By Steve Rhodes
“Perhaps the only thing in shorter supply than weed at marijuana shops when they began selling to the public Jan. 1 were state-badged employees to work behind the counter,” Crain’s reports.
Posted on January 9, 2020
The [Wednesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Amazon plans to open a three-building distribution center on the site of the former Maywood Park horse track, as part of the e-commerce giant’s ongoing race to deliver packages to customers faster,” the Tribune reports.
“It will be Amazon’s largest distribution center near Chicago, less than two miles from the city limits.”
All the more reason to keep a keen eye on conditions there – especially given that the new facility is intended to help improve Amazon’s delivery speed. Just last November, Reveal concluded that “Amazon’s internal injury records expose the true toll of its relentless drive for speed” in a deeply reported investigation.
Posted on January 8, 2020
The [Tuesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“On Dec. 31, Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois announced that he would issue 11,017 pardons to people with low-level marijuana convictions. That announcement came on the eve of the state’s marijuana legalization going into effect,” The Appeal notes.
Posted on January 7, 2020
The [Monday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
Welcome back! Chicago got really high while you were away.
Posted on January 6, 2020
The [New Year’s Week 2019] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
Like much of the world, we’ll return for real on January 6. Thought I’d drop by in the meantime to freshen things up for the week.
Posted on December 30, 2019
The [Holiday Week 2019] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
But not re-election run of president supported by Holocaust deniers | Illinois GOP Aims to End Holocaust Denier’s Run for Congress https://t.co/yt2BUh7rsK
— Beachwood Reporter (@BeachwoodReport) December 23, 2019
Posted on December 23, 2019
The [Friday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration is lagging behind on a promised hiring spree to help tackle Illinois’ backlog of applications for the government-run Medicaid health insurance program,” WBEZ reports.
“Roughly 3 million low-income or disabled Illinoisans have health care coverage through Medicaid – about one in four people statewide.”
Emphasis mine, because that’s more people than . . . a lot of things. Find your own comp.
Posted on December 20, 2019
The [Thursday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
Forty percent of America and every Republican in Congress actually believe these things – or they’re doing a damn good job of faking it.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) said military aid to Ukraine “in reality was never withheld at all.”
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) said Biden isn’t actually Trump’s campaign rival.
Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) said Trump didn’t ask Ukraine to probe Biden.https://t.co/A4YrVvu12O
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) December 18, 2019
Posted on December 19, 2019
The [Wednesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Turns out Ald. Jason Ervin and some members of the Black Caucus may not be the only ones supporting a delay in selling recreational marijuana in Chicago. Lobbyists for two white-owned cannabis companies would benefit if Chicago held off on selling cannabis,” Shia Kapos reports for her Politico Illinois Playbook.
Click through for the depressing details.
Posted on December 18, 2019
The [Tuesday] Papers
By Steve Rhodes
“Chicago’s City Attorney admits he made a mistake and says he will pay back money to the state of Illinois after collecting property tax exemptions on two properties, while state law only allows homeowners to collect one such exemption,” NBC Chicago reports.
“Attorney Mark Flessner says that his primary residence is a South Loop condo, but an NBC 5 Investigates report reveals that he has received two property tax breaks, including one for a residence in Naperville.
“The breaks have saved him approximately $2,600 on his South Loop condo since 2015 and $1,600 on his Naperville house, but according to property tax experts, the law is clear: residents are only entitled to one homeowners exemption.”
Flessner is – or was – a partner at Holland & Knight, which I suspect is a well-paying gig. The 52nd-highest grossing law firm in the world, in fact. Hard to see why he was taking the dual exemption to save what, for him, is chump change.
Posted on December 17, 2019