Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Monday a first-of-its-kind bill that he says outlaws book bans from public schools and libraries, The Associated Press reported.

The bill, which would cut funding for any public library that bans books for “partisan or doctrinal” reasons, goes into effect Jan. 1, 2024.

“Today, Illinois makes history as the first state in our nation to officially end book bans once and for all,” Pritzer wrote in a tweet Monday.

Pritzker signed the bill into law at a children’s library in Chicago where he stated that “book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts.”

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.deseret.com/2023/6/13/23759219/illinois-outlawed-book-bans

The post How Illinois is trying to ban book bans first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

A 30-mile stretch of the highway was shut down in both directions after the multiple-vehicle pileup was first reported at 10:55 a.m. local time.

Police and rescuers arriving on the scene encountered heavy winds and blowing dust that cut visibility to zero, according to Illinois State Police, who said a portion of Interstate 55 will remain closed through Tuesday afternoon.

“Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust,” officers said.

Continue reading HERE

Source: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2023/05/01/illinois-dust-storm-deadly-crash/6231682980299/

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The post 90-vehicle crash in Illinois dust storm kills 6, injures dozens first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post Death toll rises after string of tornadoes first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

The post Small business receives ticket for flying American flag first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

A list released by the state shows each inmate who had their sentence commuted by Gov. JB Prtizker or were released early by the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police departments from all over the state of Illinois have sent a letter to Gov. JB Pritzker questioning why the governor has reduced the sentences of violent criminals and convicted murderers.

In order to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois prisons, Pritzker has granted clemency to more than 1,000 prisoners, including Brian Harrington, who was convicted of killing a man in Rockford when he was 14, in 2007.

Many had their sentences commuted or were granted medical furlough. Winnebago County State’s Attorney Marilyn Hite-Ross said that some inmates are being let out so quickly that she doesn’t have proper time to inform victims, as is required by the Rights of Crime Victim’s Act and the Illinois Constitution.

“The lack of appropriate notice to my office regarding the early release of these individuals hinders my ability to notify victims and family members in a timely manner. As Winnebago County State’s Attorney, I will continue to oppose the early release and furlough of violent offenders back into the Winnebago County community,” Hite Ross said Monday.

Hite Ross says her office was basically blindsided by the list of criminals out on parole, so much so, they didn’t even have a chance to tell some of the victim’s family members until some felons were already home.

Right now the State’s Attorney’s office is trying to determine, case by case, whether theses violent offenders are being released due to COVID-19. Our law enforcement is joining with other agencies across the state demanding answers. They say they were told only “non-violent” offenders would be released early, not murderers.

State Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) has also criticized the governor’s decision to release criminals, saying  “The governor did this quietly, and I felt that since he decided to victimize the victim’s families again, that the least I could try to do was make sure that they knew that that murderer was out.”

Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana said there is no evidence that people are safer from the virus outside of a jail cell.

He says the Winnebago County Jail has reduced its population by about 300 in recent weeks, and thinks that inmates are more than capable of following social distancing guidelines.

“The notion that the jails and prisons are not safe, well, I beg to differ,” Caruana said Tuesday. “We’re doing everything we can to keep it clean. We clean morning, noon, and night. We had a company here that did sterilization of everything.”

Source: https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/illilnois-has-released-almost-4000-prisoners-including-64-murderers/

The post Illinois has released almost 4,000 prisoners, including 64 murderers first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.

Flood waters coming from rain and melting snow are causing havoc in some US states and have resulted in an estimated $3 billion in damages so far.

According to online publication Vox, the floods are being caused by rain and melting snow as a result of a “bomb cyclone”. Mid-western states that are affected include: Iowa; Illinois; Missouri; Kansas; South Dakota; Minnesota; and Nebraska.

The video below, which was posted to Facebook by Iowa resident Gracie Newman, shows just a fraction of the losses that have been incurred as a result of the flooding.

As can be seen from the video, at this location alone, at least five bins have burst, destroying thousands of tonnes of grain.

Rising water levels have breached levees along the Missouri River and forced several towns to evacuate.

It was also reported that in the state of Nebraska (west of Iowa) the flooding has already caused more than $1 billion in damages, with more than 2,000 homes and 340 businesses lost.

Missouri Bin Collapse

In a separate incident, a grain bin which was reportedly holding 21,591t – or 850,000 bushels – of corn collapsed in the state of Missouri, in the early hours of Monday, March 11.

The grain was washed onto a nearby road and also blocked a railway line once its container’s walls split. No one was injured in the incident, which happened at a Bunge plant in LaGrange, Missouri.

21,000t Grain Bin Collapses In US

Source: https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/video-us-grain-bins-collapse-under-catastrophic-iowa-floods/

The post Video: US grain bins collapse under catastrophic Iowa floods first appeared on Garner Ted Armstrong Evangelistic Association.