(SPRINGFIELD) The debate over whether presidential candidates can be excluded from Illinois’ primary election ballots is now playing out. The State Board of Elections conducted petition objection hearings this past Friday in Springfield and Chicago for President Joe Biden and for former President Donald Trump. The hearing officer will now forward the recommendations to the Board’s general counsel. The Board is expected to meet again tomorrow to consider the objections. The Illinois primary election is set for March 19th.
(SPRINGFIELD) As part of the Illinois Grocery Initiative, eligible local grocers can now apply for funding for energy-efficient equipment upgrades at a $3.5 million cost to statewide taxpayers. This is good news for many small rural grocery stores, especially in downstate areas, who have a hard time competing with the big box stores due to their smaller and older coolers and freezers. The University of Illinois Extension played an integral part in helping the initiative come to be. The Extension Service did studies and surveys to compile data on the struggles that rural grocery stores are facing in Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) As the popularity of Delta-8 cannabis products grows, some are calling for more oversight in Illinois. Delta-8 THC is legal in Illinois and 21 other states, but unlike marijuana, which is regulated, taxed, and can only be sold in licensed dispensaries, Delta-8 can be solf in convenience stores and online. While cannabis is still illegal on the federal level, when the $867 billion Farm Bill passed, it made hemp production legal nationwide. The National Cannabis Industry Association and many downstate lawmakers say Delta-8 hemp products should face the same regulations as regular cannabis around the state.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Department of Revenue will begin accepting and processing 2023 tax returns today, on this Monday, the same date the IRS begins accepting federal income tax returns. In addition to free filing of Form IL-1040 through MyTax.Illinois.gov, individuals may also utilize the site to make payments, respond to department questions, and check the status of their refunds by using the “Where’s My Refund” tab. If a taxpayer electronically files an error-free return, a direct deposit should come in about four weeks.