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HAUNT REVIEW 2021: Twisted Crypt Haunted Houseon October 28, 2021 at 12:53 pm

Count Gregula’s Crypt

HAUNT REVIEW 2021: Twisted Crypt Haunted House

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HAUNT REVIEW 2021: Twisted Crypt Haunted Houseon October 28, 2021 at 12:53 pm Read More »

We are more than relevant, we are indispensableon October 28, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Cheating Death

We are more than relevant, we are indispensable

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We are more than relevant, we are indispensableon October 28, 2021 at 1:00 pm Read More »

2 killed, 8 shot, Wednesday in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon October 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm

Ten people were shot, 2 fatally, October 27, 2021 in Chicago. | Sun-Times file photo

A man was found fatally shot in the 1500 block of East 70th Street police said

Two people were killed and eight others were wounded in shootings across Chicago Wednesday.

A man was found fatally shot early Wednesday in Grand Crossing on the South Side.

Officers were responding to a ShotSpotter alert in the 1500 block of East 70th Street about 1:35 a.m. and found the 32-year-old man with gunshot wounds to the head and body, Chicago police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Wednesday afternoon, a man was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in Humboldt Park on the West Side.

They were on the sidewalk in the 700 block of North Trumbull Avenue when someone opened fire about 1:25 p.m., police said.

A 24-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and side. He was pronounced dead at Norwegian American Hospital, police said.

Another man, 27, was shot in the torso and back, police said. The third man, 23, was struck in the chest. Both were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.

In nonfatal attacks, two men were hurt in a drive-by shooting in Lawndale on the West Side.

They were on the street about 6:30 p.m. in the 1600 block of South Homan Avenue when a light-colored vehicle pulled up and someone from inside opened fire, police said.

One man, 35, was shot in both legs and was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition, police said. The other, 46, was struck in the foot and was taken to the same hospital in good condition.

An hour later, another man was hurt in a drive-by shooting also in Lawndale.

The man, 26, was on the street about 7:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Avers Avenue when someone inside a light-colored vehicle drove by and fired shots, police said. He was struck in the leg and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was stabilized.

At least four others were wounded in citywide gun violence Wednesday.

Eight people were shot, one fatally, Tuesday in Chicago.

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2 killed, 8 shot, Wednesday in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon October 28, 2021 at 12:03 pm Read More »

Chicago Bulls: Honoring Joakim Noah is well-deservedVincent Pariseon October 28, 2021 at 11:00 am

Tonight, the Chicago Bulls are going to face the New York Knicks. Chicago is off to a very good 4-0 start which is one of the best starts they have ever had. They are looking to build on that so that they can be considered one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. There […] Chicago Bulls: Honoring Joakim Noah is well-deserved – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

Chicago Bulls: Honoring Joakim Noah is well-deservedVincent Pariseon October 28, 2021 at 11:00 am Read More »

‘Last Night in Soho’: Gorgeous horror story revels in the looks, sounds of London’s swinging ’60sRichard Roeperon October 28, 2021 at 10:30 am

New London transplant Ellie (Thomasin McKenzie) can see what others don’t in “Last Night in Soho.” | Focus Features

In one of the year’s most exciting movies, Thomasin McKenzie stars as a time-hopping design student who melds with a mysterious singer (Anya Taylor-Joy).

Didn’t see that coming.

Or that. Or THAT.

Edgar Wright’s piercingly effective, bloody strange, time-tripping “Last Night in Soho” is a hallucinogenic and wonderfully disturbing love letter to the fashions and sights and sounds of the London of the swinging 1960s; period-piece pop songs by the likes of Dusty Springfield, the Kinks and Petula Clark, and any number of creepy, psychological horror films. It’s a crazy kaleidoscope of bright colors, dark corners, David Lynch-style set pieces and shock moments designed to keep you up at night — and it features a quintet of memorable performances from two of the best young actors around and three iconic Brits.

