(SPRINGFIELD) Legislative leaders from both sides of the aisle in Springfield have concerns for what lies ahead with an eye on possibly coming back for a special session before fall. This after lawmakers wrapped up the spring session early this past Sunday morning, a session where the General Assembly approved more than 430 bills during the tail end of the spring sesion, mostly last week. Among those bills with the most debate and split votes were the state budget, changes to pharmacy benefit managers, measures inpacting guns & firearm owners, and measures around the access to abortion medications.
(SPRINGFIELD) In a move that could have major implications for election procedures across the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case brought by Judicial Watch, challenging whether federal courts have jurisdiction to hear disputes over ballots received after Election Day. While a lawsuit is suing the state over ballots counted after Election Day, Illinois law allows for mail-in ballots to be counted up to two weeks after Election Day, as long as the ballots are postmarked by Election Day. The case was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction in a lower court, but the Supreme Court says it will now review it.
(COLLINSVILLE) A Collinsville man and Cahokia teenager have been charged with shooting an Uber driver over the weekend. Police say the 52 year old driver picked up two drivers in north St. Louis when they pulled a gun and ordered the driver to a home in Columbia, Illinois. The Uber driver initially complied with the order, but then diverted to the City Police Department in Columbia to seek help when he was shot in the face. While suffering critical injuries in the shooting, the driver will survive and is recoving at a nearby hospital.
(SPRINGFIELD) The average gasoline prices in Illinois have fallen over 5 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $3.37 a gallon statewide. Illinois’ average price is 23 cents a gallon higher than the national average, at $3.14 a gallon. The Triple A reports the cheapest gas in Illinois is $2.95 per gallon in Effingham County, while the highest price is $3.60 in Chicago.