Friday, May 17, 2013
Passed by a 35-21 vote, the bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has not yet said whether he intends to sign it.
By a vote of 35-21, the Illinois Senate approved legislation on Friday that would allow doctors in the state to prescribe marijuana as pain relief for severe medical conditions. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. According to the Chicago Tribune, the bill covers 33 specific conditions—including multiple sclerosis, cancer and HIV infection—and includes several controls, with a four-year trial program, dosage limits, fingerprinting, background checks and licensed dispensing centers. “This bill is filled with walls to keep this limited,” the paper quoted sponsoring Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation as a compassionate measure for those suffering with extreme pain. In opposition, Sen. …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
State Sen. Jim Oberweis is sponsoring a bill that would increase the state's highest speed limit by 5 mph.
If driving 65 mph on Illinois’ highways just isn’t fast enough for you, don’t worry. The maximum speed limit in the state may soon be increased. State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) is sponsoring a bill that already has made its way through the state Senate that would increase the speed limit to 70 mph on state highways, according to the Chicago Tribune. The measure is a "business friendly" bill that would allow companies to move commerce in a faster way, Oberweis said. “This is a bipartisan, good-government bill, which would allow the maximum speed limit on tollways and interstate highways to increase to 70 mph to bring Illinois in line with most of the rest of the country,” Oberweis said. “The interstates were designed for a higher …
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Gov. Quinn has declared a state of emergency in the wake of flooding throughout the Chicago area.
Governor Pat Quinn declared a state of emergency as state agencies prepared to provide assistance to local governments throughout northern Illinois dealing with severe river and flash flooding. The state of emergency ensures that state resources are activated and that the federal government is aware that a disaster declaration is likely. It also allows the state to request resources as needed, such as personnel and equipment. State and local emergency personnel have been on the ground in hardest hit areas since early this morning. "Heavy rainfall over the past few days has created dangerous flooding in areas across the state," Governor Quinn stated in a press release. "Everyone should stay home and off the roads if possible. To ensure …
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Residents of our state will soon have the right to carry concealed weapons in public, but that doesn't mean safety is guaranteed.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The assistant Illinois House Republican leader and 82nd District rep said pension reform should be Springfield's number one priority.
Assistant Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-82) issued a statement on Wednesday in response to Gov. Pat Quinn's 2014 budget address in which the governor chastized the legislature for failing to reform the state's underfunded public pensions system In a bit of bipartisan agreement, Durkin's statement echoed Quinn in pushing the need for pension reform: “The Governor’s Address is a harsh reality of failure to pass meaningful reforms in Illinois. A solution to the pension problem should have been wrapped up, sealed and sent to the governor last month. "We should have passed a comprehensive pension reform bill passed before today. There is nothing more important to the state’s fiscal integrity than meaningful pension reform, …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
A storm is headed towards La Grange and Western Springs. Check out its progress towards us with our interactive weather map.
As you likely know by now, the heaviest snow of the year so far is on the way for the La Grange and Western Springs area, starting on Thursday night. Patch has The Weather Channel's app for following the storm, including radar animations of the progress. As of writing, shortly before 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, there is no estimated time when the white stuff will hit the Lyons Township area, but we think it looks like about 9:00 p.m. Keep checking back, and be safe! Get news alerts and Facebook updates from these Patch sites:
A thrilling late come-from-behind finish sealed a .325-point win for the Lions; LT’s Kelsy Kurfirst also took the individual championship in floor exercise.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Considering we haven't had much snow at all, any amount could seem "big."
UPDATED Wednesday, 3:15 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory in Cook Count from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 p.m. Friday. Snow is expected to develop Thursday evening and continue into Friday, the NWS said Wednesday afternoon. The snow may mix with light freezing drizzle or rain Friday morning, making for slick travel. Storm total snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches are expected, with ice accumulation of less than one-tenth of an inch. ORIGINAL STORY: The Chicago area could see its "biggest snow of the year" Thursday into Friday morning, according to Accuweather.com. So far, we've received little more than a dusting, so is the "biggest snow of the year" going to be something on which we can sled? The storm has the…
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
A thrilling late come-from-behind finish sealed a .325-point win for the Lions; LT’s Kelsy Kurfirst also took the individual championship in floor exercise.
Facing a quarter-point deficit entering their final day of state competition, the Lyons Township girls’ gymnastics team rode improved balance-beam performances by Katie Carling and Michelle Cozza to take their first-ever Illinois state championship on Saturday, the Daily Herald reports. The win was capped for the Lions, the paper said, by sophomore Kelsy Kurfirst’s 9.725 floor routine, which won her a first-place title along with second place in vault, second in all-around and a T-3 on balance beam. "We were excited coming into today, not really knowing what to expect," Kurfirst told the Herald. "We knew we had the potential to do something big and we did it." According to the Chicago Tribune, no Illinois girls’ gymnastics team has come …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
The Illinois Senate Republican Leader (41st-Lemont), who also represents parts of Western Springs and La Grange, blamed divided Democrats for the inability to pass a bill.
Illinois Rep. Christine Radogno (41st-Lemont), the Illinois Senate Republican Leader, said she is particularly frustrated at legislators' inability to deliver a solution Tuesday to the state's $96 billion pension deficit, the The Doings Western Springs reports. “I’m very, very disappointed we have not been able to achieve comprehensive pension reform calling for bipartisan cooperation,” Radogno told the paper. "The Republicans have been extraordinarily cooperative... The problem is the Democrats do not agree on what approach to take and they hold the majority." According to the paper, Radogno also expressed reservations about the proposed iterations of an assault-weapons ban and a gay-marriage bill, saying the former is too sweeping and …
Brian
1:37 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
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