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Legal Weed: What You Need To Know

Buying and using marijuana will be legal in Illinois as of January 1. We asked top state experts what that does and doesn’t mean, and compiled their answers in this Q&A.

Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois

State Week: Marijuana Justice, Coming Tax Fight, Pritzker's 2020 Agenda

Statewide: Illinois Prepares For Legal Pot; A School District Tries To Address Racism

Rural Illinois Prepares For 2020 Census

Illinois is in a precarious position when it comes to the 2020 census. The count determines congressional representation, and the state is at risk for losing up to two seats. Central and southern Illinois appear most vulnerable to losing a congressional seat, which is why it’s especially important to make sure everyone participates, according to Anita Banerji, director of the Democracy Initiative with Forefront Illinois. The Chicago-based civic engagement nonprofit has been working to ensure...

the Chicago skyline as viewed from the south side — Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois

Credit Rating Agencies Warn Of Risks For Illinois, Chicago

J.B. Pritzker — Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois

Cook County Reverses 1,000 Marijuana Convictions, While Governor Promises More To Come

Community Voices

CWLP Gets Specific On Coal Plant Closure, Urges Decision By January

Months after a report advising the City of Springfield to shutter three of its four coal-fired generators, utility officials urged city leaders to make a decision about the future of the plant by January.

Residents Express Frustration, Hope Over Pillsbury Mills Plant

Springfield’s Shortfall Illustrates Broader Pension Problem

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U of I Touts Sexual Harassment Reforms, Implementation Still Unclear

In the midst of #MeToo movement and several high-profile sexual misconduct cases involving its own faculty, the University of Illinois is announcing recently released recommendations that would change how the university handles cases of sexual harassment and misconduct. Recommendations include prohibiting confidentiality agreements that keep findings of misconduct secret, and a system for tracking and disclosing findings of misconduct on a "need-to-know" basis.

NPR Illinois Can't Report Freely on U of I Sexual Misconduct. These Groups Want That To Change.

At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Preserving the Reputations of Sexual Harassers

American Samoans' Citizenship Status Still In Limbo After Judge Issues Stay

By Vanessa Romo • 6 hours ago

John Fitisemanu woke up early Friday morning, got dressed and finally completed one of the tasks on a more than 20-year-old to-do list: He registered to vote.

For less than a day, Fitisemanu, who was born in American Samoa, was legally considered a full-fledged American citizen with voting rights and the ability to run for office or hold certain government jobs. But a judge in a Utah federal court has once again thrown his much longed-for status into question.

Democratic Presidential Candidates Threaten To Boycott Debate Over Labor Dispute

By Juana Summers • 6 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Seven Democratic presidential candidates qualified for next week's debate in Los Angeles. Now there's a chance that zero of them will show up. There's a labor dispute between food services workers and the contractor who employs them at Loyola Marymount University, which is hosting the debate. NPR political reporter Juana Summers is following the story and is here in the studio.

Hi, Juana.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Hey there.

SHAPIRO: Start by explaining the labor dispute at the heart of this. What's going on?

This Grieving Family Wants The U.S. To Designate Mexican Cartels As Terrorists

By Joel Rose • 7 hours ago

It was almost dark when Shalom LeBaron reached the spot where her daughter, Rhonita Miller LeBaron, and four grandchildren were killed. LeBaron found the remains of her 10-year-old granddaughter in the back seat of a car that had been riddled with bullets and set on fire earlier that morning.

"Facedown, crunched up in fetal position because she was so afraid," LeBaron said through tears in an interview with NPR. "That's how her bones were found."

U.S. And Iraqi Officials Worry Protests In Iraq Could Spark A War

By Jane Arraf • 7 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Hi, Juana.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Hey there.

SHAPIRO: Start by explaining the labor dispute at the heart of this. What's going on?

Why People With Climate Change Concerns Don't Always Do What's Best For The Environment

By editor • 7 hours ago

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Week In Politics: Impeachment News And The U.K. Election

By editor • 7 hours ago

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

For the fourth time in history, a president of the United States is facing impeachment. Earlier this morning, after hours of heated debate that spanned across two days, the House Judiciary Committee voted on two articles of impeachment.

In 'Work In Progress,' A Darkly Funny Coming-Of-Middle-Age

By Ari Shapiro • 7 hours ago

In the new Showtime comedy series Work in Progress, Abby McEnany joins a long tradition of comedians playing a version of themselves on TV.

She's playing a "45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke" who is depressed, anxious and self-conscious.

McEnany has spent decades in Chicago's improv comedy scene. She says she dealt with a long string of rejections and failed auditions. Then her pilot got picked up and greenlit for a full series.

She still can't quite believe it.

How The Rohingya Community Is Reacting To Aung San Suu Kyi's ICJ Speech

By editor • 7 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Hi, Juana.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Hey there.

SHAPIRO: Start by explaining the labor dispute at the heart of this. What's going on?

Trump Announces A 'Phase One' Trade Deal With China

By Scott Horsley • 7 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Hi, Juana.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Hey there.

SHAPIRO: Start by explaining the labor dispute at the heart of this. What's going on?

How Britain's Conservative Party Swept Parts Of England That Leaned Left For Decades

By editor • 7 hours ago

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

Hi, Juana.

JUANA SUMMERS, BYLINE: Hey there.

SHAPIRO: Start by explaining the labor dispute at the heart of this. What's going on?

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Trump Signs Order Against Anti-Semitism At Colleges, Worrying Free Speech Advocates

Updated at 6:18 p.m. ET President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday that will make Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act apply to anti-Semitic acts. The order is generating concern that it will stifle free speech by those who oppose Israel's policy toward the Palestinians. The executive order takes indirect aim at the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that has generated intense controversy on college campuses. Title VI bans discrimination based on race, color or national...

