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Illinois General Assembly
PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
3:30pm
Fri Mar 22

Environmentalists Urge State Lawmakers To Support Fracking Moratorium (VIDEO)

Environmentalists and public health advocates at today’s demonstration against fracking at the Thompson Center say the Illinois Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act, which has earned the support of Gov. Pat Quinn, doesn’t go far enough to protect the environment or ground and drinking water. Progress Illinois was there to learn more about why they are calling for a two-year fracking moratorium.

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:15pm
Thu Mar 21

How The School Closure Moratorium Bill Got Kicked Down The Road

A bill to put a to put a temporary moratorium on school closings advanced in the Senate Education Committee Tuesday, however it was “shelled” and all language was stripped out, according to a spokeswoman for Sen. William Delgado (D-Chicago), the legislation’s chief sponsor.

The bill, SB 1571, was changed because the votes in the committee weren’t all there for its approval and its language needed to be strengthened.

Lawmakers were also feeling the heat of getting bills out of committee by this week’s deadline, the Associated Press reported.

Stacy Davis Gates, legislative and political director for the Chicago Teachers Union, which sent members to Springfield to testify on the moratorium’s behalf, said stripping the language was a “legislative maneuver,” because if it stayed in committee, it would be dead.

“The biggest part is it’s alive,” she said. “Had everything stayed in as is, it probably wouldn’t have gotten out.”

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Quick Hit
by Aricka Flowers
5:49pm
Wed Mar 20

CPS Rumored To Announce Some 50 School Closures Thursday

The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is set to announce Thursday that some 50 schools will be closed at the end of this school year. If this is accurate, it would be the largest number of schools in the nation to be closed at one time, the newspaper reports.

CPS has notified several aldermen to prepare for school closures in their wards, according to the Sun-Times.

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Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
11:39am
Tue Mar 19

Education Activists Head To Springfield Calling For Moratorium On School Closings (VIDEO)

A group of education activists boarded a bus to Springfield this morning to campaign for a moratorium on school closings in Chicago Public Schools (CPS).

Leaving shortly after 6:30 a.m., the group of approximately 30 CPS staff members, students and supporters plan on attending a 1 p.m. Senate Education Committee hearing at the Illinois Statehouse. Organized by the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) the group aimed to petition for lawmakers’ support and testify on behalf of SB 1571, legislation that would place a two-year moratorium on school closings.

“Before they instill policies and close schools they should listen to the people who actually do the job,” said Dorothy Clabaugh, a librarian at Alexander Graham Elementary School in Canaryville, which is one of 129 schools that is facing a potential school action.

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PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
12:54pm
Mon Mar 18

Legislators, Advocates Unite To Push Local & Federal Gun Control Legislation

Legislators and gun control advocates united Sunday afternoon to discuss and rally around state and federal gun control legislation being considered in the Illinois General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Progress Illinois was there for the unifying, and at points emotional, event.