2 rich
By Matt Bracken November 22, 2024 Protecting Americans’ health data and strengthening cybersecurity protections throughout the health care sector is the focus of a bill introduced Friday from a bipartisan quartet of Senate lawmakers. The Health Care Cybersecurity and Resiliency Act of 2024 ( S.5390 ) is the culmination of a yearlong effort from Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Mark Warner, D-Va., who formed a working group in November 2023 to examine cyber issues in health care. Under the umbrella of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the senators aimed to address a staggering stat from the Health and Human Services Department, which found that 89 million Americans’ health information was breached last year, more than twice as many as in 2022. “In an increasingly digital world, it is essential that Americans’ health care data is protected,” Cornyn said in a statement . “This commonsense legislation would modernize our health care institutions’ cybersecurity practices, increase agency coordination, and provide tools for rural providers to prevent and respond to cyberattacks.” Said Cassidy: “Cyberattacks on our health care sector not only put patients’ sensitive health data at risk but can delay life-saving care. This bipartisan legislation ensures health institutions can safeguard Americans’ health data against increasing cyber threats.” The legislation starts with improved coordination between HHS and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, fostering additional communication so that the agencies can better protect against and respond to cyberattacks in the health care sector. It also requires the HHS secretary to develop and implement a cyber incident response plan within a year of the bill’s enactment. The directors of CISA, the Office of Management and Budget and the National Institute of Standards and Technology should be consulted in the development of that plan, the bill states. There’s also a callout to modernize current regulations tied to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, making sure that covered entities under HIPAA are following best cyber practices. Other measures in the bill include the doling out of grants to providers to improve their cyberattack prevention-and-response protocols, delivering training sessions on cyber best practices to health care entities, and supporting rural health clinics through coordination with federal agencies on breach prevention, resilience and other mitigation tactics. “Cyberattacks in the health care sector can have a wide range of devastating consequences, from exposing private medical information to disrupting care in ERs — and it can be particularly difficult for medical providers in rural communities with fewer resources to prevent and respond to these attacks,” Hassan said in a statement. “Our bipartisan working group came together to develop this legislation based on the most pressing needs for medical providers and patients, and I urge my colleagues to support it.” Earlier this year, Warner and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a bill to create mandatory minimum cybersecurity standards for providers, health plans and connected entities, a response to the February ransomware attack on Change Healthcare , the UnitedHealth Group-owned payment processor. The breach impacted a record-high 100 million Americans , and Change Healthcare’s chief information security officer said the company was forced to “ start over ” with regard to its IT systems. “Cyberattacks on our health care systems and organizations not only threaten personal and sensitive information, but can have life-and-death consequences with even the briefest period of interruption,” Warner said of the new bill. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that strengthens our cybersecurity and better protects patients.”Indigenous leaders voice hope and skepticism at COP29
Why aren’t mobile homes considered among affordable housing fixes?Prenetics Announces Participation in December Investor Conferences
NoneHousing support to help first home buyers to purchase a property will be sent to a vote this week without a deal, meaning it will be shot down unless the Greens or Coalition change their stance. The latest offer by the Greens to strike a deal has been rejected, though the government had consulted to see whether it could be agreed to as time runs out for legislation to be passed. The federal government will now call the bluff of the parties, who if they reject the bill will face campaigning at the federal election that they refused housing support. As the final sitting week of the year closes in — potentially the last before the election — the government is applying pressure to clear its backlog. "It's time for this silly charade to end. Australians are in real housing distress here, and the Greens need to stop working with Peter Dutton to delay action," Housing Minister Clare O'Neil told the ABC. "The Greens have been playing politics on this for two years now, almost everything the Labor government has tried to do on housing the Greens have either blocked or delayed, or played politics with. The time for that is over. "You get the distinct impression the Greens want Australians to continue to be in housing distress, so Adam Bandt can try to harvest those grievances into votes. It's the crassest form of politics there is, straight out of the Peter Dutton playbook. "I hope that they change their behaviour this week." Clare O'Neil accused Max Chandler-Mather and Adam Bandt of playing politics on housing. (ABC News: Chris Gillette) There are two bills before the Senate intended to add more supports for homebuyers and renters: the Help to Buy program, where the government would cover up to 40 per cent of a home's purchase price and take equity in the property that could be bought out later; and Build to Rent, which provides tax incentives for developers to build and maintain apartments with units that are rented out below market rate. The government says... Jake EvansTC Energy Corp. stock falls Friday, underperforms market
