Chicago Journal
Pritzker orders vaccinations or testing for day care workers
Illinois' weekly COVID case count has dropped for seven weeks in a row. The state has also seen new cases per day numbers drop 50% from seven weeks ago.
Politics
The Politics Section of the Chicago Journal.
Law
Illinois Supreme Court tosses county tax on guns, ammunition
Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis wrote in a 6-0 decision that the taxes violate the constitution’s uniformity clause. She noted revenue from the tax isn't directed toward funds or programs to curb the costs of gun violence or reduce the violence.
Police
Judge denies Chicago Police union's effort to recuse herself from case
The union wanted Cook County Judge Cecilia Horan to recuse herself because of what its attorney, Joel D'Alba, called the "appearance of impropriety."
Chicago Journal
Laquan McDonald shooting continues to follow Rahm Emanuel, now in confirmation battle
The White House is confident Emanuel will be confirmed by the Senate despite sharp criticism by several of the president's allies. The White House also expects he will win support from several Senate Republicans.
Police
Chicago Police Chief, David Brown, ups the ante: Unvaccinated cops risk retirement benefits
In a memo sent Sunday night, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said that those officers who do choose to retire rather than comply "may be denied retirement credentials."
U.S. News
Colin Powell, four-star general and first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dead at 84
Powell rose from a childhood in a fraying New York neighborhood to become the nation's chief diplomat.
Chicago Journal
Illinois NAACP chapter files lawsuit alleging racial bias in new Democrat drawn redistricting maps
Filed Friday, the lawsuit says race played a role in the redistricting of House District 114. The plaintiffs say the new map jeopardizes the prospects of a candidate preferred by Black voters, and is an effort to undermine and disenfranchise the Black electorate.
Chicago Journal
Illinois Democrats look to increase edge with new House maps
Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Legislature, making passage of their plan all but certain. And Pritzker, a Democrat, already has approved new legislative maps drawn by politicians despite a promise on the campaign trail not to do so.
Chicago Journal
Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot takes police union head to court over vaccines
The mayor said in a statement that the city's law department filed a complaint in Cook County Circuit Court for injunctive relief against Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara, whom she accused of "engaging in, supporting and encouraging work stoppage or strike."
Chicago Journal
Chicago cops won't be sent home over vaccine status - yet
"Nobody is going to be turned away," said police department spokesman Tom Ahern. "Officers will be working their normal shifts this weekend (and) they won't be turned away or sent home... Officers will continue coming to work until they are told otherwise..."
Chicago Journal
Chicago police union head urges cops to defy vaccine mandate
Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration to court if it tries to enforce the mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week.
Environment
Biden appoints Debra Shore to lead EPA Midwestern office
Debra Shore, a wastewater treatment official in Chicago, will oversee EPA's Region 5, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin, and oversees efforts to clean up the Great Lakes, industrial and agricultural pollution, and tainted drinking water.