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ILLINOIS -- A bill that would extend a pilot program of marijuana decriminalization in Illinois cleared one more hurdle last week, but still faces at least one more. The Illinois Senate passed a bill that would bring the state one step closer to becoming the 18th state to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana. The bill would reduce possession of 15 ounces or less of marijuana from an arresting offense to a fine of $125 with no court time. The same bill passed the Illinois House in April. Th

With U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) entering the race for the Democratic presidential nomination against Hillary Clinton, he may offer disgruntled liberals and Democrats an alternative voice. In 2008, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama tripped up Clinton by offering a unique blend of youth, liberalism, and outsider appeal. The Illinois senator was able to credibly assail Clinton on her support for the Patriot Act and the Iraq war. Although a tougher feat for Sanders to replicate, could the Vermonter pos

His name may not ring a bell, but he would prefer that you remember him for what he did instead. Doug Hughes came into the national spotlight recently for landing a gyrocopter on the Capitol Lawn, a stunt typically reserved for action movie characters like James Bond and Mad Max -- not 61-year-old mailmen. Hughes, carrying 535 individually-marked letters to each of the sitting members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, intended to raise awareness about the influence of b

The Illinois General Assembly recently passed legislation that may open the gates for new medical treatments for patients who have received terminal diagnoses. Introduced earlier this year by State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), House Bill 1335, also known as "Right-to-Try," allows terminally-ill patients to try new drugs that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since drugs can take years to get the FDA's stamp of approval, Harris said the bill is a "last ray of hop

It’s hard to look at the doctrine of the Constitution Party without seeing references to overt religious fundamentals -- namely, Christian fundamentals. The preamble to its platform begins: "The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these

I was impressed to find such a far-reaching conglomerate of individuals at the National Conference of Independents in New York City, which took place during the weekend of March 13-15. Illinois, California, Maine, Maryland, New Mexico, Virginia, Oregon, Mississippi, Colorado, Kentucky, New York, Arizona, and the list could go on and on. We all know that New York City is not cheap, let alone travelling from the other side of the country, but we were primed and ready for a fine weekend of events.

Daylight Savings first originated in Germany during World War I to save electricity, and the UK quickly followed their lead. When Daylight Savings was first adopted in the U.S., it was part of a war policy, also implemented during the First World War to save fuel.The U.S. ceased to recognize Daylight Savings after the war and didn't adopt it again until the Second World War. 1966 was the first year that Daylight Saving Time (DST) became a nationwide, peacetime policy that all states had to use

While the 2016 primary is approximately a year away, one Illinois representative has already gained a primary opponent. Republican U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, of the Illinois 18th congressional district, was the subject of controversy after reports revealed that he used donor and taxpayer money to elaborately decorate his office and on expensive gifts for himself. People will remember him as the Downton Abbey congressman. Mark Zalcman, a lawyer in Bloomington-Normal, announced last week that he w

Marijuana reform has picked up support in Illinois and may be moving toward a new stage. In January, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, introduced Illinois House Bill 218 to amend the Cannabis Control Act. If passed, the amendment would eliminate criminal penalties for marijuana possession of up to 30 grams and replace them with a $100 fine. In explaining her support for the bill, Cassidy said, "Low level offenders don't belong in jail." HB 218 was referred to the Rules Committee on

On Monday, March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case, Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The high court will consider the constitutionality of independent redistricting commissions, something that could also affect the ballot initiative process in several states. The main issue before the Supreme Court is whether the justices will agree with a lower court’s interpretation of the phrase “by the Legislature thereof” in the Election Cla