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Should All Public Universities In Illinois Stop Requiring Standardized Test Scores? A number of universities in Illinois didn’t require standardized test scores when students applied for the upcoming fall semester given the disruption COVID-19 had on high schools.
One state lawmaker is looking to extend this policy indefinitely for all public universities throughout the state. State Rep. LaToya Greenwood (D-East St. Louis) said the inspiration for her proposal, HB 226 , was watching her son applying to colleges last year. Greenwood said for many Illinois students, including her son, the scores they receive on standardized tests do not holistically represent their level of intelligence, nor their ability to handle college-level work.
By requiring SAT and ACT test scores as a part of the undergraduate admissions process, Greenwood said it acts as a barrier to postsecondary education and can even discourage students from applying at all. ALPLM ends relationship with Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation. After months of disagreements and negotiations, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation are ending their relationship with each other.
The foundation serves as the fundraising arm of the library and museum, which means it will no longer handle fundraising duties or purchasing items for the museum's collection. Each organization placed blame on the other. "The ALPLM feels it is vital for the Foundation to disclose how much money it raises, where that money goes, and what fundraising plans are in the works to support this institution. The Foundation is unwilling to provide satisfactory answers to those questions," the ALPLM said in a statement. The Foundation shot back, saying "the State and ALPLM were inconsistent, unreasonable and threatening in their demands, and spreading misinformation about the Foundation, leading us to question if they were indeed negotiating with us in good faith.
" Illinois State Museum to extend virtual Women’s History Month celebrations. Businessman Gary Rabine announces run for governor Capitolnewsillinois.com. Businessman Gary Rabine announces his candidacy for governor at Bull Valley Golf Club in Woodstock Tuesday.
Rabine is the third candidate to announce they will seek the Republican nomination for Governor in 2022. (Credit: facebook.com/garyrabineillinois) By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Businessman Gary Rabine on Tuesday announced he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, becoming the third candidate to officially enter the field. The suburban entrepreneur held a pair of kickoff events in Schaumburg and Woodstock on Tuesday, lobbing criticisms at incumbent Gov. Republican Legislators Take Measured Stances In Bloomington-Normal LGBTQ Town Hall. Republican Gary Rabine kicks off bid for governor, bashing J.B. Pritzker and emulating Donald Trump.
SPRINGFIELD — At first glance, suburban businessman Gary Rabine might seem like the classic “country club Republican.”
Sangamon County expands vaccine eligibility to over age of 16. Sangamon County has expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone over the age of 16, as the county attempts to push back against a potential spring surge of the virus.
The Sangamon County Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that vaccinations at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and at SCDPH's drive-thru site at 2833 South Grand Ave. E. would allow anyone over the age of 16 to participate, with availability open at both locations. The announcement comes one day after the Illinois Department of Public Health allowed counties to expand eligibility in order to use available doses and blunt a potential COVID-19 surge.
Prior to the increase in cases, the state had set April 12 as the date that all adults would be eligible to receive the vaccine. SCDPH Director Gail O'Neill said that the decision to expand eligibility was an easy one, drawing on the expertise of doctors and medical professionals who advised the time was right to expand who could receive the vaccine. Springfield elections: Park District Board, area township candidates. On April 6, Sangamon County voters will cast their ballots for local offices, including the Springfield Park District board and local township races.
For the Springfield Park District board, five candidates are running for three spots on the board that carry a term of four years. Robin Schmidt is the only incumbent running for reelection. Here are the nonpartisan choices for the Springfield Park District Board in the order they will appear on the ballot: Sean Lumsden. Wglt. Suburban lawmaker promotes 'Faith's Law' to combat sexual abuse in schools. In 2001, Faith Colson was a 17-year-old student at Schaumburg High School, where she was a varsity athlete and a good student with lots of friends.
But something else was happening to Colson: She was being groomed by a teacher to be sexually manipulated. There were warning signs, Colson and others said in police interviews years later that led to the arrest and 2019 guilty plea of former teacher Ronald L. Williams on charges of criminal sexual abuse. Other teachers recalled hearing about the inappropriate relationship, including one who said Williams told him about it, according to police reports from 2018. This is where Colson believes the problem lies, and it's why she has worked with state Rep. The legislation aims to educate teachers and school staffs about grooming and how to identify the warning signs that a teacher may be sexually abusing a student. For Colson and Mussman, the legislation means making sure others student are protected. Illinois House committee advances bill aimed to address opioid addiction.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- Many people may know someone or have a family member that is struggling with addiction or opioid use.
State authorizes counties to expand vaccine eligibility early Capitolnewsillinois.com. The graph shows the rolling, 7-day positivity rate for tests completed starting on June 1.
Illinois Department of Public Health data was used to calculate the averages. (Credit: Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois) By GRACE BARBIC Capitol News Illinoisgbarbic@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — Areas of the state may begin vaccinating those 16 years of age or older earlier than anticipated as vaccine demand slows under current guidelines and COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases see an uptick. Vaccine eligibility is not set to open statewide until April 12, but in response to an increase in cases, Gov.
