Communities divided over AI Data Centers in Illinois, lawmakers eye regulations

A proposed $500 million data center in Sangamon County is drawing mixed reactions from residents and officials. Supporters point to economic growth, job creation and investment. Critics raise concerns about environmental impact, water use and rising energy costs.

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I must say, the more I learn about them, the more concerned I am...

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Rural Illinois is another area where tech companies are looking to build massive artificial-intelligence data centers. Communities are split on whether they should welcome them.

A proposed $500 million data center by CyrusOne in Sangamon County that would utilize about 280 acres of farmland has sparked debate among residents, officials and lawmakers. Supporters highlight economic benefits such as construction jobs, permanent employment and local investment. Critics counter that there would be a limited number of local jobs, and also raise concern about environmental impacts, rising electricity costs and water usage.

Local activist Lori McKiernan with the Coalition for Springfield’s Utility Future called for more scrutiny.

"I’m not against data centers, but I must say, the more I learn about them, the more concerned I am," she said. "And I want our county board to do their due diligence to address all of these concerns and make sure they’re not impacting their constituents."

The Sangamon County Board voted to postpone a final vote on the proposed project after hours of public opposition. The decision delays the approval of what would be the county’s first major data center.

Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers are considering new regulations, including the Power Act, which would require data centers to use clean energy, cover infrastructure costs, and disclose water and environmental impacts.

Scott Allen, a policy analyst for the Citizens Utility Board, said this comes amid broader concern that large data centers could shift utility costs onto residents.

"This legislative session that’s currently underway is going to be the data center legislative session," he said. "Especially at the legislative level, we’re not going to get anything done until this data center thing is figured out."

Sangamon County is just the latest community in Illinois to put a pause on data center projects. Neighboring towns and cities have passed moratoriums on data center applications and have turned projects down.

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TAGS: Sangamon County data center proposal Illinois debate, AI data centers rural Illinois environmental concerns, Illinois Power Act data center regulations explained, impact of data centers on electricity costs Illinois, community response to data center projects Illinois

Advisory vote tests support for federal school choice program in Illinois

Illinois voters are considering a March 17 advisory referendum on a federal school choice tax credit program. The initiative could provide scholarships of up to $1,700 for eligible students.

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Photo: Annie Spratt/Unsplash

Supporters of the federal school choice tax credit program says it expands educational access across private, public and homeschool settings. Opponents warn it may disproportionately benefit wealthier families while straining public school resources.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Millions of Illinois voters are weighing in March 17 on whether the state should opt in to the federal school choice tax credit initiative.

Supporters are hoping poll results show statewide support for the tax credit scholarship program, which could benefit private, public and homeschooled students in Illinois with scholarships of up to $1,700.

Dick Simpson, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a former Chicago alderman, called it a political pressure campaign meant to influence Governor JB Pritzker. He suggested overwhelming support could potentially sway him but noted a critical limitation.

"Because it's not being held in the most important Democratic areas of the state, and it's primarily in counties that are Republican, that has less power," Simpson pointed out.

The advisory question will appear on ballots in more than 30 Illinois counties. It will be included in only some communities throughout Cook, Lake and Winnebago counties. States must choose to opt in by Jan. 1, 2027.

Opponents of the program said it would divert funds from public education and disproportionately benefit the wealthy. Simpson stressed any increase in funding for education is good. However, he noted establishing a dichotomy between supporting students in private education versus supporting better public education is a cause for tension. He said ultimately, today’s vote will be based on the priorities of voters.

"I think they have to weigh: Do they support scholarships for all students coming from federal funds, or do they prefer to support public education, which is under threat and needs more students in the system and more money in the system," Simpson explained.

Simpson added using referendums to show public support or opposition for an issue is a useful tool for citizens to communicate their opinions to public officials. However, recently proposed legislation would prohibit Illinois from adopting the program.