“Last Night in Soho” announces itself as a singularly memorable visual work in a striking opening sequence in which Thomasin McKenzie’s Ellie glides down a hallway and into her bedroom to the strains of Peter and Gordon’s “A World Without Love.” Ellie lives with her grandmother Peggy (Rita Tushingham) in a quaint country home in Cornwall, as her mother committed suicide more than a decade earlier — but Mum remains a presence in Ellie’s life, often appearing in hyper-realistic visions via the mirror in her bedroom, which is decorated like a shrine to the 1960s.

Ellie is a talented and smart and lovely young woman, but she has dealt with serious mental health issues for most of her life, and when she moves to London to study fashion design, she is almost immediately overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of everyday life, from predatory men lurking in the shadows to her truly awful roommate Jacasta (Synnove Karlsen) to an overall feeling of simply not belonging in this place and time.

Desperate to escape the cruelty of her roommate and the party atmosphere in her dorm, Ellie rents an upstairs room on a quiet street from a cranky but seemingly kindhearted old landlady (the late Diana Rigg), who is amused by Ellie’s fascination with the music of HER generation. It’s when Ellie settles in at her new place that “Last Night in Soho” really kicks into the next-level crazy-ass gear, as Ellie finds herself regularly transported to the mid-1960s (Check out that movie theater marquee for “Thunderball!”) and becomes something of a time-travel, mirror-image twin to a beautiful blond aspiring singer named Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy). At times Ellie is an unseen observer to Sandy’s experiences; on other occasions, it’s more like she’s inhabiting Sandy’s body. It’s even weirder than it sounds, but it’s also different and cool and bizarre.

Focus Features
Aspiring singer Sandy (Anya Taylor-Joy) becomes a sort of time-travel twin for Ellie.

At first it seems as if Sandy is living the life of Ellie’s dreams, as she auditions for a singing gig by delivering a sensually effective rendition of Petula Clark’s “Downtown” and becomes involved with a dashing and handsome talent manager named Jack (Matt Smith), who looks like he stepped out of a hipster TV series. Very quickly, though, it becomes clear Sandy is being exploited and abused by increasingly nefarious forces, much to Ellie’s horror.

Meanwhile, in present day, Ellie creates some exciting, 1960s-inspired fashion designs and finds some comfort in a budding relationship with a sensitive and kind fellow student (Michael Ajao), but she feels she’s being stalked by a mysterious, silver-haired old-timer (Terrence Stamp) who says she looks very familiar to him, and she is haunted in her nightmares by visions that go from the chilling to the blood-spattered and feel more like memories than visions. WHAT IS HAPPENING?!

Co-writer-director Wright is clearly a fan of the London music and movies of the 1960s, as evidenced by his casting of Rita Tushingham (“A Taste of Honey,” “The Knack … and How to Get It,” “Smashing Time”), Terrence Stamp (“The Collector,” “Modesty Blaise”) and Diana Rigg (Emma Peel in the mid-1960s cult hit espionage TV series “The Avengers”), who are all outstanding in key supporting roles. Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy add to their already impressive resumes with dual lead performances — McKenzie beautifully conveying Ellie’s gift/curse for seeing and experiencing things beyond what most people ever conceive, while Taylor-Joy expertly conveys Sandy’s transformation from hopeful aspiring singer to abused victim to … something else. “Last Night in Soho” is one of the most unusual and exciting movies of the year.

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‘Last Night in Soho’: Gorgeous horror story revels in the looks, sounds of London’s swinging ’60sRichard Roeperon October 28, 2021 at 10:30 am Read More »

Southern Illinois running game thrives with an all-hands-on-deck approachon October 28, 2021 at 10:37 am

Prairie State Pigskin

Southern Illinois running game thrives with an all-hands-on-deck approach

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Southern Illinois running game thrives with an all-hands-on-deck approachon October 28, 2021 at 10:37 am Read More »

Repeal of abortion parental notification law sent to Pritzker, House advances ban on using moral beliefs for COVID-19 vaccine refusalRachel Hintonon October 28, 2021 at 6:36 am

State Rep. Anna Moeller speaks on the House floor late Wednesday night. | Blue Room Stream

In a night of high emotions, House Democrats voted to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act and change the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act relating to COVID-19 — two measures opposed by Republicans, and a few Democrats.

