Illinois Politics & News
The Daily Signal examines Illinois’ political landscape, fiscal crises, pension problems, and the stark divide between Chicago’s progressive leadership and conservative priorities statewide.
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Illinois Raises Age to Buy Cigarettes to 21
Illinois raised its age requirement for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21 Sunday when new Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill that the state’s former Republican governor vetoed. “We’re dealing with an old problem in a new form,” Pritzker said, according to CNN. “And while all our residents have the right to make this…Evie Fordham -
Chicago to Sue Smollett After He Refuses to Pay Investigation Costs
The Chicago Department of Law said Thursday it will sue Jussie Smollett after it said the actor “refused to reimburse” the city for the cost of police overtime spent investigating his allegedly staged hate crime in January. “The Law Department will file the suit in the near future. As part of this legal action, the…Andrew Kerr -
Chicago Demands $130,000 From Smollett, Threatens New Charge If He Doesn’t Pay Up
The city of Chicago threatened Jussie Smollett on Thursday with a new charge if he doesn’t pay $130,000 to cover overtime costs incurred by police during their investigation into a hate crime the actor allegedly staged against himself in January. In a letter sent to Smollett’s attorneys, the Chicago Corporation Counsel requested that Smollett pay…Andrew Kerr -
Obamas’ Chicago Fixer Tina Tchen’s Role in Smollett Case
How did hate crime huckster Jussie Smollett get away with it? All crooked roads in Chicago lead back to the Obamas. On Tuesday, as part of a sealed deal, the Illinois state attorney’s office dismissed 16 felony charges brought by a grand jury against the Trump-hating actor, who blamed phantom white MAGA supporters for a…Michelle Malkin -
Money, Support for Migrant ‘Caravans’ Flow Through Chicago
Advocates of open borders quoted in media coverage of the migrant “caravan” moving north through Mexico are part of a network of U.S.-based groups funded in the past by left-leaning foundations, according to tax and financial records. Pueblo Sin Fronteras, a Chicago-based nonprofit whose name means People Without Borders, is widely credited with organizing the…Kevin Mooney -
Chicago’s Risky Bid to Dig Itself Out From Massive Pension Debts
Imagine if Congress wanted to issue $4 trillion in new debt in hopes of leveraging it to help pay down its existing $16 trillion in public debt. That’s essentially the city of Chicago’s latest last-ditch effort to address its massive—and still growing—unfunded pension obligations. Chicago has $36 billion in total unfunded pension obligations across its…Rachel Greszler -
Chicago’s Violence More Proof of How Liberal-Controlled Cities Have Let Down Black Americans
During the weekend of Aug. 4-5 (and the preceding Friday night), 12 Chicagoans were shot dead, and 62 others were shot and wounded, the Chicago Tribune reported. Before last week’s mayhem, 1,718 Chicagoans had been shot since the beginning of the year, and 306 had been murdered. Adding to this tragedy is the fact that…Walter E. Williams -
Chicago Democrat Pleads for Trump’s Help Despite Mayor After Weekend Bloodbath
Chicago Democrats ought to put aside their partisan agenda and seek President Donald Trump’s help to decrease shootings, urges a state lawmaker who represents the city’s West Side. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is showing the wrong kind of leadership by continuing to declare the city a “Trump-Free Zone,” state Rep. La Shawn Ford said…Katherine Rohloff -
Illinois State-Funded Abortions Increase Nearly 300% in 2018
Taxpayers in Illinois paid for almost quadruple the number of abortions in the first six months of 2018 than they did in 2017 following a bill mandating the state pay for abortions. There were only 84 abortions between January and June 2017, but that number skyrocketed to 314 in 2018, according to records from the Illinois…Grace Carr -
Here’s What Happened After Liberal Activists Shut Down Catholic Adoption Providers in Illinois
For the past decade, left-wing activists have targeted faith-based adoption agencies if they do not assist same-sex couples who wish to adopt. Through lawsuits and legislation, these activists gave faith-based agencies an ultimatum: Comply with politically correct views on sexuality and marriage and place children with same-sex couples, or shut down. Faced with this dilemma,…Kelsey Bolar -