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TAGS: Illinois school choice referendum March 17, federal tax credit scholarship Illinois vote, Illinois education funding debate 2026, JB Pritzker school choice policy Illinois, Illinois ballot question school scholarships

94% of Democrats, 93% of Republicans agree: Toxic politics is tearing the nation apart

An Indiana history professor says uncivil political behavior has long been part of American history. He urged Americans to approach political conversations with humility and compassion.

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by Teri Dee
Public News Service

INDIANAPOLIS - Uncivil political behavior is well-documented in American history, according to one Indiana professor.

A 2024 Gallup poll indicated political rhetoric has gone too far and is fueling frustrations with political leadership. The study said 94% of Democrats and 93% of Republicans agreed inflammatory language aimed at the other party is harmful and counterproductive.

Ted Frantz, professor of history at the University of Indianapolis, argued anyone who is following U.S. politics can see the country is in a crisis moment.

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Critics saw the decision as another attempt to distort and erase Black history.

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"Since our politics tend to be reduced to two parties, at times, you might be able to justify what happens in the heat of the moment because you believe in your cause," Frantz explained. "But the problem with that, of course, is if you extend the rules or suspended the rules at a time when you really need them enforced for something you do care about, then somebody else can employ the same logic."

The survey also found Americans view the spread of extremist views online as a main factor contributing to political violence. Frantz agreed recognizing someone as human in a conversation is hard if the person is on a screen and people need to approach conversations about politics with a sense of humility and compassion. There can be more than one side to an argument, he added, and even if you disagree, you can express those ideas after showing up and listening.

Photo: Photo by Dan Mall/Unsplash

Last month, the Trump administration ordered the removal of four panels at Independence Park, the Philadelphia home of former president George Washington. The exhibit honored the names of nine enslaved people owned by Washington. Critics saw the decision as another attempt to distort and erase Black history. Frantz called the removal highly political and stressed more effort should be made to write history in a more balanced and inclusive tone.

"To rewrite history as rapidly as the administration did is a disservice to what happened during the Civil Rights Movement," Frantz contended. "It's a disservice to the professionalism of the people who had established those markers, and it helps, effectively, unfortunately, erase key narratives about what happened and why."

He underscored it is dangerous when politicians are willing to distort the past to promote a political agenda in the present. Last week, a federal judge ordered the panels restored while a lawsuit against the Interior Department proceeds.

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TAGS: 2024 Gallup poll political rhetoric findings, Ted Frantz University of Indianapolis political history, Independence Park Philadelphia exhibit panel removal, bipartisan views on inflammatory political language, federal judge restoration order Interior Department lawsuit

Black women hit hardest as DEI cuts and job losses reshape workforce

Recent cuts in available jobs on the market point to a broader effort eliminating DEI programs and civil rights protections. Job losses tied to DEI cuts are hitting Black women hardest, pushing many toward entrepreneurship.

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Photo: wocintechchat.com/Unsplash

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by Teri Dee
Public News Service

CHICAGO - As President Donald Trump continues to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion policies, thousands of Black women in Indiana and nationwide are losing their jobs.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show the unemployment rate for Black women increased nearly 1.5% from January to December of last year. That includes thousands in federal roles laid off because of budget cuts. To cover living expenses, many of these workers must apply for full or partial government assistance.

Chiquita Hall-Jackson, an employment and civil rights attorney, said she believes economic uncertainty and job losses linked to Trump’s orders have hit Black women hardest.

"The government is the number one employer of Black people, including Black women," she said. "If the government is controlled by this administration, especially for employment, and they come in and wipe out positions with buyouts, early retirement and ultimately firing and targeting Black people in their roles, especially leadership roles, this is where we land."

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Black women are increasingly using entrepreneurship to create income streams.

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Hall-Jackson said she believes the mass layoffs ordered by Trump follow the tactics outlined in Project 2025, a conservative initiative that broadly promotes rolling back civil rights protections for women and eliminating DEI programs. She said in conversations with jobless Black women, she has learned they prefer not to seek government aid because of childhood poverty or their parents’ opposition to seeking federal help.

