Jessie Hellmann – Page 2

Gov. Bruce Rauner on March 20, 2015, in Chicago. After months of criticism by Democrats, the Republican governor has put large parts of his so-called Turnaround Agenda into bill form.

Rauner puts parts of agenda into bill form

May 25, 2019 at 12:58 p.m.

With just 10 days remaining in the spring legislative session, Gov. Bruce Rauner has finally put large parts of his so-called Turnaround Agenda into bill form, a move that follows...

District, city argue Crystal Lake bleachers case before state Supreme Court

June 16, 2018 at 5:17 p.m.

The controversy over a set of large bleachers at Crystal Lake South High School made it to the state's highest court Wednesday. The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments in the...

"I have teenagers, and they have pretty fragile self-esteem without being told they're diseased, just by being who they are," said sponsoring Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, who first brought legislation banning gay conversion therapy for minors in 2014.

Illinois gay conversion therapy ban passes House, moves to Senate

August 19, 2019 at 3:05 a.m.

Following a series of big wins during the past decade that culminated in the approval of same-sex marriage in Illinois, the new cause for gay rights supporters at the Capitol...

‘Right-to-try’ bill sent to Rauner

May 25, 2019 at 12:57 p.m.

Terminally ill patients would be allowed to try experimental drugs and treatments not yet approved by the federal government under a measure state lawmakers sent Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday....

Several groups of lawmakers are working behind closed doors on the top issues at the governor's request with little more than two weeks left until adjournment of the spring session.

Murky mess at Illinois Capitol as higher stakes loom

May 25, 2019 at 12:57 p.m.

Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday admitted he's not sure his plan to cut government worker pension costs is legal and suggested legislators may need to pass a bunch of laws...

Creating mixed drinks could take on a new twist with powdered liquor known as Palcohol. But sales of the dehydrated alcohol would be banned under legislation passed by the Illinois House and Senate, when it hits U.S. shelves this summer. The bill heads to Gov. Bruce Rauner for his signature.

Illinois lawmakers move to ban powdered alcohol

May 15, 2019 at 2:43 p.m.

The sale of powdered alcohol would be banned in Illinois under a measure the House sent to Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday. Powdered alcohol, also known as "Palcohol," was approved...

Madigan sends Rauner message on anti-union right-to-work proposal

May 25, 2019 at 12:57 p.m.

Conditions on the Illinois House floor turned theatrical Thursday as lawmakers screamed, cried and even broke out in song during heated debate of a key item on Republican Gov. Bruce...

Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan put a right-to-work bill up for a vote May 14, 2015, that was cobbled together from talking points by Gov. Bruce Rauner's team on the issue. Republicans called the move a political stunt.

Madigan sends Rauner message on tort reform

May 25, 2019 at 12:57 p.m.

For the second time in as many weeks, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan summoned the entire Illinois House for a daylong hearing that put the spotlight on business-friendly measures sought...

Madigan sends message to Rauner with budget vote

May 25, 2019 at 12:57 p.m.

As Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner was talking to Chicago aldermen about his agenda Wednesday, Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan was delivering his own message 200 miles away at the Capitol....

The Illinois House approved a measure April 23, 2015, that would penalize possession of small amounts of marijuana with a fine instead of arrest. Low-level cannabis possession, of up to 15 grams or less, would be treated more like a traffic ticket: no court time and a fine of up to $125.

Illinois House moves toward decriminalizing marijuana possession

May 25, 2019 at 1:22 p.m.

Getting caught with a small amount of marijuana would result in a fine instead of arrest under a measure the Illinois House approved Thursday. Low-level cannabis possession would go from...

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