Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar


Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives


Previous Post: Question of the day
Next Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Quick session update (Updated x5)

Isabel’s afternoon roundup

Posted in:

* WBEZ

As many as 1,000 people who are still in custody could be eligible for immediate release if they received proper sentence recalculations, according to Alan Mills, executive director of the civil rights law firm Uptown People’s Law Center. […]

Many of the records used to recalculate people’s sentences only go back to when the corrections department switched to a new digital information system in 2010. But most of the people like Rogers who would benefit from the new law have been incarcerated since the 1990s.

The law, which took effect in January, builds on 2021 criminal justice reforms that increased the amount of credit someone could earn for participating in programs behind bars. […]

As of March 21, 1,750 individuals had received earned time through the new law, according to the state. Of those, 1,341 were still in custody and 409 have been released.

* It’s just a bill, the House committee deadline has long past and the Third Reading passage deadline is tomorrow. WGN

After protesters blocked a major traffic artery into O’Hare International Airport this week, an Illinois State Representative has proposed legislation that would make similar demonstrations a felony. […]

On Wednesday, Rep. Dan Ugaste, a Republican from Geneva in Chicago’s western suburbs, filed legislation aimed at amending the Illinois Public Demonstrations Law. Ugaste represents Illinois’ 65th House District.

Titled Bill 5819, the legislation would create stiffer penalties for individuals who block “an exceptionally busy public right-of-way” for not less than five minutes, or when these actions prevent the free passage of emergency responders.

Individuals who engage in these actions would be subject to Class 4 felony charges.

* Sierra Club of Illinois…

Yesterday, the Illinois State House passed HB5277, which promotes equitable access to parks, public lands, and waters while also reducing climate pollution by encouraging increased use of public transportation. This monumental legislation, which was championed by State Representative Justin Slaughter, establishes the Transit to Trails Grant Program to allow eligible entities to apply for projects that facilitate travel by public transit to public outdoor recreation sites for activities like hiking, fishing, boating, and wildlife observation.

The Transit to Trails Program focuses on populations that are economically disadvantaged and underserved. In Illinois, 80% of low-income residents and 77% of people of color live in areas without or with limited access to nature. Transit to Trails aims to close this nature equity gap.

“Illinois’ parks and forest preserves have beautiful woods, wetlands, and prairies, and a day in nature does wonders for our mental and physical health,” said Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin. “Everyone can benefit from outdoor recreation, but too many communities cannot safely and easily access time in nature. By helping our transit agencies provide service to these beautiful places, the Transit to Trails program will reduce the “nature equity gap.” We urge the Senate to approve this legislation this Spring and move more Illinoisans closer to accessing public land and recreation across the state.”

“Everyone can benefit from enjoying our beautiful parks and forest preserves, but for many people transportation is a barrier to these healthy activities,” said State Representative Justin Slaughter, chief sponsor of HB5277. “The Transit to Trails program will help provide transit service to beautiful natural areas, helping more Illinoisans access outdoor recreation with safe and reliable transit service. This is an important step to providing more equitable access to nature, and all of its benefits, especially for communities that lack this access today.”

“We’re thrilled to see Illinois join states across the country taking action to close the nature equity gap,” said Gerry Seavo James, Deputy Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors For All Campaign. “Ensuring access to nature and outdoor recreation will help all Illinoisans thrive, and this bill will help break down some of the barriers that underserved communities face when trying to explore and enjoy the state’s parks, trails, natural areas, and waterways.”

* Michael McDevitt



* The Telegraph

A resolution to place a nonbinding advisory referendum regarding separating Chicago and Cook County from the rest of the state of Illinois was passed 15-7 by the Madison County Board on Wednesday.

The vote came after numerous speakers both for and against, and sometimes intense discussion by board members.

Madison County voters in November will now be asked via referendum to answer this question, “Shall the board of Madison County correspond with the boards of other counties of Illinois, outside of Cook County, about the possibility of separating from Cook County to form a new state and to seek admission to the Union as such, subject to the approval of the people?”

* Here’s the rest…

posted by Isabel Miller
Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 2:19 pm

Comments

  1. “Both for the Springfield community but also for our nation.”

    The only path to a rightful future depends on a rightful recognition of a wrongful past.

    Comment by Dotnonymous x Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 2:53 pm

  2. RIP Ramblin’ Man Dickey Betts. Great musician and songwriter.

    Comment by Grandson of Man Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 3:19 pm

  3. What an embarrassment for my home county to vote in favor of putting this symbolic yet dangerous separation gambit on the ballot. Hoping it gets defeated this November.

    Comment by Justin Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 3:27 pm

  4. So… protestors blocking an exceptionally busy public right-of-way will be put on double secret probation??

    Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 3:30 pm

  5. I just can’t wait to read the correspondence between Madison County and the other 100 counties they seek to engage. Since this is a Board action, I assume all such conversations and correspondence will be accessible to the general public.

    PS - Which Madison was that county named after? Surely not the one from Virginia.

    Comment by H-W Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 3:38 pm

  6. Justin wrote: What an embarrassment for my home county to vote in favor of putting this symbolic yet dangerous separation gambit on the ballot. Hoping it gets defeated this November.

    Ditto.

    Comment by West Sub Ladi Thursday, Apr 18, 24 @ 5:47 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: Question of the day
Next Post: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Quick session update (Updated x5)


Last 10 posts:

more Posts (Archives)

WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.

powered by WordPress.