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 4, 2024-- Grindr Inc. (NYSE: GRND), the Global Gayborhood in Your PocketTM, today announced that Vanna Krantz, Grindr’s chief financial officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the upcoming Raymond James 2024 TMT & Consumer Conference in New York, NY on Monday, December 9, 2024, at 11:20 AM ET. A live webcast of the fireside chat will be made available on Grindr’s investor relations website at https://investors.grindr.com /. An archived replay of the webcast will be available following the event. About Grindr Inc. With more than 14.5 million monthly active users, Grindr has grown to become the Global Gayborhood in Your PocketTM, on a mission to make a world where the lives of our global community are free, equal, and just. Available in 190 countries and territories, Grindr is often the primary way for our users to connect, express themselves, and discover the world around them. Since 2015 Grindr for Equality has advanced human rights, health, and safety for millions of LGBTQ+ people in partnership with organizations in every region of the world. Grindr has offices in West Hollywood, the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. The Grindr app is available on the App Store and Google Play. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204967770/en/ CONTACT: Investors: IR@grindr.comMedia : Press@grindr.com KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA CALIFORNIA NEW YORK INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY LGBTQ+ APPS/APPLICATIONS CONSUMER SOURCE: Grindr Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/04/2024 04:23 PM/DISC: 12/04/2024 04:23 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241204967770/enNone
CLEMSON 75, PENN STATE 67
BlackDuck De-Googling. How A Mobile Operating System Can Set You Free.
Abbott Laboratories stock rises Friday, still underperforms market
Share Tweet Share Share Email Uber and WeRide have unveiled autonomous mobility services in Abu Dhabi. Takeaway Points Uber and WeRide unveiled autonomous mobility services in Abu Dhabi. The launch represents the first time autonomous vehicles (AVs) are available on the Uber platform outside of the United States. Tawasul Transport, a leading UAE national transport company, will act as the fleet operator. What did Uber and WeRide unveil? WeRide, the world’s first publicly listed Robotaxi company and a global leader in autonomous driving technology, on Friday announced the launch of their ride-hailing partnership with Uber Technologies, Inc., the world’s largest mobility and delivery technology platform, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. According to the report, the launch represents the first time autonomous vehicles (AVs) are available on the Uber platform other than the United States, as well as the largest commercial robotaxi service outside the U.S. and China. Noah Zych, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery Operations, said, “We’re thrilled to launch our partnership with WeRide, and receive the support of Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre. As we take this next step in Abu Dhabi, we are excited to build on the strength of the Uber platform, helping our partners make autonomous vehicles a part of everyday life.” Jennifer Li, Chief Financial Officer and Head of International Business at WeRide, remarked, “WeRide prioritizes passenger and pedestrian safety through rigorously validated autonomous driving technology. As the first publicly listed Robotaxi company, WeRide has demonstrated its commitment to safety through over 1,800 days of public operational experience, setting new benchmarks for autonomous vehicle performance.” Which company is supporting the service? WeRide said that the service is supported by the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), and Tawasul Transport, a leading UAE national transport company, will act as the fleet operator. Availability Starting today, Uber riders in Abu Dhabi asking for UberX or Uber Comfort may be matched with a WeRide AV for qualifying trips. The service will be available in key areas, between Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, and routes to and from Zayed International Airport , with plans to expand the operating territory in the future, the company said in a statement. About Uber Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. We started in 2010 to solve a simple problem: how do you get access to a ride at the touch of a button? More than 52 billion trips later, we’re building products to get people closer to where they want to be. By changing how people, food, and things move through cities, Uber is a platform that opens up the world to new possibilities. About WeRide WeRide is a global leader and a first mover in the autonomous driving industry, as