A quick take on what's happening in local politics, delivered weekday afternoons.
As 2018 comes to a close, feel free to re-read our lists of top stories, which can be found here and here. Today, we take a look at the 2019 outlook for hemp, guns and mammograms in Illinois. Welcome to The Spin. |
 From the Tribune's Robert McCoppin: "Hidden in a cornfield in western Illinois last summer, 1,200 stalks of cannabis grew tall and bushy. But these plants won't get anyone high." "They make up the first crop of hemp to be grown legally in Illinois in decades. And in the new year, the seeds from the plants will help sow the first modern widespread commercial hemp harvest." Lawmakers authorized hemp production this year, and Democrats including Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker are expected to try to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in 2019. "And while advocates believe they have the support to get both recreational marijuana, and CBD produced from marijuana, legalized in Illinois for adults, that process would probably take until 2020 to get established, giving hemp a head start because it's already legal," McCoppin's story reads. The full story is here. |   |
 From the Tribune's Mike Riopell: "A proposal that would give the state more oversight over Illinois gun dealers could be among the first big issues that land on Democratic Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker's desk after he takes over, and an aide says he'll sign it." The procedure here is a little complicated. But the key is that Democratic Senate President John Cullerton has kept a bill that would require gun dealers to get state licenses off of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk. Now, there's a chance it could land on Pritzker's. "The Senate president and advocates continue to review their options with an eye toward making sure this bipartisan weapons safety proposal becomes law," Cullerton spokesman John Patterson said in a statement. Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said if the bill lands on the to-be governor's desk "he will sign it." Here's the full story. | |
 From the Tribune's Lisa Schenker: "Starting in January, a new state law will require doctors to tell patients, after mammograms, if they have dense breast tissue and warn women of the implications. For years, mammogram reports have contained information on breast density, but often in language that patients might not understand, and not all patients had access to the official reports." "The new law requires that information be put in lay terms and given to patients. The law also will require women be directed to doctors who focus on breast imaging, rather than primary care or other doctors, for more information." More than 250 new state laws take effect on Jan. 1. More on that Monday.Read Schenker's full story here. | |
 "The Tribune has spent the past five months analyzing the first weekend of August, when (Earl) Young and at least 74 other people were shot in one of the most violent weekends in recent memory, looking at the department's struggles and their impact on victims, their loved ones, even whole neighborhoods." Read it here. | |
 *Chicago mayor's race: If elected mayor, Gery Chico would fire Chicago's police superintendent and consider suing Indiana and Wisconsin over their enforcement of gun laws. From Gregory Pratt: "Chico released his citywide safety proposal this week that includes firing Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, enforcing the city's proposed police consent decree and pushing for it to become law. Among other crime-fighting efforts, Chico said he'd work toward boosting the public's relationship with police, hiring or promoting more detectives and improving training." Read Pratt's story here. * From the Daily Herald: "Former Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner has died after a yearslong battle with cancer, officials said Friday." "Weisner led Aurora for nearly 12 years before his health forced him to step down at the end of October 2016. He first was elected to head the state's second-largest city in 2005 and took the initiative on projects such as construction of RiverEdge Park and the expansion of Chicago Premium Outlets." Full story. | |
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