January 2, 2017

Despite budget inaction, about 190 new state laws take effect Jan. 1

They couldn't agree on a full state budget at the Capitol, but Democrats in the legislature and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner were able to set aside their differences to eliminate taxes on the purchase of tampons and other feminine hygiene products, create more flexible sick leave rules for workers, and add wage protections for domestic workers such as nannies and housekeepers.

Those are among about 190 new Illinois laws that take effect with the new year. The state gets an official state artifact in the form of a pirogue, a canoe made from a hollowed-out tree trunk, and hairdressers will be required to undergo training to spot signs of domestic violence among their clients. Students enrolled in driver education classes will now be taught what to do if pulled over by police, and community colleges will see tougher oversight following numerous revelations about questionable spending at the College of DuPage.

And one controversial measure that is set to take effect Jan. 1 is under review in the courts. At issue is state law that allows medical providers to decline to perform abortion procedures if they have moral objections. A change to that law would require health care providers that oppose abortion to provide patients with information about or a referral to other providers that will perform the procedure.

Supporters say the legislation is designed to give patients timely access to legal medical care. But opponents led by a group of anti-abortion pregnancy centers sued to block the law, arguing the legislation violates their free speech. Last week, a judge in Winnebago County said the state can't enforce the law against the handful of centers involved in the lawsuit while the case plays out.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-new-laws-2017-met-20161228-story.html

January 2, 2017

In the rush to close institutions, Illinois ignored serious problems in group homes

Adults with mild disabilities were the most coveted.

In April 2012, as Illinois moved to close several state institutions and relocate adults with disabilities into the community, representatives from group home businesses gathered inside the Jacksonville Developmental Center for a hastily organized auction.

A state official read aloud medical histories of residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, prompting group home officials to raise their hands for desired picks.

Group home operators knew that then-Gov. Pat Quinn wanted to empty Jacksonville quickly — before any serious union or community opposition could be mounted — but some were taken aback by what they saw as a dehumanizing approach. "We were appalled by the auction," said Art Dykstra, executive director of Trinity Services, the state's largest group home provider.

The problems with Quinn's rapid-deployment plan, however, went beyond mere awkwardness.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/watchdog/grouphomes/ct-group-home-investigations-cila-met-20161229-htmlstory.html

January 2, 2017

Democrats plan to target eight Trump Cabinet nominees

Democratic senators plan to aggressively target eight of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in the coming weeks and are pushing to stretch their confirmation votes into March - an unprecedented break with Senate tradition.

Such delays would upend Republican hopes of quickly holding hearings and confirming most of Trump's top picks on Inauguration Day. But Democrats, hamstrung by their minority status, are determined to slow-walk Trump's picks unless they start disclosing reams of personal financial data they've withheld so far, according to senior aides.

Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., has told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that Democrats will hone in especially on Rex Tillerson, Trump's choice for secretary of state; Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., Trump's choice for attorney general; Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget; and Betsy DeVos, set to serve as education secretary.

There's also Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and oversee changes to Obamacare, who is set to be attacked by Democrats for his support for privatizing Medicare. Andrew Puzder, a restaurant executive set to serve as labor secretary, will face scrutiny for past comments on the minimum wage, among other policies. Steve Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner set to serve as treasury secretary, and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Trump's pick to lead the EPA, will also be the focus of Democratic attacks, aides said.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-democrats-trump-cabinet-nominees-20170101-story.html

January 2, 2017

Sheriff: New Year's bomb threat suspect incarcerated

MUNCIE, Ind. — A suspect in Saturday night's bomb threats that temporarily closed both Muncie Wal-Marts was arrested early Sunday in Grant County, according to Delaware County Sheriff Ray Dudley.

Grant County police stopped the suspect — whom Dudley said earlier had done such things before — in a vehicle stop early Sunday morning and took him into custody, the Delaware County sheriff said on Sunday. He did not know if or when the suspect might be transferred to Delaware County.

Calls threatening a bomb at Muncie Mall and Wal-Marts were traced to the suspect Saturday night, when the 24-hour stores had been evacuated and all three sites were being searched by police and bomb-sniffing dogs. All three sites had been found clear of explosives around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Sending police, fire trucks and ambulances to all three sites in response to the threats required a considerable amount of manpower from multiple departments, Dudley noted.

Read more: http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/12/31/muncie-walmarts-mall-evacuated-after-threat/96049274/

January 2, 2017

Paw Prints cat sanctuary promotes feline health

Photo: Provided by Dr. Julie D'Angelo

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — There are a lot of cats in Tippecanoe County looking for permanent homes, veterinarian Dr. Julie D'Angelo said.

D'Angelo works at Lafayette's Paw Print Animal Hospital Inc. The hospital hosts cats from Loving Heart Animal Shelter that are up for adoption. Until recently those cats resided in the lobby, usually in crates. D'Angelo said she found that the animals weren't getting the socialization or exercise they needed, however, and so she, along with the office manager and clinic handyman, devised a solution.