well as the first publicly listed Robotaxi company. Empowered by the smart, versatile, cost-effective and highly adaptable WeRide One platform, WeRide provides autonomous driving products and services from L2 to L4, addressing a vast majority of transportation needs across a wide range of use cases on the open road, including in the mobility, logistics, and sanitation industries. WeRide earned a prestigious position among the top ten on Fortune Magazine’s “2023 Change the World” list and was named to Fortune Magazine’s 2024 “The Future 50” list. Related Items: Abu Dhabi , Uber , WeRide Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Dune Bashing: A Must-Try Desert Experience in Abu Dhabi Serve Robotics To Acquire Vebu Uber Updates Platform With EV Preference And Launches AI Chatbot For EV-curious Drivers Comments
TOWSON 64, MORGAN STATE 60
Authored by Lura Forcum via RealClearPolitics , In the marketplace, competition empowers consumers. The more options you have for a particular product, the lower prices become. Moreover, having more options means you are more likely to find exactly what you want instead of just settling for something good enough. In politics, competition empowers voters. However, unlike the marketplace, where consumers are accustomed to a variety of options, politics offers only two. Worse still, the two options available are so feckless that a plurality of voters choose neither. When there’s little competition, power ends up in the hands of companies, not consumers. And that’s what we see with the Republican and Democratic parties. The lack of competition allows both parties to continue to be unresponsive to voters’ concerns. According to recurring surveys by Gallup , beginning around 2010, independents have been the electorate’s plurality, with few exceptions. And since Obama’s reelection in 2012, independents have been the plurality without exception . Put differently, voters have reported feeling disempowered for more than a decade. It’s no wonder why. The parties set it up so they don’t have outside competition . A number of rules make it difficult – or impossible – for non-party voices to be heard. For instance, in 10 states, you can’t vote in a party’s primary unless you’re a registered party member. Another nine states allow unaffiliated voters but not opposing party members to vote in party primaries. Only 15 states allow for open party primaries where any voter can participate. If you’re running for office as an independent, you don’t have access to the resources that a major party offers its candidates for statewide or national office. It’s hard enough to win political office even with the support of the duopoly; independents are forced to do the impossible. While the election results suggest that voters found the Trump campaign more responsive to their concerns this time, that doesn’t mean Republicans will become better listeners going forward. And why should they? Without competition, there is no incentive for either party to take voters’ concerns seriously for longer than an election cycle. With the Republican party the party of Trump now, attention has focused on his public and private lives, his various legal cases, and his influence over the Republican Party writ large. These distractions have taken attention away from good policy and effective governance. And while you might expect when one party takes its eye off the ball, it would allow the other party to flourish, but that hasn’t been the case. Democrats are flailing because the shift in the Republican party led them to believe that it was enough to just not be Republicans. Since the rise of Donald Trump, their offering to voters has increasingly been, “At least we’re not those guys.” On a variety of issues, from the environment to health care to national defense, one party’s position is, “We should do this,” and the other’s is, “No, we shouldn’t,” and the result is a gridlocked Congress . The Independent Center does the exact opposite. We are bringing competition back to politics by identifying, activating, and empowering independent voters. These voters insist on effective government. They are the swing voters who went for Trump in 2016, Biden in 2020, and Trump again in 2024 because they value results over political allegiances. They expect the government to be fiscally responsible, but they don’t like the more extreme positions on social policies favored by Republicans. In short, they want government to live within its means, as they do, and respect the decisions of consenting adults. The Independent Center believes that the best way to make government more responsive to voters is to bring more people into the political process, especially the people who don’t identify as Republicans or Democrats. By creating a movement of independent voters, we will have more voices about what people want and need, more ideas about effective policy responses, and more feedback about what the best policy solutions are. By competing with Democrats and Republicans for voters, independents will push those parties to understand voters’ values and preferences better, develop better policy proposals, and actually pass legislation instead of devoting their energies to name-calling and obstructing the other side. Lura Forcum is the incoming president of the Independent Center. A former professor and researcher, she conveys complex ideas and policy insights to engage independent voters who now comprise the plurality of the electorate.