The rise of artificial intelligence is causing concerns for people trying to re-enter the workforce. A Reuters-Ipsos poll finds 71% of respondents are concerned AI could permanently put too many people out of work. If severance pay is included during a job exit, Hall-Jackson suggested Black women should consider options outside of pursuing a career change.

"Invest that money into a startup, some kind of stock," she suggested. "Find what investment vehicle works for you so you can maximize that money in case there’s an emergency."

Black women are increasingly using entrepreneurship to create income streams. A Wells Fargo 2025 report shows the number of Black women-owned businesses rose more than 7% throughout the year. The number of businesses owned by Black women increased by 33% between 2019 and 2023.

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Black women unemployment trends, DEI policy rollback impact, federal layoffs Black workers, Black women entrepreneurship growth, Project 2025 employment effects

The rise of U.S. authoritarianism a midwest professor issues warning about popular tactics

Konstantin Zhukov says that an FBI raid of a journalist’s home last week is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing escalation since President Donald Trump took office.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

A Midwest professor is sounding the alarm on what he called the Trump administration’s authoritarian tactics to quell the press, free speech and other constitutional rights, stressing everyone should be paying attention.

Konstantin Zhukov, assistant professor of economics at Indiana University-Kokomo, argued the FBI raid of a journalist’s home last week is not an isolated incident but part of an ongoing escalation since President Donald Trump took office a year ago. He emphasized as someone originally from Russia, he recognized it as a familiar autocratic move.

"It's the story that you usually hear in Russia," Zhukov explained. "It's a common instrument that the Russian authorities use in order to scare the journalists, to signal to them that they shouldn't do their work essentially, that they shouldn't keep the government accountable."

Zhukov pointed to recent volatile policing and immigration protest dynamics in states like Illinois and Minnesota as another big concern. Last week, Chicago officials joined an Illinois lawsuit challenging allegedly unlawful and unconstitutional immigration enforcement. The Trump administration called the lawsuit “baseless” and defends its immigration actions as enforcing federal law.

Zhukov links current trends to broader free speech risks, asserting after the murder of Charlie Kirk last year, an administration-issued memorandum sets a dangerous precedent by enabling a broad classification of domestic terrorism. He argued it could potentially include anyone who disagrees with the administration’s agenda.

While he believes American institutions are strong enough to withstand the current administration, Zhukov stressed how much they are being weakened and how future administrations could undermine them more severely.

"The precedent that I think it sets is that the administration will just keep pushing the boundaries of what is accepted of the executive power to do," Zhukov projected.

Zhukov recommended countermeasures like voting in the midterm elections and continuing to speak out peacefully to normalize dissent and widen public discourse. He emphasized recognizing autocratic tactics is essential to combating them.

"What is happening right now is very dangerous and it's a classic playbook of the autocrats," Zhukov underscored. "The more people understand that these are the steps toward autocracy, the better."

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New Illinois law protects workers who document violence on employer devices

Employers are encouraged to review workplace policies to ensure compliance with the updated VESSA law. Employees who believe their rights are being violated may file complaints with the Illinois Department of Labor. State officials say access to documentation can be critical for securing protection orders.

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Photo: energepic.com/PEXELS

A new Illinois law allows workers to record and access evidence of violence on employer-issued phones and tablets.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - A new change to an Illinois law provides significant protections for employees who use work-issued electronic devices to document instances of violence.

The amendment to the Victims Economic Security and Safety Act, or VESSA, allows employees in Illinois to use their work-issued cellphones or tablets if needed to document domestic violence, sexual or gender violence, or other violent crimes – said Lydia Colunga-Merchant, Leave Rights Division manager with the Illinois Department of Labor.

"It also allows employees to have access to that data," said Colunga-Merchant, "that is recorded on those work-issued devices."

The change took effect January 1. Colunga-Merchant encouraged employers to regularly review and update their workplace policies to maintain compliance with current law.