The statewide seven-day rolling case positivity rate was 2.9 percent Friday, the highest rate since Feb. 15. Bill to end qualified immunity advances out of committee Capitolnewsillinois.com. State Rep.
Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, speaks on House Bill 1727 during a virtual House Restorative Justice Committee hearing on Thursday. The bill would create the Bad Apples in Law Enforcement Accountability Act, which would end qualified immunity as a legal defense for law enforcement officers. (Credit: ilga.gov) By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinoistkirsininkas@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A measure to end qualified immunity as a legal defense for law enforcement officers advanced out of the House Restorative Justice Committee at a Thursday hearing.
Bill authorizing mail-in voting, ballot drop boxes goes to Pritzker. A bill that would allow use of ballot drop boxes, curbside voting and the acceptance of ballots regardless of insufficient postage was passed by the Illinois Senate and will go to Gov. J.B Pritzker's desk. With days to go before the April 6 election, the provisions in the law will go into effect immediately if Pritzker signs the bill.
State Sen. Julie Morrison, a Democrat from Deerfield, brought the legislation, House Bill 1871, to the Senate floor with support from the Illinois Association of County Clerks and Recorders. The legislation passed in the Senate 48-7, with all seven no votes coming from Senate Republicans who did not give their reasons. Wglt. State Senate sends health care reform bill to Pritzker’s desk. SPRINGFIELD — A massive health care reform bill, the fourth and final “pillar” of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus agenda, passed the state Senate Thursday, the final step before heading to Gov.
J.B. Pritzker for his signature. Sponsored by Chicago Democratic state Rep. Senate sends Pritzker bill to make vote-by-mail expansion permanent. SPRINGFIELD — Suburban voters would be able to cast their ballots in next month’s local elections in the same manner they used last November under a bill the state Senate sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday, making last year’s expansions to the state’s vote-by-mail system permanent. The bill allows local election authorities to set up permanent ballot drop-boxes for vote-by-mail ballots.
It also mandates that those election authorities must accept a mailed ballot even if it has insufficient postage. Due to the pandemic, the expansions were originally set up in anticipation of a surge in mail-in ballots in the 2020 vote. Bill Expanding Curbside, Mail Voting Headed For Governor's Desk. Illinois bill expanding voting options passes General Assembly. Ahead of the April 6 consolidated election, both houses of the General Assembly approved a bill Thursday that expands voting access measures that were implemented for safety during the COVID-19 pandemic and makes them permanent. House Bill 1871, which passed the Senate in a bipartisan vote of 48-7 and the House 70-41, allows for curbside voting before and on Election Day. It also allows ballot drop boxes to continue.
Ballots that are received with no or insufficient postage must also be accepted. “In last year’s election, in which more mail-in and drop box votes were cast than ever before, we saw both presidential candidates receive the most votes a candidate from their parties had ever received in their history. As the pandemic finally comes to an end, measures such as drop boxes and curbside voting can still mean the difference between a working person or person with disabilities or elderly person being able to cast their ballot,” said state Sen. House bill to allow rent control advances from committee amid debate on impact on tenants and landlords. Local officials would be able to limit how much landlords can hike tenants’ rent under a bill that advanced out of an Illinois House committee Wednesday, drawing praise from supporters, who view it as a way to “protect Illinois residents” and housing options.
But others criticized the move to overturn the ban on rent control in Illinois, urging lawmakers to “focus on how the pandemic has forever changed housing before they enact new policies.” The bill would repeal the Rent Control Preemption Act, which bars local governments from enacting, maintaining or enforcing “an ordinance or resolution that would have the effect of controlling the amount of rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property.” A repeal of that act would allow cities, towns and villages in Illinois to limit the amount a landlord can raise rent once a lease is up, something advocates for rent control have said would help protect affordable housing and curb gentrification. Lawmaker advances bill to repeal state ban on rent control Capitolnewsillinois.com. State Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, introduces House Bill 116, a measure that would repeal the state's ban on rent control, during a House Housing Committee on Wednesday.
Q&A: Republican House Redistricting Spokesperson Discusses Priorities For Remap Process. State Rep. La Shawn Ford resigns from Loretto Hospital board over vaccine flap. Wglt. Peoriapublicradio. Nprillinois. Republicans hope census delay will give them a role in drawing new political maps in Illinois. Republican lawmakers see delays in the federal census as opening a potential route for them to influence the drawing of new political maps in Illinois, a task that otherwise would go to the Democratic majority. Illinois' COVID-19 reopening plan: What is the 'bridge' phase? COVID-19 housing bill aims to provide additional support to renters, homeowners Capitolnewsillinois.com. Illinois House condemns Downstate state Rep. Chris Miller for Jan. 6 rhetoric.
