Illinois

By Monica Eng and Chris Borrelli Tribune reporters 4:27 p.m. CDT, August 5, 2011 A few years ago, Kris Swanberg, having been laid-off from her job as a Chicago Public School teacher, remembered she received an ice cream maker as a wedding gift. TheChicago mom fished it out of her …

Ward Room The state of Illinois has reached a new level of broke. Come Monday, it won’t have enough cash to bury its indigent dead. Illinois officials sent a letter to more than 600 funeral directors around the state to let them know there’s no money for funerals for individuals …

By Dave Matthews, June 20, 2011 The trials for an Elmhurst family charged after a March fight and Tasing at Spring Inn have been pushed to Aug. 1 as their attorney continues to compile witnesses. “Ultimately, we’ll get justice,” attorney Vince Solano said. Solano represents Bryan, Brian and Steven Connell …

By Andrew Thomason Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — If you are riding in a vehicle in Illinois — no matter where you are seated — you better be wearing a seat belt. Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed legislation making it mandatory for everyone in a vehicle to wear a …

The Amazon tax, which became law in January, is bad for businesses, workers, and families. Last week, Performance Marketing Associates brought a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Revenue challenging the constitutionality of the law. As far back as last year, executive vice president, Kristina Rasmussen warned that if the …

MIA PEARSON – The Globe and Mail Word travels quickly when you’ve got a crisis on your hands. Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters learned that social media is more than just a conversation around engaging its brand champions. Stevie Koerner, an independent jewellery maker from Chicago, wrote a blog post last …

Before EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge, and BAUER and POSNER, Circuit Judges. EASTERBROOK, Chief Judge. The Supreme Court held in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008), that a federal enclave’s ban on operable handguns in the home violates the Constitution’s second amendment. In 2008 the City of Chicago and …

By Michael Hawthorne Tribune reporter 2:42 p.m. CDT, June 2, 2011 The Illinois Pollution Control Board today took the first step toward designating stretches of the Chicago River, Cal-Sag Channel and Little Calumet River safe for “primary contact,” a legal term that includes activities such as kayaking, canoeing, boating, wading …

AURORA — The city of Aurora expects gaming tax revenues to be seriously impacted if all the casinos in the state’s proposed gambling expansion bill are built. “It would make it difficult for existing casinos like the one in Aurora to compete,” said city spokesman Kevin Stahr about Hollywood Casino …

Associated Press 8:02 a.m. CDT, June 1, 2011 An Illinois state senator says he has filed a statement with police alleging he was punched in the chest by a fellow lawmaker. Republican Sen. Kyle McCarter says he was punched by Sen. Mike Jacobs on the Senate floor after a debate …

John Garcia May 30, 2011 (CHICAGO) (WLS) — The Illinois House has approved a major expansion to legalize gambling, and it includes five new casinos, including one in Chicago. The bill is expected to move on for a vote in the Senate Tuesday before the legislative session is scheduled to …

They have become so common that even organic retailer Whole Foods says it can’t avoid stocking some Protesters demonstrate against GMOs in food at the Whole Foods Market on North Kingsbury Street in Chicago earlier this month. (Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune / May 24, 2011) By Monica Eng, Tribune reporter …

Here’s one for the truth is funnier than fiction column. The Illinois Treasurer says he would call bond houses, warn against lending to Illinois Illinois chief fiscal officer said Monday he is willing to dial up the bond houses and finance companies to alert them that lending the state more …

Published: May 17, 2011 at 11:26 AM CHICAGO, May 17 (UPI) — A conservation group says the daily discharge of 1.2 billion gallons of undisinfected sewage effluent into the Chicago River system threatens public health. The American Rivers organization has placed the Chicago River, which supports more than 6 million …

By Andrew Harris – May 13, 2011 11:29 AM CT Illinois’s ban on carrying handguns violates the U.S. Constitution, the Second Amendment Foundation Inc., an advocacy group, said in a federal court lawsuit. “Illinois is currently the only state in the country that imposes a complete prohibition on the carrying …