The Illinois House approved legislation yesterday to ban trans fats from restaurants and school cafeterias throughout the state. Under the terms of the legislation, trans fats would be banned in restaurants, movie theaters, and school vending machines in 2013, with school cafeterias following suit three years later. If the Senate approves and Gov. Quinn signs the bill into law, Illinois would become the second state in the Union to ban trans fats, after California. more ›

The Illinois House passed “Andrea's Law” by a 97 to 1 vote yesterday, a measure which would require those convicted of first-degree murder to appear on a registry similar to that of sex offenders or arsonists. If it passes the Senate, the bill would require those convicted of first-degree murder, when the murder took place before June of 1998, to appear on a registry with the State Police for 10 years. There are nearly 500 first-degree murderers currently on parole. more ›

Take a look at everyone around you. Think of your co-workers, your fellow commuters, the guy next to you at the bar tonight. Do you want him or her to be carrying a gun? If you do, you're a step closer to having your hopes become a reality: The Illinois House moved a concealed-carry bill forward yesterday with a vote of 11-1. more ›

It's been a week since Governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested on corruption and fraud charges. We aren't surprised so much with the what as with the why. Still, it's a week later and, besides becoming the laughing-stock of the country, not all that much has changed. Gov. Blagojevich is still in charge, he's still signing bills, and - yes - he even still has the power to appoint a senator to replace President-Elect Barack Obama. more ›

The CTA bailout passed, and now we can move on to that other chronic political problem: Governor Blagojevich. Just how much of Mr. Testicular Virility are Illinois residents willing to take? Judging by a new Chicago magazine article about the embattled gov, "Mr. Un-Popularity," not much. In that article, the Capital Fax Blog's Rich Miller suggests that Blago is the most unpopular governor in the country, with approval ratings that have sunk as low as 16 percent (which, Bernstein notes, is worse than President Bush polls in Illinois, one of the country's bluest states). more ›

The Illinois House passed the mass transit funding bill--with Blagojevich's seniors-ride-free amendment--61-47 this afternoon. Now it's headed to the Senate. Cross your fingers. [Trib, CBS 2 ] more ›

Let’s just get it done. Let’s pass it. They have to pass this legislation…with the change. Everybody will accept that. Who cares? Let’s just pass this legislation. That’s how important it is.

Looks like we're not the only ones with a case of the Mondays: Things aren't looking so great for Blagojevich today, either. Over the weekend, Lt. Governor Pat Quinn blamed Blago for the firing of 17 veterans from security jobs within the Illinois Department of Military Affairs. "The governor proclaimed this 'Hire a Veteran Month.' He didn't say 'Fire a Veteran,'" said Quinn. All together now: Oh, snap! Blagojevich says it's a matter of federal... more ›

The Illinois House approved legislation today that requires a moment of silence at the start of classes. This is the most pressing thing in the State's agenda? Not...say....transit funding? Or that 7-percent cap on property taxes? Or, oh, anything else? We're going to take a little moment of silence right now to think about that. Everyone hush. OK, we're back. The new law doesn't define how long a "moment" is, nor does it mention any... more ›

Bad news hit the Chicagoist offices late yesterday afternoon as word came through that SB572 — the bill that would have raised sales taxes in Cook County and the five surrounding "collar" counties, as well as the real estate tax in Chicago, to help fund regional transit — failed to reach a "supermajority" of 71 votes in the Illinois House. Rep. Julie Hamos (D-Evanston), sponsor of the bill, halted voting and placed it on the... more ›

On Wednesday, the Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved legislation that would enable the RTA to fund the CTA, Metra and Pace and prevent service cuts and fare hikes across the board. The Illinois House Committee on Mass Transit approved a transit funding and reform proposal by a 15-4 vote. The House is expected to convene to vote on the proposal next week. This bill comes after the RTA announced that a "doomsday" scenario... more ›

Now that Tony Peraica has thrown his hat in the ring for Cook County State's Attorney, and Luis Gutierrez has been worshipped in seeking a ninth term, we now have a whole flock of Democrats and Republicans lining up to beat the shit out of each other over Dennis Hastert's congressional seat. Addressing a crowd of supporters last Friday from the steps of the Kendall County Courthouse, where he launched his national political career, Hastert... more ›

Yesterday the Illinois House approved legislation regarding how customers will be able to buy their wine. It's a story we've been keeping tabs on here at Chicagoist for a while. Supporters of the bill champion HB 429 as a victory for Illinois consumers. They claim that the uniform 12-case limit shared by in- and out-of-state wineries, and the establishment of a permit system allowing smaller out-of-state wineries to sell their product directly to retailers,... more ›

Finally, the State Senate voted about a budget for the state of Illinois, even if it did not exactly vote on one. By a margin of 34-19 it adopted a sense-of-the-Senate resolution, spelling out objections to the budget document endorsed by the Illinois House last month. Mayor Daley's stalled plan to put the financial squeeze on parents of young graffiti vandals will be advanced by City Council, but only after the maximum fine is... more ›