Wglt. Cook County names Sharone Michell Jr. new public defender. Sharone Michell Jr. became Cook County’s new public defender on Thursday, winning unanimous approval from the County Board after promising to serve as an “engine for progressive system change’’ in the county’s handling of criminal justice issues. County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s personal choice for the job, Mitchell had worked as a trial attorney in the public defender’s office from 2009 until being selected as director of the Illinois Justice Project in 2016. As director of the advocacy organization, Mitchell was instrumental in helping to craft the criminal justice bill that Gov.
Pritzker unveils reopening plan, makes all residents eligible for vaccine April 12. Nearly a year after he issued his first stay-at-home order, Gov. Bill would require Asian American unit in history classes. Legislation passed through an Illinois House committee on Wednesday that would require all public Illinois schools to include a unit on Asian American history. The legislation passed through the Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curriculum and Policy committee strictly on party lines with 14 Democrats voting yes and nine Republicans voting no.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker vows to share reopening plan in ‘next few days’ that will protect Illinoisans and the economy. House GOP announces 'Reimagine Illinois' platform. Mandatory Sex Education Bill Advances In Illinois House. Clean Energy Jobs Act advances to House floor Capitolnewsillinois.com. Ezike says state ‘getting close’ to next phase of reopening Capitolnewsillinois.com. State may limit child care copayments to $1 a month. Eu.sj-r. Nprillinois. Committees look to address state’s mental health care needs Capitolnewsillinois.com. House Republicans urge responsibility in use of federal stimulus dollars Capitolnewsillinois.com. Nprillinois. Eu.sj-r. Dwight Meadery Owner Says Senate Bill Would Help Expand Business. One year into pandemic, Pritzker ‘cautiously optimistic’ about large-scale events Capitolnewsillinois.com. COVID-19 vaccine: 15% of Sangamon County, Illinois vaccinated. Lawmakers to vote if Illinois daylight savings time will end this year.
Suburban lawmakers split on party lines over legislation on youth suicide prevention in Illinois. Lawmakers revisit data collection privacy laws Capitolnewsillinois.com. House lawmakers pass bill placing restrictions on Illinois pet owners. Environment bill would ban celebratory balloon releases Capitolnewsillinois.com. Illinois Representative pushes for ban on outdoor balloon releases. Illinois State Rifle Association files federal lawsuit over concealed carry application approval times. Bills address tollway rates for small trailers, future railway infrastructure Capitolnewsillinois.com. Eu.sj-r. Wglt. Surge in cybercrime during the pandemic requires response from state, suburban lawmaker says. Eu.sj-r. Suburban Democrats view Kelly's party chair victory as a win for suburbs.
State tops 3 million vaccines administered; Pritzker announces awareness campaign Capitolnewsillinois.com. Lawmakers discuss $1 monthly copayments for child care services Capitolnewsillinois.com. Proposed Legislation Looks To Mandate Sex Education For Schools, Teach Dangers Of ‘Sexting’ Comptroller hopeful outdoor events on track for summer, indoor events for fall Capitolnewsillinois.com. Pandemic Struggles Continue For Illinois Unemployment Agency. Event leaders call for guidance on future end of COVID restrictions. Bill explores creation of legal services for immigrants facing deportation in Illinois Capitolnewsillinois.com. Legislation to curb use of isolation, restraint in public schools put on hold. Eu.sj-r. Bill would allow special needs students to stay with school program past age 21 Capitolnewsillinois.com.
Wglt. Nprillinois. New Study Shows Illinois Teacher Shortage Far From Over. University of Illinois receives FDA approval for saliva-based COVID-19 test Capitolnewsillinois.com. Democrats move to condemn state Rep. Chris Miller for anti-government militia group decal on truck. Wglt. Democrats and Kinzinger call for investigation of Republican state representative who had far-right militia decal on his truck Jan. 6.
It's suburbs vs. Chicago for control of Illinois Democratic Party. Pritzker Announces Infrastructure Grants To Help Close Equity Gaps In Economic Development. Illinois residents flock to State Fairgrounds for COVID vaccine. Nprillinois. Pritzker announces expansion of food benefits for struggling families. Wglt. Pritzker calls for $15 million loan program to assist areas hit by record-high gas prices Capitolnewsillinois.com. Nprillinois. Eu.sj-r. Downstate Republican Darren Bailey kicks off bid for governor with vow to unseat Pritzker.
Illinois Housing Agency Claims Success in Helping Pandemic-Hit Renters, Homeowners. Eu.sj-r. What Illinois can learn from the Texas energy crisis Capitolnewsillinois.com. Eu.sj-r. COVID-19 vaccine in Illinois: Is a vaccine mandate legal? Illinois census delays may mean late redistricting maps for the state. Nprillinois. Pritzker expects state vaccine deliveries to reach 500,000 next week Capitolnewsillinois.com. Mary Flowers, state's longest-serving Black lawmaker, follows in footsteps of firsts Capitolnewsillinois.com. A look at the career of former Illinois house speaker Mike Madigan. New senator aims to transform education.