Rapid Micro Biosystems director Melinda Litherland Pei buys $20,363 in stockCONX acquires a controlling interest in RED Technologies, a uniquely positioned "enabler" of Shared Spectrum and the nascent Private Network industry CONX appoints Marc Rouanne to the RED Technologies board LITTLETON, Colo. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CONX CORP. (OTC: CNXX) ("CONX") today announced the acquisition of a controlling interest in Red Technologies SAS ("RED Technologies"), through its wholly-owned subsidiary, RED Tech US, LLC, for a maximum purchase price of approximately EUR 18.6 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. CONX acquired approximately 68% of RED Technologies' outstanding share capital at closing, with the remainder of the shares to be acquired in future installments based on the achievement of certain milestones. The executive team of RED Technologies, Pierre-Jean Muller (Co-Founder and CEO) and Michael Abitbol (Co-Founder and COO), will continue to manage the operations of RED Technologies, aimed at establishing the company as a viable alternative in the CBRS market. "The acquisition of RED Technologies by CONX is a pivotal milestone on our path to serve as a viable alternative to the current duopoly in the SAS space," said RED Technologies CEO P.J. Muller . "This partnership strengthens our ability to innovate and enhance the CBRS ecosystem for the benefit of all operators and stakeholders. With support and investment from CONX, we are poised to accelerate the development of cutting-edge features, such as GAA coexistence, Network Planner, and AI-based CBRS analytics, that align with our mission to support the FCC's vision and empower rural broadband and the nascent Private Network industry." "CONX was formed to invest in next generation connectivity opportunities and their supporting infrastructure assets," said CONX CEO Jason Kiser . "Through RED's unique opportunity as a technology enabler for spectrum allocation, we have positioned CONX to create long term value across multiple sectors. We look forward to RED becoming a best-in-class Spectrum Access System (SAS) operator with potential to grow throughout the United States and internationally." CONX also announced Marc Rouanne will join the RED Technologies board. Marc is the Co-Founder, Chairman and CTO of Edgescale AI, a SaaS developer focused on connecting cutting-edge AI with data and devices in physical systems. Most recently, he was the Chief Network Officer for DISH Wireless responsible for designing DISH's 5G Network. In addition, Marc has more than 20 years of international management experience in the telecommunications industry, having held executive positions in R&D, customer operations and product management in the U.S., France and Finland , including as President of Mobile Networks at Nokia and Chairman of the Board of Alcatel-Lucent. About CONX Corporation (OTC: CNXX) CONX is a diversified operating entity seeking opportunities to power the next generation of innovators in communications and connectivity. CONX's mission is to partner with emerging companies with quality management and strong and differentiated business models with the ability to scale quickly. About RED Technologies Established in 2012 and headquartered in Paris, France , RED Technologies SAS ("RED Technologies") specializes in spectrum-sharing technologies and services. The company offers scalable, cloud-based solutions for Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) and Television White Space (TVWS), catering to operators across various sectors, and provides operated 5G connectivity solutions that democratize access to 5G technology for companies aiming to modernize their communications infrastructure in both the U.S. and European markets. RED Technologies has been a pioneer in spectrum sharing technologies and actively contributed to the CBRS regulatory and standard developments. RED Technologies' team is constituted of first-class engineers coming from top tier telecom vendors and operators. Important Notice The description contained herein is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities of CONX. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain statements which may constitute "forward-looking statements." Actual results could differ materially from those projected or forecast in the forward-looking statements. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, the following: the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies pursuant to the transaction within the expected timeframes or at all and to successfully integrate Red Technologies' operations into those of CONX ; such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction; the retention of certain key employees at Red Technologies; the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; CONX and Red Technologies are subject to intense competition; Red Technologies' products must remain compatible with, and its product development is dependent upon access to, changing operating environments; we may become dependent upon large transactions; customer decisions are influenced by general economic conditions; third parties may claim that RED Technologies' products infringe their intellectual property rights; fluctuations in non-U.S. currencies could result in transaction losses; acts of war and terrorism may adversely affect CONX's and RED Technologies' business; the volatility of the international marketplace; and the other factors discussed in "Risk Factors" in CONX's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 29, 2024 (as amended), and in other reports we file with the SEC, which are available at http://www.sec.gov . CONX expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in CONX's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/conx-corp-announces-acquisition-of-red-technologies-sas-302324446.html SOURCE CONX Corp.These are the worst cities for package theft in 2024
