(SPRINGFIELD) Products sold in Illinois are among those included in a national public health alert of possible salmonella contamination. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service issued the alert for meat and poultry products containing FDA-regulated diary ingredients. Culinary Circle Ultra Thin Crust Chicken Bacon Ranch products were sold in Illinois and eight other states. An updated list can be found on the USDA’s website online.
(SPRINGFIELD) A measure that would place new rules on Illinois schools has passed in the State Senate, but some lawmakers had concerns that it is an overreach. Senate Bill 939 would require a school to expel any student who sexually assaults another student or makes an attempt to while at school. The student would be expelled for a minimum of one year, or at least six months, if a student commits any other nonconsensual sexual act. The bill now heads to the State House of Representatives, where lawmakers return to work on this Tuesday in Springfield.
(SPRINGFIELD) State lawmakers want to ban Illinois residents from carrying a gun while at the polls, citing a rise in political violence around elections. Gun rights advocates have taken issue with the proposal, claiming the ban would unconstitutionally prohibit guns in some private homes near polling places. Although House Bill 34 has sat in committee since late 2024, the bill would ban the ability to carry a firearm at any building, property, or parking area of all polling locations, creating a 24th restriction on open carry laws throughout the State of Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Housing Development Authority is accepting grant funding applications from local governments to address abandoned and deteriorated residential properties. The Strong Communities Program offers grant opportunities of up to $750,000 to grantees for tackling challenging properties. The agency says $22.1 million in assistance has been spent so far on more than 1,800 properties since the program began in 2020.