment data.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul this week warned residents cleaning up from last month's storms to be on the lookout for scams.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday signed several new consumer protections into law, including a ban on junk fees.
CBS News Chicago has learned that Illinois home insurance premiums are not only higher than the nation's average, but going up faster too.
As an alternative to legalizing video gambling terminals citywide, Bally's offered to open slot machine lounges at O'Hare and Midway, saying the move would replace the $6.8 million the city budgeted from VGTs.
Chicago just barely made the top 20 in the American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 ranking of the country's fittest cities.
In a major turnaround in the opioid crisis, overdose deaths are falling across Chicago and Cook County.
The north Chicago suburb of Glenview became the latest Illinois municipality this week to confirm mosquitoes testing positive for the West Nile virus this year.
Environmental and community groups are suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to act on a petition challenging U.S. Steel Gary Works operating permit renewal.
In the four years since Roe v. Wade was overturned and Illinois became a destination for abortion care, Illinois providers and advocates have rebuilt the state's infrastructure to support the tens of thousands of people who travel to the state for abortion services every year.
Illinois American Water and Aqua Illinois are both seeking rate increases that would raise monthly bills by as much as $28, while their parent companies seek regulatory approval to merge — a deal a consumer watchdog says would give one company control of nearly all regulated water customers in the state.
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general from several states secured a right-to-repair settlement Wednesday with agriculture equipment giant Deere & Co. — commonly known as John Deere — that requires the company to let farmers and independent shops fix their own equipment.
Chicago Soul Café opened Monday at 6248 S. St. Lawrence Ave.
The Chicago Bears this weekend said they are assessing land at Wolf Lake Terminals in Hammond, Indiana, for a possible new stadium.
As an alternative to legalizing video gambling terminals citywide, Bally's offered to open slot machine lounges at O'Hare and Midway, saying the move would replace the $6.8 million the city budgeted from VGTs.
New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for "Jurassic Park" and "The Piano," died Monday at 78, his family says.
The 46th Taste of Chicago is cashless for the first time, accepting only credit cards, with a drone and fireworks show scheduled for approximately 9:15 p.m. Friday near Buckingham Fountain.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra's summer home in Highland Park reopened after a $70 million gut renovation that redesigned the stage to reduce sound levels harmful to musicians.
Bonnie Tyler, the Welsh pop star best known for singing the chart-topping power ballad "Total Eclipse of the Heart" in 1983, has died. She was 75.
The nominations for the 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, with the final season of HBO Max's "Hacks" setting a new record for the most nominations in a single year for a comedy series.
A viral video shows wildfire surrounding a freight train in Ontario, Canada.
Meteorologist Laura Bannon is tracking poor air quality in the area.
Darius Johnson reports live from the Mobile Weather Lab as an air quality alert remains in effect for the Chicago area.
The now former Chicago police superintendent served out his last day on the job on Wednesday, July 15. Snelling announced his retirement earlier in the month.
Chief meteorologist Albert Ramon is tracking wildfire smoke arriving in Chicago, which can pose health risk for kids, older adults, and people with respiratory issues.
The air in Chicago was choked with wildfire smoke Thursday morning, prompting an Air Quality Alert and creating unhealthy conditions for everyone.
Four people were injured after a multi-vehicle crash on the Eisenhower Expressway early Thursday morning.
Health professionals at Rush Medical Center say Thursday's air quality is expected to be unhealthy for everyone, as the particles from the wildfires will be high and dense.
A "license suspended" sign hangs on the door of a downtown bakery after a failed health inspection, just one of many across the city recently.
Police are warning of armed robbers targeting gold necklaces across Chicago.
A pair of jewelry importers have been charged in federal court in Chicago with smuggling millions of dollars in gold jewelry into the U.S. to avoid taxes, schemes uncovered by a federal task force that has surpassed $1 billion in recoveries and penalties over the past year.
Chicago is bracing for another heat wave, less than two weeks after the last one. This time, the heat comes with air quality concerns.
The university released what it's called a strategy statement about the impact it's already seeing artificial intelligence make on higher education and the legal profession.
New Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke is fighting innocence claims more often than her predecessor, Kim Foxx, and hiring outside counsel to help.
On Tuesday evening, CBS News Chicago reported on wild weeds taking over a property in the South Side's Washington Heights neighborhood, and neighbors who said they spent months trying to get help.
Azura Stevens scored 18 of her 20 points in the first half, Sydney Taylor added 17 points, and the Chicago Sky beat the Seattle Storm 95-90 on Wednesday.
Dylan Cease struck out the side in the first inning, combining with 10 relievers on a three-hitter in a show of pitching dominance that led the American League to a 4-0 win over the National League in the All-Star Game.
The Cliburns are one of 10 sets of twins in MLB history to reach the major leagues.
Paige Bueckers had 22 points and 11 assists, Jessica Shepard added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and the Dallas Wings beat the Chicago Sky 96-91.
Chicago (50-45) swept the three-game series by outscoring the A's 24-2 after getting swept in three games against Boston.
A judge could decide Wednesday if a man accused of shooting and killing Chicago police Officer John Bartholomew and critically wounding his partner is fit to represent himself at trial.
A woman was arrested in Round Lake Beach, Illinois, Tuesday and charged with the death of her newborn child nearly 25 years ago.
Burglars smashed into a gas station minimart in the south Chicago suburb of Calumet City, Illinois, early Monday.
Armed robbers held up a restaurant in Chicago's Roseland community early Monday morning, police said.
Burglars tried unsuccessfully to take an ATM from a store in Chicago's West Town community early Monday, police said.