BizBuySell Reviews and Complaints Analysis Released by IRAEmpire.comSPRINGFIELD — In the days after former President Donald Trump was reelected, Illinois Democrats raised alarms about the ramifications of his second term and said they would consider whether the state needs to strengthen any of its progressive laws on reproductive rights and other issues that might be threatened by an unfriendly White House. But the Democratic-led Illinois General Assembly adjourned its final session of the year without taking any meaningful steps in that direction, with some lawmakers saying more time is needed to consider what might be done. Republicans countered by accusing Democrats of considering legislation based only on assumptions about potential actions by the Trump administration. During their five-day fall veto session — legislators left town a day early in the first week — lawmakers did pass a measure to phase out a subminimum wage for people with disabilities, and moved forward on another aimed at making it easier for the state’s child welfare system to have a child’s family member serve as their legal guardian. Some bigger issues were pushed into next year, among them legislation adjusting the state’s pension system and a proposal to consolidate the Chicago area’s transit agencies. Following a lame duck session scheduled for Jan. 2-7, a new General Assembly will be seated on Jan. 8, and after that Gov. JB Pritzker and lawmakers will also need to confront a projected budget shortfall of nearly $3.2 billion for next year’s state budget. Pritzker last week announced he was part of an initiative called Governors Safeguarding Democracy with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to leverage states’ rights against threats following Trump’s reelection. But Pritzker didn’t go the route of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who directly asked his state’s general assembly to address Trump’s election in a special legislative session next month. Illinois’ Democratic lawmakers said figuring out exactly what to do will take some time, and that the just-completed session simply provided an opportunity to get discussions started. “So many people that we legislators represent, including ourselves, have so much anxiety about changes to come due to the incoming administration and we don’t know immediately what we can do in the state legislative arena, but we are already listening, talking about it and planning for it,” said Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, a Democrat from Chicago’s Northwest Side. “Those are complicated issues and once we start putting stuff on paper and talking about it publicly, we have to get it right.” Some of the issues being explored are in the areas of environmental protections, immigration and health care access, along with abortion, LGBTQ+ and workers’ rights. State Rep. Bob Morgan, a Democrat from Deerfield, believes he and his colleagues will be working on issues that address “preemptive, proactive protections” for Illinoisans. Morgan, who has a special interest in gun safety issues following a deadly mass shooting in his district at the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, questioned whether President Joe Biden’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention would be on the chopping block and how that would affect Illinois. “When we start talking about policy to keep people safe, it really puts the pressure on states like Illinois to really figure out what can we do to reduce gun violence, and the opportunity to rely on the federal government will no longer be there,” Morgan said. Morgan was a main sponsor of Illinois’ sweeping gun ban that took effect in January 2023, but earlier this month was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge who was appointed to the bench during Trump’s first term. House Republican leader Tony McCombie, who has been critical of the Democratic call for a legislative response to Trump’s approaching presidency, said Thursday she was against having a lame duck session if the Democrats don’t intend to pass any meaningful measures. “We do not need more time for out-of-touch Democrats to dream up harmful legislation,” said McCombie, of Savanna. “We need bipartisan legislation that focuses on the issues Illinois families care about most.” Republican Rep. Charlie Meier said Democrats shouldn’t be changing laws or passing laws “just because America’s doing what America does” by electing a new president. “They’re going to try to think what he might do before he even does it to create another law on the Illinois citizens that we may not need,” said Meier, of Okawville. “We are a state that has written so many laws, so many rules, that we are about the worst in unemployment in the country.” Among the measures lawmakers did move to Pritzker’s desk during the brief session was a heavily debated bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers over the next five years. Federal law allows some employers to pay disabled workers less than minimum wage. In Illinois, some disabled workers are paid less than a dollar an hour, according to the bill’s advocates. Erin Compton, a student who identified as having an intellectual disability, testified in favor of the bill in committee, saying she has held several jobs including in research and as a ticket scanner for the Cubs. “Some people say that having a job isn’t for me, because I’m not smart enough or good enough to work, but I was given opportunities to work in the community and have to have a fair wage,” Compton said. Pritzker praised the legislation, calling it an “unprecedented, crucial leap forward” for