(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois has paused a legislative redistricting effort after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday, however Governor J.B. Pritzker promises that Illinois will push back. In the 6 to 3 decision, the nation’s high court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map and ruled that racial manipulation is unconstitutional. Some constitution experts say the decision will radically impact elections all over the country in the future. Pritzker called the ruling an abomination.
(EAST ST. LOUIS) The former director of the East St. Louis Public Library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services. 42 year old Kenyada Harris used the library’s credit card for her personal gain and used LINK cards for herself, family members, and friends while employed at the St. Clair County Resource Center.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Housing Development Authority is launching a statewide planning initiative this year aimed at shaping future housing policy and investment decisions across Illinois. As part of the process, IHDA will host a series of listening sessions throughout the state in the coming months to gather public input from residents, housing stakeholders, and local officials. Downstate sessions are planned in Belleville and Marion in May and in Champaign and Effingham in June. More inforamation and details can be found on the ihda.org website online.
(CHICAGO) Chicago is second only to New York on a list of America’s most expensive places to smoke. Analysis by the Ecigone Group found that an average pack of cigarettes in the Windy City costs $18.00 while the lowest cost of smokes in the U.S. is in neighboring Missouri, at just over $8.00. The report adds that the ten most expensive cities are located where state lawmakers have consistently used tobacco taxation as both a public health tool and a source of income.