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On The 21st: When it comes to legalizing recreational marijuana, Governor JB Pritzker has made his stance pretty clear, but the legalization process can be complicated. We answer your questions about what Illinois might do about this. Plus, we have some tips for warding off the winter blues. Also, it’s gotten so bad for one particular endangered bee species that the NRDC is suing the federal government.
A settlement was reached with Illinois inmates in 2016, when the state agreed to revamp mental health care and provide better treatment. But a federal judge has ruled that care remains “grossly insufficient” and “extremely poor.” The agency has not hired enough mental health staff to provide care to everyone who needs it, and inmates will mental illness suffer as they continue to wait for long-overdue treatment.
Champaign-Urbana faces an ongoing problem with gun violence. Champaign police report the region had 116 gun-related incidents in 2018, up from 85 the prior year and 112 in 2016. The Champaign-Urbana Area Project is offering training to those who want to help address the problem.
Two alleged militia members from Ford County accused of bombing a Minnesota mosque in 2017 are due back in court on Thursday for change of plea hearings.
On The 21st: Video gambling machines were meant to bring in money for the state, but as a ProPublica Illinois investigation found, it’s actually created both financial and social costs. Plus, the government shutdown has started to hurt crisis center hotlines for sexual violence. We’ll hear from the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault on how they’re trying to keep things running. But first, what should Governor Pritzker do about our education system? We talk with educators about what they hope to see from our state government.