Now, the clinic boasts a new room with ramps, stairs and toys for cats in addition to a large cat tree and a real tree for the cats to navigate. The cats up for adoption spend their days in there, unconfined and in fellowship with their fellow felines.

"The biggest benefit is having them be social with the other cats around as well as putting them in a space with the windows and see people and cars where they can climb," D'Angelo said. "When you’re living in a cage you’re doing zero climbing, which is a natural inclination for a cat."

Read more: http://www.jconline.com/story/money/business/2016/12/30/paw-prints-cat-sanctuary-promotes-feline-health/96002456/

January 2, 2017

Indiana lawmakers may have to boost taxes for roads funding

INDIANAPOLIS — Republicans who control Indiana's Statehouse say fiscal restraint will be in order when they write the state's two-year budget in the coming months. But as GOP leaders preach frugality ahead of the annual legislative session which kicks off Tuesday, they are also planning for a big increase in infrastructure spending — and want to raise taxes to pay for it.

"We don't have enough revenue to even sustain our maintenance program," said state Sen. Luke Kenley, the Senate's chief budget writer. Last year the Noblesville Republican opposed a similar tax increase; now he says lawmakers need to "face up to the fact" that more money is needed.

That means residents could find themselves paying more for cigarettes, gasoline or vehicle registration in order to build out and repair the state's roads, highways and bridges. It also creates an awkward situation for roughly two dozen Republicans who signed a pledge to conservative activist Grover Norquist, promising never to raise taxes.

Indiana is sitting on about $2 billion in reserves. Revenues are projected to grow 2 percent over the next two years, which could bring in an estimated $1 billion in new money.

Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/state-and-regional/indiana/indiana-lawmakers-may-have-to-boost-taxes-for-roads-funding/article_7491ab36-0cf7-5572-b5a1-5349b9558aae.html

January 2, 2017

Indiana lawmaker seeks to address Sharia law concerns

An Indiana lawmaker says he wants to address constituent concerns that judges could use Sharia law, or Islamic religious law, as a legal standard in civil cases.

Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, has proposed Senate Bill 16, which would prohibit judges from using foreign law to impose a restriction that would violate a person's constitutional rights.

Similar legislation already has been enacted in nine states. While the measures have gained traction out of fears about Islamic law, the recent iterations do not explicitly single out Muslims in order to avoid constitutional challenges, some experts say.

Holdman's bill, for instance, centers on denying the "application of foreign law," but does not mention Sharia or lslamic law. Holdman, however, was clear about the motivation behind the legislation.

Read more: http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2016/12/30/indiana-lawmaker-seeks-address-sharia-law-concerns/96000058/

January 2, 2017

Officials want sinkhole residents to get financial help

Fraser — A temporary, three pipeline sewer bypass, needed to offset damage done by a massive sinkhole in the city, will likely take a full month to complete, Macomb County officials said Sunday.

In addition, officials hope homeowners impacted by the sinkhole will be supported financially by state and, possibly, federal sources.

Macomb County Public Works Commissioner Candice Miller updated the status of repair to the ruptured sewer line that caused the sinkhole last month at a press conference held Sunday near the sinkhole site along 15 Mile.

Crews have been working to build the temporary bypass for the leaking Macomb Interceptor Drain sewer line to route sewage around the break and relieve pressure in the area. The lead engineering firm on the repair project is Shelby Township-based Anderson, Eckstein and Westrick Inc.

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/macomb-county/2017/01/01/fraser-sinkhole/96056396/

January 2, 2017

Michigan law enforcement struggles to lure recruits

Roseville Police Chief James Berlin remembers a time when, about a decade ago, more than 200 people might apply for two or three positions at his department.

Today, he has seen fewer than 25 candidates on hiring lists for twice as many openings, and estimates at least half were unqualified or failed to pass stringent background checks.

He’s not alone. Other policing experts are calling the shortage a crisis that could affect communities for years.

“We have to do something, especially for the future,” said David Harvey, executive director at the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, which oversees professional guidelines for officers statewide. “I think we’re at a crisis situation with the staffing at our agencies right now.”

Read more: http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/01/01/police-officers-michigan-recruit/96074238/

January 2, 2017

Schuette's office OK'd Flint order in alleged tainted-water crimes

LANSING — Attorney General Bill Schuette's office signed off on an environmental order that is central to new criminal charges Schuette filed last week in his Flint drinking water investigation, records show.

In bringing charges on Dec. 20 against two former emergency managers and two former City of Flint public works officials, Schuette and his investigators said a March 2014 administrative consent order issued by the Department of Environmental Quality never should have been issued, because it was based on a "sham" environmental calamity manufactured in part by former Flint emergency managers Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose and former city officials Howard Croft and Daugherty Johnson.

All four defendants face 20-year felonies for conspiracy and false pretenses and have entered not guilty pleas.

One of the three signatures on the administrative consent order (ACO), which the Free Press first scrutinized in a May article, is that of Assistant Attorney General Robert Reichel of the AG's environment, natural resources and agriculture division.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/12/27/schuettes-office-okd-flint-order-alleged-tainted-water-crimes/95867220/