This Illinois Town’s Story Shows the Fate Others Will Face in Pension Crisis
Generous pensions have always been a prime perk of government jobs. Now those pensions are causing government layoffs, reduced services, and tax increases. Take Harvey, Illinois. The city has laid off half of its fire department and 13 police officers so it can meet its obligations to its retired police officers and firefighters—the result of…Rachel Greszler -
NRA Joins Fight Against ‘Assault Weapon’ Ban in Chicago Suburb
A gun rights organization has filed a lawsuit against the suburban Chicago village of Deerfield for a passed law banning what the measure calls “assault weapons,” such as AR-15 rifles. “[T]he newly amended ordinance clearly violates the constitutional rights of not only Deerfield residents, but any visitors to the community and those just passing through,”…Kyle Perisic -
Below-Freezing Temperatures Don’t Stop Record Numbers of Pro-Lifers From Marching in Chicago
Despite frigid temperatures, record numbers of people came out to march against abortion Sunday at Chicago’s 2018 March for Life. More than 6,000 people gathered at the march, marking the largest pro-life gathering in the Midwest to date. “This March for Life Chicago drew people of all ages, from across the Midwest,” said Dawn Fitzpatrick, president of…Grace Carr -
Illinois Lawmakers Give Students More Opportunities in Education
In the throes of a debate about how much taxpayer money would go to Illinois public schools, state lawmakers have agreed to provide students more educational options. On Thursday, Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature created a program that allows for up to $75 million in tax credit-eligible contributions to K-12 private school scholarship organizations. Under…Jonathan Butcher -
Chicago Sues Justice Department Over Withholding Funds to Sanctuary Cities
The city of Chicago filed a lawsuit Monday against the Department of Justice, claiming its policy of withholding federal funding to sanctuary cities is unconstitutional and constitutes blackmail. The suit names Attorney General Jeff Sessions as the defendant. It contests Sessions’ July announcement that the Justice Department will not provide Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program…Anders Hagstrom -
How the $12 Million Illinois Medicaid Gave to Dead People Hurt This Family
Jake Chalkey has defied doctors’ expectations. Born with a brain malformation, Jake wasn’t supposed to live past 2 years old. He suffered from life-threatening seizures, which would be his downfall, doctors said, and it took years for medical professionals to formally diagnose the young boy with a condition they didn’t even have a name for….Melissa Quinn -
Facing High Labor Costs From Minimum Wage Hikes, Chicago Restaurant Closes
A Chicago restaurant abruptly closed this week, with ownership blaming the “rapidly changing labor market” and a 27 percent increase in base minimum wage costs over the last two years as culprits for the collapse. Cantina 1910, a farm-to-table Mexican restaurant located in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, opened in September 2015. Former Cantina 1910 employees said…Leah Jessen -
51 Illinois Families Ask Court to Suspend School’s Bathroom, Locker Room Policy
Adding to the handful of lawsuits involving transgender students across the country, lawyers representing a group of 51 families in a Chicago suburb asked a federal judge to temporarily suspend a school policy that grants a transgender student access to the girls’ restrooms and locker rooms. “Every parent sends their kids to school expecting that…Kelsey Bolar -
New Chicago Schools Bathroom Policy Courts Controversy
Chicago Public Schools announced on Monday that students and staff must be granted unfettered access to intimate school facilities based on their chosen gender identity. Because both transgender and non-transgender students have valid interests at stake, accommodation with private facilities is the sensitive and sensible solution, but advocates on the left say that’s discrimination. Put…Roger Severino -
51 Families Sue Over Illinois High School’s Transgender Bathroom Policy
A group of 51 families whose children attend a high school in Illinois filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday, attempting to reverse a policy that allows a transgender student to use girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-specific facilities. The families are challenging a policy at Township High School District 211 that was mandated by the…Kelsey Bolar