A parent or other adult family member would no longer need to be notified before a minor receives an abortion, under the repeal of a decades-old law the Illinois House sent late Wednesday to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

The late-night vote on that controversial topic came on the heels of the Illinois House passing another hot-button measure, sending to the state Senate a measure blocking the use of moral beliefs for refusing to comply with workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates or other mitigations.

That measure aimed at the coronavirus pandemic passed after a heated debate, with one Republican legislator dubbing the proposed amendment “atrocious,” and a few Democrats breaking ranks and declining to support it.

On the issue of abortion, House members voted to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act and pass the Youth Health and Safety Act. It passed in a 62 to 51 vote with three voting present and two not voting.

Barring any legislative maneuvers, the bill now goes to the governor’s desk.

In a spirited pitch for repeal, state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, called the notification law “the last anti-abortion law that we have on our books” and said overturning it ensures “we are protecting our most vulnerable young people in Illinois.”

But emotions ran just as high on the other side of the aisle.

In an impassioned speech opposing the bill, state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, said a vote for the repeal is not just “failing girls — it’s failing good parents.”

“We’re not talking about 17-year-olds exclusively who are months away from being 18, we’re talking about middle schoolers — potentially parents of middle schoolers — not having the right to know that their daughter is going through this and not having the foreknowledge to know what happens afterwards,” Bourne said.

Blue Room Stream
State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, speaks on the House floor Wednesday night.

The Legislature passed the Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 1995, but it didn’t go into effect until 2013 due to legal challenges. It requires a doctor providing care to a young person under age 18 who is seeking an abortion to notify a designated adult family member at least 48 hours before the procedure.

Six Democrats voted no on the repeal of the measure, while another three voted present. Two Democrats didn’t vote.

Just moments earlier, members of the House also engaged in a contentious debate late Wednesday on changes to the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act before voting to adopt the changes 64 to 52 with two voting present.

That measure now heads to the state Senate for debate.

Democrats contend the act, which has been on the books since 1998, was originally designed to protect doctors, nurses and other health care providers who refused to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to.

But House Democrats and members of the Pritzker administration argue the act is being misused by some to refuse to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other efforts to curb the pandemic.

Still, seven Democrats broke ranks on the measure to vote no, and another two Democrats voted present.

The proposed amendment to that law, sponsored by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is intended to make clear that public officials and private companies can impose COVID-19 requirements as part of conditions of employment.

Previous language in her amendment said those who don’t comply with the requirements could be fired, but that language was eliminated in a new amendment filed Wednesday — though officials and companies would still be able to “enforce” the COVID-19 measures or requirements and would not be considered in violation of the act.

Gabel said the removal of that language came from “feedback in committee.”

On Wednesday, Gabel said the law exists “to preserve” the ability of health care providers to refuse to perform some medical procedures that violate their conscience.

Blue Room Stream
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, reads her proposed changes to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act on the House floor Wednesday night.

“We also know with certainty that the act is being intentionally distorted by those who favor misinformation over fact, and those who are using this act to justify their desire to thumb their noses at the mitigation efforts imposed, by employers,” Gabel said.

Gabel sought to make clear the changes don’t constitute a vaccine mandate, and people can still request exemptions from vaccinations for medical or religious reasons.

Republicans lambasted the proposed changes.

State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, called the measure “atrocious.”

Facebook
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, speaks to constituents on Facebook Wednesday morning.

“This is unbelievable that we’re considering this on the House floor,” Niemerg said. “This is not about the Health Care Right of Conscience. This is about the last 18 months of unilateral authority from the governor. Now he’s asking us to remove the only opposition … so they can force vaccination on us.”

Follow up legislation to a bill creating an elected school board in Chicago was also sent to Pritzker’s desk.

That legislation got the final thumbs up from the Senate Wednesday evening. The bill clarifies that board members will not be compensated and removes a requirement that the mayor seek the advice, and consent, of the City Council for her picks for a hybrid board before the fully elected board is in place.

The bill also moves up a moratorium on school closings from June 2022 to the day the governor signs the legislation. The moratorium would still end when the first elected members of the board take their seats in 2025.

State Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said some stakeholders asked for the start of the moratorium to be moved up out of fear that officials would close schools while they could.

In exchange for changing the moratorium, Martwick and others removed the advice and consent requirement.

That legislation passed the Senate 43 to 14 with two not voting. It now heads to the governor’s desk.

A new proposal for redrawn boundaries for the state’s congressional districts based on the latest Census figures also came out Wednesday night.

Wednesday night’s map is the third iteration of proposed congressional boundaries released by the state’s Democratic mapmakers. It keeps the expected split between 14 Democratic seats and three Republican seats seen in a map released over the weekend.

Lawmakers will likely vote on the map Thursday, during their final slated day of veto session.

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Repeal of abortion parental notification law sent to Pritzker, House advances ban on using moral beliefs for COVID-19 vaccine refusalRachel Hintonon October 28, 2021 at 6:36 am Read More »

After sixty years of fandom, I’m done with the Chicago Blackhawkson October 28, 2021 at 6:21 am

I’ve Got The Hippy Shakes

After sixty years of fandom, I’m done with the Chicago Blackhawks

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After sixty years of fandom, I’m done with the Chicago Blackhawkson October 28, 2021 at 6:21 am Read More »

Astros even World Series with 7-2 victory in Game 2Kristie Rieken | Associated Presson October 28, 2021 at 3:36 am

Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros celebrates after hitting a one run home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning in Game Two of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 27, 2021 in Houston, Texas. | Elsa/Getty Images

Jose Altuve and Jose Siri star for Houston.

HOUSTON — Jose Siri launched himself headfirst into home plate, popped up with arms flexed and screamed with all his might.

Welcome to the World Series, rook.

The career minor leaguer sparked a team whose biggest stars took a while to shine, sending the Houston Astros to a 7-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night that evened the Fall Classic at one game apiece.

“It’s a long ways from waiver wire and Triple-A to the World Series,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “And he’s handled it pretty well.”

Jose Altuve doubled early, homered late and scored twice to break out at the plate. Siri’s speed and aggressive play created havoc on the bases, leading to a four-run second inning that helped the Astros snap a five-game skid at home in the World Series.

It’s the first time they’ve won a Series game in Houston since a 13-12 victory over the Dodgers in 10 innings in Game 5 on Oct. 29, 2017.

Altuve hit a leadoff double and scored in the first inning before adding a solo homer in the seventh as the October-tested Astros rolled past the suddenly sloppy Braves. It was the 22nd career postseason homer for Altuve, tying Bernie Williams for second-most behind Manny Ramirez (29).

“You can be 0 for 20,” Altuve said. “But what about if you get the big hit? So that’s what playoffs is about.”

Siri and Altuve ignited an offense still waiting on a big swing from Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and ALCS MVP Yordan Alvarez in this Series.

Jose Urquidy gave the Astros five solid innings for his second career World Series win and Houston’s bullpen — already so important this postseason — did the rest. Cristian Javier, Phil Maton, Ryan Pressly and Kendall Graveman combined for one-hit ball over four scoreless innings.

“I was very focused,” said Urquidy, a rookie when he beat Washington in the 2019 Fall Classic. “I love it. I love the feeling.”

The best-of-seven series shifts to Atlanta for the first of three games Friday night, with Ian Anderson scheduled to pitch for the Braves against rookie Luis Garcia.

The Astros jumped on Atlanta starter Max Fried for seven hits and six runs in five-plus innings.

The game was tied at 1 when Kyle Tucker got things going in the second with a one-out single before advancing to third on a single by Yuli Gurriel. The speedy Siri, who made his major league debut Sept. 3, then beat out an infield single to score Tucker and put the Astros on top.

That made Siri the first player to debut in September or later and drive in a run in that year’s World Series.

Hey Siri: How does that feel?

Martin Maldonado grounded a single to left fielder Eddie Rosario that scored Gurriel.

The usually fundamentally sound Braves then misplayed things all around. Rosario threw to an unoccupied third base and the ball rolled into foul territory, allowing Siri to dash home on the error.

