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Illinoisans convicted of a drug felony would still be able to access cash welfare assistance under a measure approved by the Illinois House last week.
The proposal marks the fifth attempt State Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago) has made to open Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare benefits for Illinoisans with drug felony records. But last week’s vote was the first time the idea actually passed out of the House.
Flowers said recent changes in state drug policy, particularly Illinois’ legalization of recreational marijuana in 2019, convinced her the time was right to try again.
“Now that we have this coming to the meeting of the minds in regards to cannabis and other drugs, Illinois seems to be a forgiving state and I thought this was the right opportunity for Illinois to embrace this bill,” Flowers said.
The governor’s office unveiled a 900-page energy overhaul bill Wednesday, accelerating a yearslong process which advocates hope will end in a comprehensive clean energy platform as the session nears its final month.
The stated goal of the bill is to drive Illinois to 100 percent “clean” energy by 2050. That, Deputy Gov. Christian Mitchell said in an interview Wednesday, would include nuclear power as a major contributor. Another goal is to bring Illinois to 40 percent of its utility scale energy produced by renewables, such as wind and solar, by 2030. Right now, that number is around 8 percent.
The bill contains some of the provisions put forth in other legislation, raising the rate cap on ratepayer bills for renewable projects from about 2 percent to 3.75 percent; ending formulaic rate increases for utilities immediately; and prohibiting natural gas companies from assessing a surcharge on bills starting January 2022.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker talks on April 26 about the state s moratorium on evictions for tenants who declare they could not pay rent because of the pandemic and when those restrictions might be rolled back.
SPRINGFIELD â The Illinois Senate voted Thursday to pass House Bill 2877, which aims to extend emergency protections to renters and homeowners financially impacted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It needs only a signature from Gov. J.B. Pritzker to become law after passing the House last week.
The bill, known as the COVID-19 Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program Act, primarily aims to provide assistance to renters and landlords by distributing federal funds through the Illinois Housing Development Authority to support renters who have been unable to make rent payments as a result of pandemic-related economic hardship.
Southern Illinois Reads Holds Virtual Book Discussions To Educate The Community On Racial Issues
The Carbondale Branch of the NAACP will hold book discussions through May to open up conversations across racial and socio-economic lines in the community.
SI Reads is a online discussion forum to educate people on racial issues and how to become active in building a better community.
The Illinois Department of Human Services started the initiative Healing Illinois to promote racial healing.
Rev. Alfred McGowan is discussing the book “Countering The Conspiracy To Destroy Black Boys” by Jawanza Kunjufu published in 1983.
He says the book encourages people to find solutions to address these issues and he wants to start by giving children their own book that interests them.