Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The bill would prohibit all teens 17 years old and younger from using UV tanning beds.
Legislation to ban minors from indoor tanning beds was sent to Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday after being approved by the Illinois Senate. House Bill 188, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), would ban Illinois minors age 17 and younger from UV tanning beds. Currently, minors ages 14 to 17 are allowed to tan if they provide a parent's signature. Spray-on tanning is exempt from the legislation, as is phototherapy, which applies to situations where a physician supervises tanning when it is necessary to treat a medical condition. Radogno said in a press release that she sponsored the bill to protect Illinois minors from the serious health risks involved with indoor tanning beds. “Not only do children not realize there …
Friday, May 17, 2013
Passed by a 35-21 vote, the bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has not yet said whether he intends to sign it.
By a vote of 35-21, the Illinois Senate approved legislation on Friday that would allow doctors in the state to prescribe marijuana as pain relief for severe medical conditions. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. According to the Chicago Tribune, the bill covers 33 specific conditions—including multiple sclerosis, cancer and HIV infection—and includes several controls, with a four-year trial program, dosage limits, fingerprinting, background checks and licensed dispensing centers. “This bill is filled with walls to keep this limited,” the paper quoted sponsoring Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation as a compassionate measure for those suffering with extreme pain. In opposition, Sen. …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Attempts to regulate Chicago’s pedicab business in the past have failed, but an area alderman's list of rules in a newly proposed ordinance aren’t quite as strict as in the past.
Whether you call them pedicabs or rickshaws, peddlers in Chicago may soon face a list of new regulations, thanks to an ordinance introduced to City Council last week. Attempts to regulate the growing industry have failed twice in the past, with the biggest point of contention being a rule that prohibits pedicabs from operating in the Loop during rush hour, WBEZ writes. Some see the two-person tricycles as a cause for downtown gridlock. But with 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney's newly proposed ordinance leaving that issue off the table, it may stand a chance. “This ordinance is long overdue,” he said, in a statement. “Pedicabs have been operating in the city for years as an unregulated and unlicensed business. While pedicabs are a unique and …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The state representative, who covers Lake View and Lincoln Park, says this will help prevent seniors from needlessly moving into nursing homes.
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Sunday, May 12
To strengthen the state’s senior home care program and prevent seniors from needlessly moving into nursing home care, a measure sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) was signed into law last week. “Home care for senior citizens is one of the most cost-effective programs in the state of Illinois,” said Feigenholtz. “Aside from the basic humanity of allowing elderly residents to age in place, the state can provide CCP for four seniors at the same cost of caring for one person in a nursing home. We should be investing as much as possible into long-term cost-saving programs such as CCP, especially as the state faces such difficult financial circumstances.” The Community Care Program (CCP) provides in-home services to over 85,000…
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Now, only Governor Pat Quinn stands in the way of Illinois legalizing medical marijuana, and he already said he's open to the idea, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois lawmakers are poised to enact one of the toughest medical marijuana laws in the nation after a Senate committee moved a bill Wednesday allowing those with a limited list of illness to obtain a prescription for the drug. The bill, which already passed through the Illinois House of Representatives, now lies in Gov. Pat Quinn's hands—and he's open to the proposal, the Chicago Tribune reported. The Senate Committee voted 10-5 in favor of the bill even after law enforcement officials objected on the grounds that it does not include provisions for driving under the influence of marijuana, the Trib reported. The law would allow patients to obtain 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. Sixty pot dispensaries would be set up throughout …
The Chicago City Council is considering several measures centered on bicyclists including increased fines for drivers convicted of dooring, stiffer penalties for bikers who break the laws and an awareness campaign aimed at taxi drivers.
Friday, May 10, 2013
A tax incentive presented before the Chicago City Council this week would allow for a Ford dealership at 2501 N. Elson Ave.
A property tax incentive introduced to city council Wednesday would support the development of a new North Side car dealership. The Cook County Class 7(b) tax incentive would allow construction of a Ford dealership on a 7.45 acre site at 2501 N. Elston Ave., on the west edge of the Chicago River, just north of Fullerton and Damen avenues. The $51 million project would provide 102,000 square feet of space for the sale of new and used cars as well as a service center and offices. The incentive lowers taxes on qualified commercial properties from the standard Cook County rate of 25 percent to 10 percent for 10 years; 15 percent for the eleventh year; and 20 percent for the twelfth year. The total tax savings during the 12-year period is …
The Chicago City Council is considering several measures centered on bicyclists including increased fines for drivers convicted of dooring, stiffer penalties for bikers who break the laws and an awareness campaign aimed at taxi drivers.
Officials are proposing even stiffer penalties against those convicted of "dooring" bikers within the city. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a plan to the city council on Wednesday that would raise the fines for cyclists disobeying traffic laws, and double the fines for motorists who cause crashes by opening vehicle doors into the path of cyclists, commonly known as “dooring.” The 2013 Bicycle Safety Ordinance proposal includes a provision to raise fines for cyclists who break street laws from $25 to a range of $50-$200, depending on the violation. "If they are sharing the roadway with vehicles, cyclists need to obey all traffic laws, including yielding to pedestrians, stopping at traffic signals and indicating when they are making …
Thursday, May 9, 2013
The final step before contruction is now under way. Officials say the project is on track for groundbreaking later this summer.
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Thursday, May 9
The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Department of Procurement Services announced Wednesday that the City is seeking bids for the construction of the long-anticipated Bloomingdale Park and Trail, with the plan to break ground this summer. “The Bloomingdale Park and Trail will be one the most distinct and user-friendly open spaces to be developed anywhere in the country,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, in a news release. “I am pleased that this project continues to make progress, and I look forward to the start of construction this summer.” Planned for the top of an abandoned, 2.7-mile railroad viaduct between Ashland and Ridgeway avenues, the $91 million linear park will be managed by the Chicago Park District through a $1 …
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The bridge construction known for putting a pinch on Brown Line riders was completed Monday morning, ending a tricky CTA commute for some.
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Tuesday, May 7
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) trains resumed their normal service schedule Monday as the reconstruction of the north leaf of the historic Wells Street Bridge over the Chicago River was completed early. “These were critical repairs performed with strong coordination between agencies. The result is that our infrastructure will be top-notch for generations and our commuters will be able to expect outstanding service as they travel to and from work,” Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. “I thank Chicagoans for their patience during these brief periods of service interruptions, and congratulate the construction crews for a job well done.” CTA service into the Loop had been interrupted for a second nine-day period last week while theChicago …
Grumpy Old Man
9:51 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The rationale might support a requirement that before a teen can use an indoor tanning bed, he get his parent's signed consent on a document which lists the potential hazards of such beds. The parade of laws by the nanny staters is getting repulsive. We have to do something because the stupid teens and the stupid parents aren't doing what we know they should. Spare me. When can we expect to have … more ›