disabled people to earn a fair wage. “Far too often, people with disabilities still endure barriers to employment and discrimination in the workplace,” he said in a statement. “Many are paid subminimum wages that devalue their contributions and diminish their likelihood to secure meaningful work and participate in other life-enhancing activities.” While the bill passed with bipartisan support, opponents including Republican Sen. Chapin Rose of Mahomet warned it could lead to a loss of opportunities for some disabled people. Another measure that has bipartisan support provides additional incentives for relatives of children in the care of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services to maintain a home for the youths as an alternative to the children being placed in foster care with nonfamily members. It passed with no opposition in the Senate on Thursday after passing 113-0 in the House last spring. But because of an amendment that was attached to the bill by the Senate, it has to go back to the House for what will likely be the bill’s final vote. The legislation requires DCFS to seek federal funding to start a “kinship navigator program” to assist relatives who are caregivers with the agency and increase financial support to those relatives. According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which pushed for the measure, more than 10,000 children in DCFS care live with relatives, but over 60% of these caregivers are denied the foster care benefits necessary to care for a youth being placed in their household because state law requires them to meet complex standards that were put in place decades ago. “Current licensing procedures create unnecessary roadblocks to financial assistance for relatives serving as caregivers,” Sen. Mattie Hunter, a Chicago Democrat who was a chief sponsor of the measure, said in a statement. “Research shows children are better off when they can maintain connections to their families and traditions. We need to provide these families with the support they need to make this possible.” The veto session was also an opportunity for lobbyists, unions and other advocates to make last-minute pushes to get their bill proposals on lawmakers’ agendas. On the second day of the veto session, thousands descended on the state Capitol for a rally highlighting their concerns over changes made to Illinois’ beleaguered pension system 13 years ago. Workers hired after Jan. 1, 2011, were placed into a “Tier 2” system that offered reduced benefits compared with other employees hired before that date. The overall goal of creating the Tier 2 plan was to shrink a pension debt that now runs to about $141 billion. But benefits paid out under the Tier 2 system at some point won’t equal to what Social Security would provide to those employees, a violation of a federal “safe harbor” law. This would require Illinois to pay large sums in Social Security taxes instead of operating its own pension system which, while still costly, allows the state more flexibility. At the rally, proponents cheered and bellowed chants calling for equality in the state’s pension system. “We are union people. We believe people doing the same job, a fair day’s work, deserve a fair day’s pay, whether that’s in your paycheck, your benefits or your retirement security in a pension,” Pat Devaney, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois AFL-CIO, said to the crowd. “So what happened over the years? Politicians, state governments, local governments came up with schemes to underfund the pensions, take pension holidays, use other gimmicks to cause stress in the system.” The state’s perennial pension problems are among several budgetary matters that will likely be taken up in the coming months by the legislature, along with how to deal with a $730 million fiscal cliff for Chicago-area public transit once federal pandemic aid dries up in early 2026 and whether to set aside more state funding for Chicago’s public school system. Other unresolved issues include gun safety measures that Democrats haven’t been able to bring over the finish line. Legislation often referred to as “Karina’s Bill,” named after Chicago resident Karina Gonzalez, who, along with her 15-year-old daughter, was shot and killed by her husband last year, would require police to remove guns from people who have orders of protection against them, clarifying when and how authorities can confiscate such firearms. As it stands, firearms aren’t always taken from people in those situations even if the firearm owner’s identification card is revoked. Illinois lawmakers could weigh a proposal to create a statewide office to help under-resourced public defenders. One of the proposal’s goals is to address the lack of public defense resources in rural areas, many of which don’t even have a public defender’s office. The measure also seeks to address disparities in the resources allotted to county prosecutors and public defenders. For example, Cook County’s 2024 budget provided about $102 million for its public defender’s office, and about $205 million for its state’s attorney’s office. Other unresolved issues range from whether to allow all dispensaries to sell medical cannabis to legalizing medical aid in dying, often referred to as physician-assisted suicide or medically assisted death. This proposal would give mentally competent, terminally ill adults the right to choose to end their lives by allowing these patients the right to access life-ending prescription medication. Gov. JB Pritzker, Sen. Dick Durbin and others speak about U.S. EPA grants on Nov. 15. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsDIRTT Welcomes Holly Hess Groos to the Board of DirectorsAmerican Eagle (NYSE:AEO) Misses Q3 Revenue Estimates, Stock Drops 14.8%
- Previous:
- Next: 3 rich
