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Task Force To Examine Illinois School Safety
Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network
Could Sandy Hook happen here? Of course.
With that and other school shootings in mind, the state created a School Security and Standards Task Force, which has put together a preliminary report.
“There are already programs to have a set number of drills,” says State Rep...
GOP Senate Hopeful Removed From March Ballot
CHICAGO (AP) — One of the candidates who filed to run against U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk in the Republican primary won't be on the March ballot.
The Illinois State Board of Elections on Thursday rejected nominating petitions from Elizabeth Pahlke of Arlington Heights...
Pace of Illinois Medical Marijuana Approvals Increases
CHICAGO (AP) — The pace of Illinois patients getting state approval to use medical marijuana has increased.
The Illinois Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that it has approved 4,000 patients to use medical marijuana in the state's pilot program...
Durbin: I Won’t Judge Emanuel on Single Incident
John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network
Chicago’s embattled mayor seems to have U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s support.
Durbin says he’s never seen Chicago as tense as it is now after Laquan McDonald shooting video sparked weeks of protests calling for policing reform and the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel...
Snow Shoveling Urged, Not Required for Rockford Homeowners
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Officials in Rockford say there's no enthusiasm for a snow-shoveling ordinance that would require homeowners to clear sidewalks in neighborhoods.
The Rockford Register Star reports that city leaders are instead encouraging residents to help one another shovel snow...
Rauner Tours Flooding Across Central and Southern Illinois
Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network
Finishing a three-day New Year's weekend tour of central and southern Illinois flood damage, Gov. Bruce Rauner says the worst seems to be in the state's southern tip.
“Down in Alexander County, the water is still rising,” says the governor, “and the Mississippi River has breached levees in five different places...
Home Prices Up, Sales Down In November
John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network
The median price of a home in Illinois continues to go up in November, while the number of sales went down compared to last year.
9,640 homes were sold in November, down 3.5 percent from the same month in 2014...
Retailers Now Need License To Sell Tobacco Products in Illinois
John Gregory -- Illinois Radio Network
Selling tobacco products will now require a license from the state.
Beginning January 1, any retailer selling cigarettes or any other tobacco product will need a $75 license. Besides allowing the state to catalog tobacco retailers, the goal is to punish businesses which sell these products to underage buyers...
Illinois Switches From ACT, Will Give Students SAT Instead
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois will stop giving the ACT college entrance exam and instead start giving high school juniors the rival SAT.
The Chicago Tribune reports the company that offers the ACT has filed a protest with the state seeking to cancel Illinois' contract with the College Board, which offers the SAT...
Bee and Honey Survey Underway in Illinois
Dave Dahl -- Illinois Radio Network
Illinois honey production and other facts and figures pertaining to the state's bees will be the subject of an upcoming USDA report.
The agency's crop statistics service is conducting the survey. State statistician Mark Schleusener says bees and Illinois agriculture are important to one another, and one aspect of the survey will be the cost of pollination...
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