Unemployment rate ticks down
Illinois’ unemployment rate remains above the national average, despite ticking downward by a tenth of a point.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports the state’s unemployment rate in February is 4.8%, down from 4.9% in January. The national unemployment rate is at 4.1%, up a tenth of a point from the prior month.
Durbin sponsors bill to televise SCOTUS hearings
Court observers not able to be in Washington D.C. for hearings in front of the U.S. Supreme Court can tune in, but they can only listen live.
Illinois Democratic U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is joining Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley to file legislation requiring open proceedings of the court to be televised, except where the majority of justices say it would violate due process for one or more litigants before the court.
Trump’s election integrity order criticized
The League of Women Voters of Illinois and ACLU are jointly criticizing President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order.
Trump’s order signed Tuesday requires proof of citizenship for voter registrations, and to stop counting mail-in votes after election day. The groups say the order is illegal, and assured voters it does not impact upcoming municipal elections across the state coming up April 1.