The House Just Passed Its Prescription Drug Plan — Here's What's In It

A Construction Company Embraces Frank Talk About Mental Health To Reduce Suicide

Illinois Headlines

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Rich & Dana Saal Celebrating Erin & Julie's Birthday

Arts & Life

In 'Work In Progress,' A Darkly Funny Coming-Of-Middle-Age

By Ari Shapiro • 7 hours ago

In the new Showtime comedy series Work in Progress, Abby McEnany joins a long tradition of comedians playing a version of themselves on TV.

She's playing a "45-year-old self-identified fat, queer dyke" who is depressed, anxious and self-conscious.

McEnany has spent decades in Chicago's improv comedy scene. She says she dealt with a long string of rejections and failed auditions. Then her pilot got picked up and greenlit for a full series.

She still can't quite believe it.

Education Desk

ISBE Rolls Back Restraint Rules

By Dusty Rhodes • Dec 4, 2019

The Illinois State Board of Education today amended emergency rules that had banned the use of certain physical restraints in schools. Those rules had been enacted two weeks ago in response to an investigation published by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica documenting thousands of incidents where children with special needs were put into seclusion rooms at school.

The board had reacted to that report by banning not only seclusion rooms, but also the use of prone and supine physical restraints, which can make it difficult for children to breathe or communicate normally.

Kevin Rubenstein, president of the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education, says those new rules had ripple effects.

Equity & Justice

Food Stamp Loss Expected To Hit Poor Illinoisans

By Maureen Foertsch McKinney • Dec 6, 2019

Likely more than 100,000 Illinoisans will lose food stamps under a rule change finalized by President Donald’s Trump administration this week.

Health+Harvest Desk

Public Health Officials Warn To Guard Against Flu Virus As Season Begins

By Sam Dunklau • Oct 21, 2019

Government of Prince Edward Island via Creative Commons / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Flu season has begun once again in Illinois, and public health officials are urging residents to practice good hygiene and vaccinate against the virus.

Illinois Economy

Big Ideas In The Small Town Of Casey

By Sean Crawford • Sep 17, 2019

The eastern Illinois community of Casey has followed the lead of roadside novelties promising tourists a chance to see the world's largest (fill in the blank).

Statehouse

State Week: Marijuana Justice, Coming Tax Fight, Pritzker's 2020 Agenda

By Sean Crawford, Brian Mackey & Charles N. Wheeler III • 7 hours ago

Brian Mackey / NPR Illinois

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx personally filed paperwork that led to vacating and expunging the marijuana convictions of more than 1,000 people.

Politics

Week In Politics: Impeachment News And The U.K. Election

By editor • 7 hours ago

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Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Trump Subpoena Cases

By Krishnadev Calamur • 7 hours ago

Updated at 6:35 p.m. ET

The U.S. Supreme Court said late Friday that it will review three lower court decisions upholding congressional and grand jury subpoenas for financial records from President Trump's longtime personal accountants and from banks he did business with.

The high court's order sets the stage for a constitutional battle over the limits of presidential power.

7 Democrats Qualify For December Primary Debate

By Jessica Taylor • 8 hours ago

The sixth Democratic primary debate has shaped up to be the smallest — and least diverse — so far of the 2020 campaign.

Just seven candidates have qualified per Democratic National Committee requirements: former Vice President Joe Biden; South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg; Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; billionaire businessman Tom Steyer; Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren; and nonprofit executive Andrew Yang.

All 7 Democratic Candidates Scheduled To Debate Threaten To Skip Over Labor Dispute

By Juana Summers • 10 hours ago

Updated at 5:35 p.m. ET

Amid a labor dispute at the site of next week's presidential primary debate, all seven Democratic candidates who made the stage are siding with unions and threatening not to participate in the event.

Candidates are scheduled to meet for the Democratic presidential debate on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Los Angeles on Dec. 19.

On His Way Out, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin Pardons Murderers, Rapists, Hundreds More

By Brakkton Booker • 10 hours ago

Updated at 4:15 p.m. ET

Former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin departed the governor's mansion three days ago, but the reverberations of some of his final actions are still being felt across the state.

Bevin, a Republican who narrowly lost a bid for a second term last month, issued pardons to hundreds of people, including convicted rapists, murderers and drug offenders.

Illinois Calendar

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The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde Goes For Jazz Karaoke On 'Valve Bone Woe' Covers

Chrissie Hynde has wanted to release her latest album, Valve Bone Woe , for a very long time. It all started about 20 years ago, when she teamed up with film composer and music producer Marius de Vries to work on music for the movie Eye Of The Beholder . Chrissie and Marius wanted to work together again, but you know how life goes — you get busy, it's hard to sync up schedules — and it ended up taking a couple decades to finish the album. But it's here now, and it's very different from the...

Women Dominated 2019: Ken Tucker Picks His Top 10 Albums Of The Year

'I Done Been Through Some Things': The Tina Turner Musical Is Now On Broadway

NPR Illinois Classic - LISTEN ON 91.9-2 HD OR STREAM

Opera Star Vittorio Grigolo Fired By Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera

One of opera's leading men, Italian tenor Vittorio Grigolo, was dismissed Thursday by two of the world's most prestigious houses: the Royal Opera in London and New York's Metropolitan Opera. His firing comes after an investigation by the Royal Opera [RO], which determined that he had demonstrated "inappropriate and aggressive behavior" during an RO tour of Japan in September. What exactly occurred in Tokyo, where Grigolo was singing Charles Gounod's opera Faust on Sept. 18, remains unclear....

Nicholas Payton Reimagines Musical Tradition With 'Black American Symphony'

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