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Senate committee rejects moment-of-silence action
Tribune staff report, Chicago Tribune (registration)
A Senate committee dealt a severe setback Wednesday to efforts to change the state law requiring students to take a moment of silence to reflect or pray at the beginning of the school day.
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1st openly gay member of Illinois legislature
By Jeffrey Meitrodt, Ray Long and Trevor Jensen, Chicago Tribune (registration)
Larry McKeon polished relations between Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago's gay and lesbian community in the early 1990s before becoming the first openly gay member of the Illinois General Assembly, where he successfully pushed legislation to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation.
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Campaign finance reform measure gains ground
By Kevin McDermott, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
A once-unthinkable idea in Illinois -- to outlaw campaign contributions from state contractors to politicians -- is poised for likely passage in the state Senate today.
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Bill to provide detained immigrants access to clergy passes Illinois House
By Vanessa Bauz?, Chicago Tribune (registration)
The Illinois House unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would ensure immigrant detainees in county jails have access to priests, rabbis, imams and other religious workers. The bill, which could go to the Senate for a vote next week, comes as more raids and deportations have boosted the number of immigrants at facilities in McHenry County and Downstate Pulaski County.
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Sponsor -- Civil union bill would help seniors
By Adriana Colindres, The State Journal-Register (Springfield)
The question of whether to legalize civil unions in Illinois has focused largely on same-sex couples, but opposite-sex senior citizen couples actually stand to gain the most, says state Rep. Greg Harris, D-Chicago.
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State program helped janitor become teacher
By Maudlyne Ihejirika, Chicago Sun-Times
Daniel Silva calls "amazing" his first year as an elementary school teacher on the Near West Side. Not too long ago, he was far from the front of the classroom, mopping up floors and cleaning toilets as a Chicago Public Schools janitor.
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Lawmakers want to know plans for vacant space in state offices
By Doug Finke, The State Journal-Register (Springfield)
Three Springfield-area Republican lawmakers said Wednesday they want specific answers about why vacant space in state office buildings here can?t be used to house transportation workers slated to be transferred to southern Illinois.
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IDOT kills roadkill cleanup
By Aaron Chambers, Rockford Register Star
Amid roadside flowers, trees and fields, watch for this on your next drive on an Illinois highway: roadkill.
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Rezko calling...
By Chris Fusco and Natasha Korecki, Chicago Sun-Times
Before the Tony Rezko corruption case went to the jury this week, Rezko's defense team was quick to remind jurors that they heard Rezko's voice only a few times on wiretaps of star prosecution witness Stuart Levine's home phone.
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States to enforce molester law on tribal land
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
A little-noticed provision in a 2006 federal sex-offender law is rankling American Indian tribes in six states — Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon and Wisconsin — because it would give state law enforcers unprecedented authority to monitor child molesters living on tribal land.
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Great Lakes compact passes
By Stacy Forster and Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Both houses of the Legislature overwhelmingly approved the Great Lakes compact Wednesday, sending it to Gov. Jim Doyle and putting pressure on the states that have not yet ratified it.
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Michigan Legislature approves Great Lakes pact
By David Eggert, The Associated Press, Booth Newspapers (Lansing)
After months of waiting, the Michigan Legislature on Wednesday unanimously approved a regional compact to prevent Great Lakes water from being sent to thirsty regions.
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Senate committee rejects moment of silence change
By Ryan Keith, The Associated Press, Chicago Tribune (registration)
State senators potentially killed an effort to change the embattled moment of silence for schools law Wednesday after a confusing debate that mixed religious differences and personal criticism.
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WORTH NOTING: South Carolina's shampoo specialists
By John Gramlich, Stateline.org Staff Writer
The Palmetto State cleans up a law requiring hairstylists to get more training than cops. Frog legs are frowned upon by Florida health officials. And an aide to Utah's lieutenant governor gets way ahead of his boss. In case you missed those stories this week, "Worth Noting" fills you in.
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in.
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Great Lakes compact earns final approval
By Andrew Beckett, Wisconsin Radio Network
After months of debate, the measure designed to prevent water diversions from the Great Lakes passed the Assembly late Wednesday afternoon. The vote came just hours after the Senate approved the bill.
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Great Lakes rising after record lows
By Tina Lam, Detroit Free Press
The Great Lakes that touch on Michigan will be at or above their levels of last year through the summer, bringing at last some cheer to boaters and cottage owners who faced wide, weedy beaches and boat-scraping shallows last year, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.
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Michigan votes to join Great Lakes pact
By Gary Heinlein, The Detroit News
Without a single dissenting vote, the state Senate and House voted Wednesday to include Michigan in a historic international compact designed to reserve all of the water in the Great Lakes for the eight states and two Canadian provinces surrounding them.
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Aurora may mellow on pot possession penalties
By Dan Campana, Beacon News, Chicago Sun-Times
Fewer hours in court and more fine money going back to Aurora city coffers would be two benefits of an ordinance change that allows police to issue tickets in small marijuana possession cases.
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States, locals swamp immigration program
By Daniel C. Vock, Stateline.org Staff Writer
Sudden demand by state and local police to join the federal 287(g) initiative, which lets local police start deportation proceedings for suspects and criminals who are illegal immigrants, is overwhelming the federal government. That means long waits and alternative programs offered to police departments that want to join.
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In school sports, who makes the call?
By Pauline Vu, Stateline.org Staff Writer
A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game — was it in time or not? — led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.
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