Lisa has smoked marijuana since 1998 to relieve pain from osteoporosis and two knee replacement surgeries. The suburban mother of two grown children knows that smoking pot is illegal in Illinois, but she says...
Read more »
Medicinal Marijuana Bill Finds Support in Illinois
Demonstrators See Red at Red Light Camera Protest
From Lake Effect News
More than 60 demonstrators from around Chicago gathered at Western Avenue and Addison Street in Lakeview on Sunday afternoon to protest the use of red light cameras at Chicago...
Read more »
Innovative STD Treatment OK’ed in Illinois
A new law in Illinois (SB212) allows doctors to provide medication to partners of people who have gonorrhea and chlamydia without having personally diagnosed those individuals.
“It’s safe, it’s effective, it’s recommended by the CDC (Centers...
Read more »
Artists Brave Cold in Fight for Free Speech

Artist, educator and free speech activist Chris Drew continues to challenge the city of Chicago over its peddler’s license law and other restrictions on artists’ freedom in public places.
Reporter Patrick Smith has been documenting...
Read more »
Council Committee Declares Chicago a “Fair Trade City”

The Chicago City Council this week passed a resolution declaring Chicago a Fair Trade city, joining cities like San Francisco and Missoula, Mont., in a symbolic movement against poor working conditions in third-world countries.
The...
Read more »
Chicago Boasts First Wind-Powered Car Charging Station in the U.S.
When Hal Emalfarb bought a hybrid Toyota Prius that he converted to an electric plug-in vehicle four months ago, he was thrilled to own a car with emission-free driving and greater energy efficiency.
“This is...
Read more »
Pedestrian Advocates Push for Tougher Crosswalk Laws
Illinois lawmakers and pedestrian advocates are proposing a law that would require drivers to stop, rather than yield, for people in crosswalks – a second attempt after the divisive proposal failed in the assembly...
Read more »
Leaders Envision Chicago’s 2016 in “Back to the Future” Panel
City leaders’ dreams that the 2016 Olympics would come to Chicago ended in October, but their hopes for the economic development, job creation and neighborhood expansion the Games would have brought to the city...
Read more »
New Probation Bill Raises Questions of Resources, Victim Safety
First-time felons in Illinois could escape prison time and get a fresh start under a new proposal, but prosecutors and victims rights organizations say it may not ease the stress of a strained court...
Read more »
State Government Requires Schools to Waive Millions
Illinois public universities gave away a record $13.5 million last year in free tuition to more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students through a controversial legislative scholarship program, according to the Illinois Board of...
Read more »
Listening to the People, Officially

Access Living, governed and staffed by people with disabilities, is Chicago’s only center for independent living that focuses on full equality, inclusion and empowerment of all people with disabilities.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Access Living...
Read more »
Munoz continues reign in 1st District
Sen. Antonio “Tony” Munoz continues to reign in the 1st District, keeping alive his 10-year streak in the Illinois Senate with a win in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.
The incumbent received 69 percent of votes, giving...
Read more »
Steans Wins Big Amidst Quiet Controversy in the 7th

Incumbent state Sen. Heather Steans easily held onto her 7th District seat in Tuesday’s Democratic primary election, with scant numbers of voters braving the cold and snow to choose her over challenger Jim Madigan.
Steans,...
Read more »
Burke Faces Opposition, Narrowly Holds House Seat in 23rd District

State Rep. Dan Burke (D-Chicago) didn’t breathe easy until early Wednesday morning, when it became official that he had indeed held off Rudy Lozano, Jr. to secure his name on the November ballot.
It was...
Read more »
State Deficit Drains Before- and After School Programs in Chicago
With the Illinois state budget deep in the red, it’s not just schools that are feeling the pinch – before- and after-school programs are in peril as well, educators say.
Illinois has reduced funding for...
Read more »
Food Pantries Meet Demand in Englewood

By Deborah Alexander, LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program
Joyce Brown is no stranger to people in need. As the project coordinator for the Englewood Food Network, she’s been organizing food pantries and serving up meals...
Read more »