JOLIET, IL (AP) — Marijuana growers across Illinois are expanding, despite years of lower-than-expected demand in the state’s medical cannabis pilot program. The facilities expect more residents to gain access to the drug through a bill awaiting a decision by Gov. Bruce Rauner, the Chicago Tribune reported. The opioid bill would allow medical marijuana to…
SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) — Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation that bars tobacco sales to those under age 21. In a Friday statement, Rauner said raising the minimum age to buy tobacco from 18 would “push residents to buy tobacco products from non-licensed vendors or in neighboring states.” Chicago Democratic Rep. Camille Lilly’s legislation…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Sandra Karsten is retiring and will take on a job leading the state Public Safety Department. Karsten on Friday announced she will retire from the Highway Patrol Sept. 1. She will take over as acting public safety director when current Director Drew Juden steps down…
HERCULANEUM, Mo. (AP) — A suspect is dead after allegedly firing shots at officers during a pursuit along an interstate highway in Jefferson County. The pursuit began Friday afternoon in Herculaneum when police tried to pull over an SUV. The man sped away, dragging an officer a short distance. The officer is expected to make…
ST. LOUIS, MO (AP) — Storms brought much-needed rain to drought-ravaged Missouri on Friday, but it was too much too quickly in some cases. Drought conditions are so bad in parts of northern and southwestern Missouri that they are severely affecting corn farmers and cattle ranchers. Recent heavy rain is soaking parched pastures, but also…
COLUMBIA, MO (AP) — The University of Missouri has asked an electric scooter rental company to leave campus. Karlin Seville is the communications manager with the university’s Division of Operations. He tells The Columbia Missourian that the university doesn’t have a contract with Bird, the California-based dockless scooter rental company. Seville says the university will meet with…
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) — Missouri Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. Sandra Karsten is retiring and will take on a job leading the state Public Safety Department. Karsten on Friday announced she will retire from the Highway Patrol Sept. 1. She will take over as acting public safety director when current Director Drew Juden steps down…
SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) — Gov. Bruce Rauner calls him “one of the youngest, most effective lobbyists” in Illinois. Hunter Martin’s two-year lobbying effort ended this week when the Republican governor signed a law requiring insurance companies to pay for replacement hearing aids every three yearsfor children under 18. The (Springfield) State Journal-Register reports that the 10-year-old Hunter lost…
CHICAGO, IL (AP) — Illinois’ attorney general is planning to meet with Chicago Archdiocese officials to discuss seven priests with links to the state who were included in a scathing Pennsylvania grand jury report on clergy sex abuse. The report released this month found that about 300 Catholic priests abused at least 1,000 children over the past…
CHICAGO, IL (AP) — Federal health officials say they’ve confirmed more than 500 cases of people who became sick with an intestinal illness after eating McDonald’s salads. The illnesses reported earlier this year are linked to the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, intestinal pain, nausea or fatigue. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday…