(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois State Rifle Association says gun owners have run out of options in a case challenging the state’s prohibition of carrying concealed firearms on mass transit. It was yesterday that the Illinois Supreme Court turned down a petition to hear the case on whether the state’s ban of carrying firearms on mass transit, even for those with concealed carry permits in Illinois, is constitutional. While a district judge said the measure is unconstitutional, an appeals court disagreed, giving the decision back to the state. Gun rights advocates are concerned about many other pending court cases, along with new anti-gun legislation proposed in Springfield.
(CHICAGO) Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says Chicago Public School students should be in school on May 1st, even though the Chicago Teachers Union called for students & teachers to skip school and work that day so they could join protests against federal immigration law enforcement and in favor of higher taxes on wealthy people. Mendoza said in a social media post that children need more time in the classroom, not less, plus the focus of teachers and children should be on the city’s text scores and classroom performance, not on Windy City politics.
(NORMAL) A group of Illinois State University employees say they may walk off the job as soon as tomorrow. AFSCME Local 1110 members voted last week to authorize a strike and according to a statement on the union’s website, workers are “fed up with the administration’s refusal to agree to fair wages” and to put in the time and honest effort into fair negotiations.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Transportation says more law enforcement personnel throughout the state will be on the lookout during this month of April for texting, social media use, video viewing, and other forms of distracted driving. The IDOT officials say the statewide driving data shows that 253 people lost their lives and 28,271 others were injured in crashes involving such distractions between 2020 and 2024.