Posted inState News

Illinois attorney general investigation shows Catholic clergy sexual abuse far more common than church admitted

(The Center Square) – An investigation by the Illinois Attorney General’s office found that 451 Catholic clergy sexually abused thousands of children over a 70-year period in Illinois, more than four times the number the church acknowledged. When the Illinois Attorney General’s office began an investigation into Illinois’ Catholic dioceses in 2018, the church publicly […]

Posted inState News

Lawmakers advance bill that would allow non-citizens to be police officers in Illinois

(The Center Square) – Lawmakers have advanced a measure that will soon be sent to the governor’s desk that would allow certain immigrants to become police officers in Illinois. Current federal law prohibits a non-U.S. citizen from becoming a police offer throughout the country. House Bill 3751 looks to change that law in Illinois. The […]

Posted inState News

U.S. Supreme Court declines to block Illinois, Naperville ban on ‘assault weapons’ amid lawsuits

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court this week declined to step in and block Illinois and Naperville’s “assault weapons” and magazine bans amid multiple pending lawsuits. Robert Bevis of Law Weapons Supplies in Naperville sued the city over its gun and magazine ban last fall. He amended his lawsuit earlier this year to […]

Posted inState News

Proposed law would prevent police in Illinois from pulling over drivers for having objects hanging from rearview mirror

(The Center Square) – Lawmakers have advanced a bill in Illinois that would prevent officers from stopping motorists that have objects hanging from their rearview mirror. “Even though it is in the driver handbook, most people don’t pay attention to it,” Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, told The Center Square. “They don’t even realize that […]

Posted inState News

Legislators advance more gun control legislation in Illinois amid recently-passed ban on ‘assault weapons’

(The Center Square) – Legislators in Springfield have advanced multiple bills this week relating to guns in Illinois as several lawsuits continue challenging the state’s ban on certain semi-automatic guns. The Illinois House passed House Bill 218 on Wednesday, which will allow firearms manufacturers to be sued for what policymakers deem deceptive practices. State. Rep. […]

Posted inState News

Legislation that would establish safe spaces for illegal drug users in Illinois advances

(The Center Square) – A proposed bill could legalize the creation of “safe spaces” in Illinois for people to use illegal drugs under medical supervision in an effort to prevent overdoses. House Bill 2 would allow the Illinois Department of Human Services to create overdose prevention sites and would connect drug users with treatment programs. […]

Posted inState News

High winds, hail and lightning possible as ‘strong to severe’ storms possible in Illinois

The National Weather Service says waves of strong storms, bringing hail, winds and lightning, could develop overnight into Sunday morning in Illinois. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a hazardous weather outlook Saturday afternoon. The outlook covers Lake and McHenry counties, along with the rest of northern Illinois. Storms are expected to develop in eastern […]

Posted inState News

‘Assault weapons’ and high-capacity magazines bans back in effect in Illinois after appeals court issues reversal

(The Center Square) – The ban on “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines is back in effect in Illinois after an appeals court reversed a federal judge’s decision on Thursday. The ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over a certain capacity was enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on January 10. U.S. District Court […]

Posted inState News

Federal judge blocks ‘assault weapons,’ large-capacity magazine bans in Illinois

(The Center Square) – The ban on “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines in Illinois was blocked Friday by a federal judge who issued an injunction in a pending lawsuit. The case could be appealed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals where a similar challenge is pending. Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted a ban on more […]