Friday, May 17, 2013
Passed by a 35-21 vote, the bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has not yet said whether he intends to sign it.
By a vote of 35-21, the Illinois Senate approved legislation on Friday that would allow doctors in the state to prescribe marijuana as pain relief for severe medical conditions. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. According to the Chicago Tribune, the bill covers 33 specific conditions—including multiple sclerosis, cancer and HIV infection—and includes several controls, with a four-year trial program, dosage limits, fingerprinting, background checks and licensed dispensing centers. “This bill is filled with walls to keep this limited,” the paper quoted sponsoring Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation as a compassionate measure for those suffering with extreme pain. In opposition, Sen. …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The City of Park Ridge welcomes residents to apply for boards and commissions, such as the Animal Commission, Library Board, O'Hare Airport Commission, Electrical Commission and more.
From the City of Park Ridge: Park Ridge residents interested in serving on City boards or commissions are encouraged to apply for openings. The Mayor’s Advisory Board, headed by Alderman Marty Maloney, will be interviewing candidates in the near future. The Advisory Board will be interviewing candidates for the following: Animal Commission; Community Health Commission; Electrical Commission; Fair Housing Commission; Library Board; O’Hare Airport Commission; Public Art Commission; and Youth Commission. Those interested may obtain an application on the City’s website at this link. Service on the boards and commissions includes a commitment of time and energy to the issues addressed and attendance at one or two regular meetings per month. …
The Cook County Assessor's Office provided information at Maine Township Wednesday for homeowners to appeal their property tax assessments; also, here are phone numbers to call re: financial assistance.
If your home flooded during the April 18 storm, you can do two things immediately to start getting some financial help. The first is to appeal your property tax assessment, which needs to be turned in by Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. to the Maine Township Office, or by May 17 to the Cook County Assessor's office at the Skokie courthouse, or by May 20 online at cookcountyassessor.com. The second is to apply for FEMA assistance, which is available after President Obama declared Cook County and several other counties disaster areas on Saturday. Appealing your property tax assessment Hector Dominguez, community outreach liaison for the Cook County Assessor's Office, and some colleagues came to Maine Township Hall Wednesday to provide forms and …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Photos of the police memorial service held in Park Ridge on May 13.
Members of many law enforcement agencies including state and local police gathered with community members to honor those killed in the line of duty in Park Ridge on Monday. Members of the Illinois State Police Department, Cook County police, the Chicago Police Department and local police departments including Park Ridge, Niles and Des Plaines, participated in the ceremony, which was hosted by the Park Ridge Police Chaplains Association. The ceremony also commemorated National Police Week, which is May 12 to May 18. A number of different officials took turns reading the names of members of law enforcement killed in the line of duty. Click here to see a video of the the names being read.
Illinois police, Cook County police, Chicago police and local police departments including Park Ridge, Niles and Des Plaines, participated in a memorial service in Park Ridge on Monday.
Park Ridge residents and community groups gathered with elected officials and members of law enforcement to honor police killed in the line of duty on the steps of city hall on Monday. Members of the Illinois State Police Department, Cook County police, the Chicago Police Department and local police departments including Park Ridge, Niles and Des Plaines, participated in the ceremony, which was hosted by the Park Ridge Police Chaplains Association. Andrew Liaugminas, of Mary, Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church in Park Ridge, welcomed the crowd to the remembrance ceremony. “And in gratitude for the daily service and dedication that our police personnel give to our community,” Liaugminas said. Mayor Dave Schmidt read a proclamation acknowledging…
Sunday, May 12, 2013
The Cook County Board has added Section 8, or Housing Choice Vouchers, to the list of reasons landlords cannot bar tenants under the Illinois Fair Housing Law.
Up until recently, landlords had discretion on whether they would allow Section 8 tenants to rent in their properties. That all changed on May 8 as the Cook County Board approved a measure that would penalize landlords for discriminating against Section 8 voucher holders. The Illinois Fair Housing Law states that one cannot deny an applicant based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, disability, presence of children or sexual orientation. Now, Section 8 voucher holders have been added to that list. The measure passed 9-6, the Sun-Times reported. Get Niles and Morton Grove news in a free daily email from Patch.com. Learn more. If prospective Section 8 holders believe they were denied a unit because of their voucher status, they now …
President Obama's declaration of 11 Illinois counties as disaster areas frees up FEMA money to help in recovery efforts. Here's information about how to apply for help.
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Sunday, May 12
The Village of Niles and City of Park Ridge released the following information from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It announces federal aid is being made available to help Cook County recover from the April 18 flooding. From FEMA: WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that federal disaster aid has been made available to the State of Illinois and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the area affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, and flooding during the period of April 16 to May 5, 2013. The President's action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall…
Friday, May 10, 2013
You can file a form to appeal your property tax if your home had 'substantial' flood damage, or a separate form if you didn't flood at all. But act fast--the first deadline is Monday. Assessor is also coming to Maine Township Wednesday 6 p.m.
Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios is coming to Maine Township Town Hall Wednesday, May 15 to answer questions and provide information to residents who want to appeal their property tax assessments. You may also print out the forms from the City of Park Ridge website: If your home flooded to what the assessor calls "substantial" damage, you would likely be eligible for an assessment reduction. Earlier: Hundreds Show Up When Assessor Appears in Niles May 9 Berrios and Maine Township Assessor Tom Rueckert will co-host the information session Wednsday, at 6 p.m. at Maine Township Town Hall, 1700 W. Ballard Road, Park Ridge, just west of Greenwood. Note the deadlines: Get Park Ridge news in a daily email. It's free. Learn more.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for 11 Illinois counties to be named major disaster areas.
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Thursday, May 9
Governor Pat Quinn today asked President Barack Obama to declare 11 Illinois counties major disaster areas following the storms and heavy rainfall that moved through the state in mid-April. If the governor’s request is approved, residents in those counties will be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest federal loans to help recover from the historic flooding. Counties included in the request are Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Fulton, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will. “We must do everything possible to help families impacted by this historic flooding as they rebuild their lives,” Governor Quinn said. “Today we are making a strong case to President Obama to help expedite the review and approval process so the people of …
The Park Ridge council voted 6-1 against the Mayor's vetoes against a public works union contract and police department renovation money, the Chicago Tribune reports.
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Thursday, May 9
The Park Ridge City Council vetoed Mayor David Schmidt’s vetoes Monday of a three-year contract with Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers and money approved for a police station renovation, the Chicago Tribune reports. Schmidt has consistently been against the police station project, saying, “There is nothing in Phase II of the project that can be reasonably labeled as a ‘need’,” the newspaper reports. Schmidt vetoed the Local 150 contract because it was not “expense-neutral.”
Peggy Smith
4:26 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
legalize it and tax it !! more ›