Finally, the State Senate voted about a budget for the state of Illinois, even if it did not exactly vote on one. By a margin of 34-19 it adopted a sense-of-the-Senate resolution, spelling out objections to the budget document endorsed by the Illinois House last month. Mayor Daley's stalled plan to put the financial squeeze on parents of young graffiti vandals will be advanced by City Council, but only after the maximum fine is... more ›

A couple weeks back we wrote about the Illinois House approving legislation that would restrict the amount of wine an Illinois vineyard could sell directly to a customer to 12 cases a year. The legislation, HB 429, was drafted to bring Illinois in compliance with the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Granholm V. Heald, in which they found non-reciprocal wine laws in New York and Michigan to be in violation of both interstate commerce... more ›

While the state government devolves into a teeming cesspool of Machiavellian intrigue and self-loathing (quickly becoming an annual tradition in one form or another here in the Land of Lincoln), the world of politics moves on. While we have no problem kicking around Blagojevich (and the other asshole cynics downstate), this week, we're putting it aside, damn it! With out further adieu, here it is, your dose of news before lunch: Daley Takes his Public... more ›

You've seen them before. You can't help but notice them as you crawl out to the suburbs for whatever reason, a constant reminder that you still haven't sucked it up and bought an I-Pass. And for those of you who did make the investment, those bright blue signs winking out "Open Road Tolling - Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor" seem to say, "This is for you, buddy. Wasn't it worth it to play into my hands... more ›

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn more ›

Same-sex couples will be allowed to be joined in civil unions under legislation approved by the Illinois House Committee. Cliff Floyd will start with the Cubs when the season begins. Jimbo's may reopen. The Chicago Dancing Festival is a free, one-night-only (Aug 22 @ 7:30 p.m.) event that is a grand showcase of performers from 7 major international, regional and local companies. Reminder: The Color Purple opens at the Cadillac Palace in a few... more ›

The Illinois House approved a rate freeze on electric rates again, but beware, Emil Jones awaits. A man tried to extort $150,000 out of a local athlete, but we don't get to find out who it was. Does Milwaukee have an inferiority complex about Chicago? A CPD officer was named in a lawsuit for road raging on a truck driver. DePaul is booting juniors and seniors out of dorms to make room for more... more ›

"Little Women" via pantagrapher. more ›

Didn't someone yesterday just say it's a good thing Papa Daley never built the fabled Crosstown Expressway? Well, Mike Madigan must have been reading, and he disagrees. The Illinois House Speaker brought up the idea again yesterday to the surprise of many, including Governor Rod. Madigan's version of the Crosstown Expressway would be a toll road running from the Kennedy/Edens junction in the north, along Cicero Avenue to 75th Street, then cutting east to the... more ›

It's been a whole seven days since last week, and just like snow, the news is piling up. As our man Barack implores us to let him walk with us on this movement, everyone is just hoping for a piece of his shadow. Let's take a look back. Chicagoist's favorite whipping boy Todd "The Toddler" Stroger got booed by the crowd at Obama's announcement rally in Chicago Sunday. Considering that the people that carried Obama... more ›

It seems that another battle is brewing with Rod Blagojevich. In a last-minute press release Friday evening, G-Rod announced he was suspending a program designed to stop predatory lending in the Chicago area, claiming that it hurt development in those areas. The five-month-old Illinois Predatory Lending Database Pilot Program set up rules for people that wanted to buy a home in 10 ZIP codes on Chicago's west and southwest sides. These rules required residents who... more ›

The Illinois House may have delivered on what we and the rest of the state have been asking for the past week by voting to freeze ComEd's rates another three years, but don't count on that actually translating to more cash in your pockets. If we remember correctly, bills also have to pass through the senate to become law, and since the Senate Rules Committee, which decides if bills should be considered, is run by... more ›

Remember back in September when we warned you about the impending rate increase from ComEd, and everyone talked about TV shows instead? That was awesome. But you might want to think about switching off the telly every now and then; ComEd's 24 percent rate hike goes into effect this week, meaning that the "Ugly Betty" marathon you watched this weekend just cost you approximately $485. more ›

How often do you really notice the names on plaques honoring benefactors of various public and private attractions? Does it really matter to you who helped fund the So-and-So Family Auditorium or the John Q. Richerthanyou Memorial Park? You hardly notice the embossed faces of the two bluebloods beaming down from their perches. But some people think that the Lincoln Park Zoo ought to reconsider the honor given to a man whose name graces their polar bear exhibit. more ›

"Halt" via pantagrapher. more ›

You'd think that after almost 145 years, especially with our Land of Lincoln motto, we'd've gotten our act together with the whole slavery deal. Apparently we haven't yet. more ›