Colunga-Merchant said the amendment stems from an incident in New York, in which an employee experiencing domestic violence was disciplined by her employer for documenting instances on a work-related device. She said the woman was ultimately killed by her spouse.

"It's trying to prevent some of that access that maybe that employee could have had to that work-related device," said Colunga-Merchant, "if she needed that evidence to get potentially an order of protection or a restraining order – or any other type of protection or documentation that could have helped."

She adds employees can contact the Illinois Department of Labor to file a complaint if they believe employers are violating VESSA provisions.

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TAGS: Illinois VESSA law update explained, employee rights documenting domestic violence Illinois, work-issued device protections Illinois law, Illinois Department of Labor VESSA enforcement, documenting abuse on employer phone Illinois

No longer behind bars, Illinois raises minimum age to jail children next year

The Child First Task Force included in Illinois' newest law will work to address inadequate detention conditions for children.

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Photo: Kendel Media/PEXELS

New Illinois legislation creates a Child First Task Force to address broader gaps in the juvenile detention system.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Juvenile justice advocates in Illinois are praising the state’s decision to raise the minimum age for juvenile detention from 10 to 13 years old beginning in 2026.

A newly signed bill aims to reform juvenile justice practices across the state by creating services and programs prioritizing rehabilitation treatment alternatives for children.

Elizabeth Clarke, founder and executive director of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, said it is the culmination of more than a decade of work to prioritize a restorative justice approach to juvenile detention which uses jail as a last resort in extreme cases.

"It's a very exciting step forward," Clarke explained. "Following research to the best outcomes when children are in conflict with the law, will keep the public safer, will reduce local community costs, and improve services across the state."

Along with regular reporting requirements from probation and court services, the legislation creates a Child First Task Force to address broader gaps in the juvenile detention system. The law takes effect in 2026 raising the minimum age from 10 to 12 years old first, and then to 13 years old in 2027.

The law includes a carveout for crimes like murder, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated battery with a firearm or aggravated vehicular hijacking. Clarke noted while there currently are not many children in jail in Illinois, the harm caused by it is profound, increases the likelihood of repeat offenses and is particularly harmful for younger children.

"All the research shows that wrapping around services to keep kids at home or close to home, is really critical," Clarke emphasized. "Especially with this young population, to address the challenges that are leading them to violate the law in the first place."

She added services are crucial to addressing challenges, allowing children to move forward and not be set backward by time and detention.

Clarke stressed a major issue with the juvenile justice system in Illinois is the fractured funding and oversight structure. She underscored the Child First Task Force included in the bill will work to address inadequate detention conditions for children by identifying and addressing deficiencies and needed resources for improvements.

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More on Illinois politics

Illinois rural co-ops still tied to major polluter

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Co-ops still heavily depend on coal and other fossil fuels for the majority of their power. Twenty-five of them in Illinois still have an ownership share in the Prairie State Coal Plant.

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Photo: İsmail Hamza Polat/Unsplash

Illinois has about 25 rural electric cooperatives that provide power to more than 300,000 rural homes, farms, and businesses in the state.

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by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - A new scorecard shows rural electric cooperatives in Illinois are making improvements but experts said the majority of them are still helping to power the Prairie State Coal Plant, one of the top greenhouse gas polluters in the country.

The 2025 Illinois Rural Electric Scorecard from nonprofit Prairie Rivers Network grades eight Midwest state power cooperatives on 16 performance metrics.

Anthony Henson, rural energy organizer for the network, said there have been significant improvements since last year’s inaugural scorecard, with 20 cooperatives increasing their overall score. Henson explained co-ops originally formed to bring electricity to rural areas and are owned by the people they serve. He stressed the goal of the scorecard is to empower people with information about their co-ops.

"In the spirit of democratic participation in which these institutions were first created, we find that if member owners become more active inside their co-ops, the co-ops become responsive when making changes, whether it's transparency or operations," Henson outlined.