“There’s so many baseball plays that don’t go like you want,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “We just kind of got caught in between a little bit.”

Siri stood at the plate reveling in the spotlight.

“Vamos,” Spanish for ‘let’s go,’ he hollered again and again.

Stuck in the minors since 2013, the excitable 26-year-old outfielder is now a World Siri. Before Wednesday he was most known for almost knocking over the 72-year-old Baker en route to celebrating a teammate’s postseason exploits.

This moment was all his.

“I’ve never had fear,” Siri said through a translator. “I’m not scared.”

The crowd, so quiet a night before, roared as Siri bounded toward the dugout. A fan in the lower deck displayed a sign that read: “Don’t Poke The Bear” as the Astros rediscovered their potent offense after Tuesday night’s dud of a 6-2 loss.

The Braves had a visit at the mound to try and regroup after that fiasco of a play but Fried threw a wild pitch soon afterward to send Maldonado to third. There were two outs when Michael Brantley singled, pumping his fist as he left the batter’s box to send another run home that made it 5-1.

Urquidy permitted six hits and two runs while striking out seven and walking none to rebound from a clunker in Game 3 of the AL Championship Series when he allowed five runs while getting just five outs against Boston.

Altuve’s leadoff double got the Astros going a night after the star second baseman went 0 for 5 in the first three-strikeout game of his postseason career. He advanced to third on a fly ball by Brantley before scoring on Bregman’s sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.

Urquidy got off to a much better start than teammate Framber Valdez did in Game 1. It was a low bar, though, after Valdez was rocked for a leadoff homer by Jorge Soler on Tuesday night.

Urquidy struck out his first two batters before allowing consecutive singles to Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley. Soler then came to the plate, and the right-hander avoided the first-inning trouble Valdez got into when he fanned the big designated hitter to escape the jam.

Travis d’Arnaud homered for Atlanta in the second to tie it 1-all. Dansby Swanson singled, but Gurriel grabbed Rosario’s liner to first base for the third out.

An RBI single by Freddie Freeman cut the lead to 5-2 in the fifth.

“Obviously, you want to win two. But if you get out of here with a split, then that’s a good thing going home,” Snitker said.

UP NEXT

Garcia pitched no-hit ball into the sixth inning during his last start in Game 6 of the ALCS to lead the Astros to the win.

Anderson allowed one run in four innings of a start in Game 6 of the NLCS.

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Astros even World Series with 7-2 victory in Game 2Kristie Rieken | Associated Presson October 28, 2021 at 3:36 am Read More »

Repeal of abortion parental notification law sent to Pritzker, House also bans use of moral beliefs for COVID-19 vaccine refusalRachel Hintonon October 28, 2021 at 5:31 am

State Rep. Anna Moeller speaks on the House floor late Wednesday night. | Blue Room Stream

In a night of high emotions, House Democrats voted to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act and change the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act relating to COVID-19 — two measures opposed by Republicans, and a few Democrats.

A parent or other adult family member would no longer need to be notified before a minor receives an abortion, under the repeal of a decades-old law the Illinois House sent late Wednesday to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk.

The late-night vote on that controversial topic came on the heels of the Illinois House passing another hot-button measure, sending to the state Senate a measure blocking the use of moral beliefs for refusing to comply with workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates or other mitigations.

That measure aimed at the coronavirus pandemic passed after a heated debate, with one Republican legislator dubbing the proposed amendment “atrocious,” and a few Democrats breaking ranks and declining to support it.

On the issue of abortion, House members voted to repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act and pass the Youth Health and Safety Act. It passed in a 62 to 51 vote with three voting present and two not voting.

Barring any legislative maneuvers, the bill now goes to the governor’s desk.

In a spirited pitch for repeal, state Rep. Anna Moeller, D-Elgin, called the notification law “the last anti-abortion law that we have on our books” and said overturning it ensures “we are protecting our most vulnerable young people in Illinois.”

But emotions ran just as high on the other side of the aisle.

In an impassioned speech opposing the bill, state Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, said a vote for the repeal is not just “failing girls — it’s failing good parents.”