Hensen noted co-ops still heavily depend on coal and other fossil fuels for the majority of their power, adding the hope is the co-op scorecard, along with energy planning provisions and other legislation, will empower member-owners to help push their co-op toward a clean energy future.

However, nearly all the 25 co-ops in Illinois still have an ownership share in the Prairie State Coal Plant. Henson pointed out the first scorecard helped build momentum for the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act passed this fall, which created new standards for municipal and rural electric cooperatives.

"That is important because municipal and rural electric cooperatives have always been left out of the standards of these laws, and that has changed this year," Henson underscored. "We are now requiring co-ops in Illinois to do strategic resource planning."

It includes posting agenda minutes and election procedures online starting in 2026, conducting transparent long-term energy planning with public participation and making rooftop solar more accessible to ensure compliance with Illinois' goal of 40% renewable energy by 2030.

"Rural electric cooperatives are tasked with keeping the lights on in rural communities," Henson emphasized. "They do a very good job in being responsive to the needs of their member owners. And we expect them to continue providing clean and reliable electricity over the course of the next century."

Advocates rally against repeal of roadless rule protecting Midwest forests by Trump Administration

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Opponents say repealing the Roadless Rule would harm pristine forests, worsen climate change and endanger Midwest water supplies.

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Photo: Tienko Dima/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - Environmental advocates are urging residents in Illinois and across the Midwest to oppose the Trump administration's proposal to repeal the Roadless Rule. The conservation policy safeguards more than half a million acres of undeveloped land in National Forests across the Midwest from road construction and logging.

Kelly Thayer, senior policy advocate with the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said these lands have remained untouched for decades and represent some of America's most pristine wilderness. He stressed that cutting them down to allow logging, mining and roads would accelerate climate change and threaten the water source for many communities.

"So, ironically, the rule is preventing fires," he explained. "The Trump administration wants to repeal it in the name of fighting fires. The truth is that roads and people who use them are the greatest cause of forest fires."

Thayer added that the law includes flexibility for things like fire management, making the proposed repeal unnecessary. He emphasizes how critical it is for people to voice their concerns now given the U.S. Department of Agriculture only provided a 21-day public comment period which ends Friday. People can submit comments online at Regulations.gov.

The Roadless Rule was established in 2001. Thayer said after more than 600 public meetings and a record 1.6 million public comments, an overwhelming majority of people supported the protection of these natural lands. So far, more than 133,000 comments have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in response to the proposed repeal.

"We have some fantastic wild gems right in our midst," he said. "These areas are in our backyard and they can be lost, and lost forever if we don't stand up and take action now."

Those include Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest and the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin. Thayer stressed these wildlands would be at risk should the Department of Agriculture move forward with ending the Roadless Rule. Supporters of the rollback say more roads will help firefighters reach hard-to-access areas and provide economic opportunities through logging.

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More stories ~

IDOC enacts emergency rule to protect staff from contraband

Violent extremism the focus of new AG tip line; teacher faces license revocation

Guest Commentary | The price of free speech in the workplace

Bipartisan experts agree: Climate change poses security and economic risks

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Roadless Rule repeal Midwest, Shawnee National Forest protections, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest logging, Illinois environmental advocacy, USDA public comment Roadless Rule

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Sending children through adult criminal system does improve anything

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Illinois and national policies sending minors to adult court do not improve safety, according to a new report.

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Photo: Emma Ou/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

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CHICAGO - A new report highlighted how trying juveniles in adult court, in Illinois and across the country, does not make the public any safer and can even lead to more repeat offenses.

The report is part of a series by the Juvenile Justice Initiative of Illinois, which pointed to profound racial bias in prosecuting children in adult court.

Elizabeth Clarke, director of the initiative, said laws permitting the automatic transfer of kids to adult court, and others allowing kids over age 15 to be interrogated without legal counsel, all contribute to what she calls a "failed policy" of trying juveniles in adult court. Clarke noted most kids waive their Miranda Rights during custodial interrogation.

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Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change

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"Then unfortunately, based upon a statement, where they've never consulted with a lawyer, they can be charged in the adult court," Clarke explained. "They simply can't understand the ramifications of what they are signing."

Clark emphasized juvenile courts are more effective at reducing repeat offenses, addressing individual needs and holding children accountable. She argued the juvenile justice system has become incredibly complex, with multiple pathways for trying minors in adult court. Her organization advocates for simplifying the system.

Illinois established the first juvenile court more than 100 years ago but Clarke said in the 1990s, the state began implementing tougher policies to bypass juvenile court and automatically transfer certain minors to adult court. Clarke noted Illinois has been gradually dismantling these transfer provisions. The report mentioned a reform in 2015 which examined about 200 children’s cases in adult court and determined 90% should be in juvenile court.

"Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change," Clarke stressed.

The report recommended ending automatic transfer entirely, and requiring an attorney be present throughout interrogations in cases when a child could be transferred to adult court or receive an adult sentence. It also pinpointed the need for better data collection to understand where the practices are most common and where alternative resources might be more effective.

A bill which would have required legal representation for all Illinois children during interrogations failed in the Legislature last year.

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Guest Commentary | The price of free speech in the workplace

Bipartisan experts agree: Climate change poses security and economic risks

IDOC enacts emergency rule to protect staff from contraband

Violent extremism the focus of new AG tip line; teacher faces license revocation

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TAGS: Illinois juvenile justice reform, adult court for minors, juvenile legal representation, automatic transfer laws, reducing youth recidivism

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Illinois reproductive-rights organizations protest bans before SCOTUS session

By Lily Bohlke, Public News Service

Photo: Gayatri Malhotra/Unsplash

Reproductive-rights advocates took to the streets across Illinois and the U.S. over the weekend to protest the new Texas law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, the nation's most restrictive abortion law. It is one of 90 anti-abortion bills that have been passed by state legislatures.

Brigid Leahy, senior director of public policy for Planned Parenthood Illinois, said they already are seeing Texas patients fleeing the ban and traveling long distances to get care.

"It's over 1,000 miles to get to Illinois, but people are doing that," Leahy reported. "And there are people who cannot travel. The barriers are just too much, and they are being forced to continue pregnancies that they do not want to continue."

The events -- 600 total nationwide -- came days before today's start of the U.S. Supreme Court session, during which judges plan to hear a case concerning a 15-week Mississippi abortion law, which, if upheld, could overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Leahy noted when former President Donald Trump took office and promised to appoint Supreme Court justices who would be amenable to overturning Roe v. Wade, Illinois lawmakers began working on bills to protect the right to abortion at the state level, such as the Reproductive Health Act of 2019.

She pointed out many states are taking similar steps, but many others are now going the other way, including many Midwestern states.

"It was really important to recognize the full range of those rights and put them in our state law so that when Roe v Wade falls, we are protected in Illinois, not just for the people in Illinois, but the people in the states surrounding us," Leahy contended.

Polls show nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the decision establishing a woman's right to an abortion, and more than 900 state lawmakers from 45 states recently signed a letter urging the Supreme Court to uphold Roe v. Wade in their decision on the Mississippi law.

Illinois immigration allies urge congress to pass bill for pathway to citizenship

Photo: Maria Teneva/Unsplash

By Lily Bohlke, Public News Service

Advocates for immigrants and refugees in Illinois traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to push for a pathway to citizenship for up to eight million undocumented immigrants.

They asserted they will not stop fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, despite the Senate parliamentarian's decision, which stated current rules do not allow the proposal to be included in the budget reconciliation package in Congress.

Omar Awadh, community organizer for Arab American Family Services in Chicago, who is a Temporary Protected Status holder, said there is no time to waste.

"The different communities, undocumented communities have been living in fear, with the harassment from ICE," Awadh observed. "They fear that their families will be broken, they will be separated from their families, they are going to be separated from their livelihoods."