“We’re not talking about 17-year-olds exclusively who are months away from being 18, we’re talking about middle schoolers — potentially parents of middle schoolers — not having the right to know that their daughter is going through this and not having the foreknowledge to know what happens afterwards,” Bourne said.

Blue Room Stream
State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Morrisonville, speaks on the House floor Wednesday night.

The Legislature passed the Parental Notice of Abortion Act in 1995, but it didn’t go into effect until 2013 due to legal challenges. It requires a doctor providing care to a young person under age 18 who is seeking an abortion to notify a designated adult family member at least 48 hours before the procedure.

Six Democrats voted no on the repeal of the measure, while another three voted present. Two Democrats didn’t vote.

Just moments earlier, members of the House also engaged in a contentious debate late Wednesday on changes to the state’s Health Care Right of Conscience Act before voting to adopt the changes 64 to 52 with two voting present.

That measure now heads to the state Senate for debate.

Democrats contend the act, which has been on the books since 1998, was originally designed to protect doctors, nurses and other health care providers who refused to perform medical procedures — such as abortions — that they’re opposed to.

But House Democrats and members of the Pritzker administration argue the act is being misused by some to refuse to comply with COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other efforts to curb the pandemic.

Still, seven Democrats broke ranks on the measure to vote no, and another two Democrats voted present.

The proposed amendment to that law, sponsored by state Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is intended to make clear that public officials and private companies can impose COVID-19 requirements as part of conditions of employment.

Previous language in her amendment said those who don’t comply with the requirements could be fired, but that language was eliminated in a new amendment filed Wednesday — though officials and companies would still be able to “enforce” the COVID-19 measures or requirements and would not be considered in violation of the act.

Gabel said the removal of that language came from “feedback in committee.”

On Wednesday, Gabel said the law exists “to preserve” the ability of health care providers to refuse to perform some medical procedures that violate their conscience.

Blue Room Stream
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, reads her proposed changes to the Health Care Right of Conscience Act on the House floor Wednesday night.

“We also know with certainty that the act is being intentionally distorted by those who favor misinformation over fact, and those who are using this act to justify their desire to thumb their noses at the mitigation efforts imposed, by employers,” Gabel said.

Gabel sought to make clear the changes don’t constitute a vaccine mandate, and people can still request exemptions from vaccinations for medical or religious reasons.

Republicans lambasted the proposed changes.

State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, called the measure “atrocious.”

Facebook
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, speaks to constituents on Facebook Wednesday morning.

“This is unbelievable that we’re considering this on the House floor,” Niemerg said. “This is not about the Health Care Right of Conscience. This is about the last 18 months of unilateral authority from the governor. Now he’s asking us to remove the only opposition … so they can force vaccination on us.”

Follow up legislation to a bill creating an elected school board in Chicago was also sent to Pritzker’s desk.

That legislation got the final thumbs up from the Senate Wednesday evening. The bill clarifies that board members will not be compensated and removes a requirement that the mayor seek the advice, and consent, of the City Council for her picks for a hybrid board before the fully elected board is in place.

The bill also moves up a moratorium on school closings from June 2022 to the day the governor signs the legislation. The moratorium would still end when the first elected members of the board take their seats in 2025.

State Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, said some stakeholders asked for the start of the moratorium to be moved up out of fear that officials would close schools while they could.

In exchange for changing the moratorium, Martwick and others removed the advice and consent requirement.

That legislation passed the Senate 43 to 14 with two not voting. It now heads to the governor’s desk.

A new proposal for redrawn boundaries for the state’s congressional districts based on the latest Census figures also came out Wednesday night.

Wednesday night’s map is the third iteration of proposed congressional boundaries released by the state’s Democratic mapmakers. It keeps the expected split between 14 Democratic seats and three Republican seats seen in a map released over the weekend.

Lawmakers will likely vote on the map Thursday, during their final slated day of veto session.

Read More

Repeal of abortion parental notification law sent to Pritzker, House also bans use of moral beliefs for COVID-19 vaccine refusalRachel Hintonon October 28, 2021 at 5:31 am Read More »