In recent polling, 65% of Americans think undocumented immigrants should be allowed to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for citizenship. More than 80% said they support citizenship for recipients of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The citizenship proposal in the budget reconciliation package applied to those Dreamers, farmworkers, essential workers and people with Temporary Protected Status.

Awadh hopes to see all undocumented residents have the opportunity to become citizens, especially since members of Congress and the President committed to immigration reform in their election campaigns.

"We will not accept the fact that using us as pawns for the campaigns, talking about citizenship, and then forget about us," Awadh asserted. "They must hold themselves accountable."

The push for immigration reform comes as resettlement agencies in Illinois are working to support Afghan refugees beginning to arrive to the state. Chicago alone is expected to become home to more than 500 people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan.

House bill in the works to keep teens out of adult court

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by Lily Bohlke
Public News Service

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(SPRINGFIELD, IL) - A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to juvenile court rather than adult court.

House Bill 111 would allow emerging adults to be considered "delinquent minors" and adjudicated in the juvenile system up to their 19th birthday.

Lael Chester, director of the Emerging Adult Justice Project at the Columbia University Justice Lab, said 18 is an arbitrary age to start bringing teens into adult court.

Photo by Niu Niu/Unsplash

She pointed out young people go through a tremendous period of growth in their mid 20s, and argued not only can young people be particularly vulnerable in the adult court and prison system, but it affects the rest of their lives.

"When you are applying to college, when you have jobs, and they ask you if you've been convicted of a crime, you haven't been convicted, you've been adjudicated," Chester explained. "And it really provides young people with the opportunity to get their feet in the ground."

Chester emphasized Illinois is on the cutting edge, but it's not the first state to take this step. Starting July of last year, 18-year-olds in Vermont began entering the juvenile system for misdemeanors.

Chester noted focusing on emerging adults is one way advocates hope to reduce racial disparities in the justice system.

"Racial disparities are prevalent throughout the justice system at all ages," Chester contended. "But actually 18- and 19-year-olds have by far the highest racial disparities of any age group in the justice system."

Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, sponsored similar legislation in the Senate and said she plans to move forward with the House bill if and as soon as it passes.

She added there are many reasons young people commit misdemeanor offenses, and the juvenile system is better suited to find out how to help kids have successful and healthy futures.

"In the juvenile system, there are more opportunities for services," Fine remarked. "And sometimes these kids need services instead of severe punishment."

Recent research has shown when people are not arrested and prosecuted for nonviolent misdemeanors, they're less likely to offend again, especially if it's the first time they encounter the justice system.

Citizen-Initiative proposal could give more power to special interest groups

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by Lily Bohlke
Public News Service

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Republican lawmakers will propose a series of constitutional amendments they say would give residents a more direct voice in Illinois government, but which critics counter could give more political power to special interests.

The three resolutions would open up the use of citizen initiatives, allow residents to hold referendums on legislation and expand the existing governor recall process to apply to all public officials.

Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, said regulating campaign spending on ballot questions is nearly impossible, so the amendments could give wealthy special interests an outsized impact.

"It's hard to find that balance between empowering citizens and preventing special interests from hijacking the process," Kaplan acknowledged. "But we think it's a worthwhile discussion to be having right now."

She pointed to the example of an initiative in California in which companies such as Lyft, Uber and DoorDash spent $200 million to effectively overturn a state law requiring those companies to classify workers as employees rather than independent contractors.

Kaplan pointed out other efforts in various states have brought about important change.

Michigan established an independent commission for redistricting by a ballot question in 2018. That same year, New Mexico voters passed an initiative to create an independent state ethics commission to keep lawmakers in check.

"We really are missing out in Illinois on the opportunity to use citizen initiatives to enact meaningful reforms," Kaplan contended. "That's particularly true of areas where politicians might be particularly invested in the status quo and unwilling to act themselves."

She noted the legislative inspector general's office in Illinois has often been seen as ineffective in providing oversight over lawmakers. She hopes democracy reform, without the influence of big money, will help in the future.