January 2013

Illinois has the most restrictive pension laws in the nation, so almost anything the legislature does to try to cut benefits is almost certain to be challenged in the courts. Getting each other to agree on what's fiscally sensible and politically survivable is hard enough; agreeing on what's legally sound is no easier. Read more

The cell phone ban in Cook County courthouses, scheduled to go into effect next week, is meant to protect witnesses and others in court—but could it put victims of domestic violence at risk? Read more

Chicago's a pretty safe city to drive in, but it's got a drinking problem: a high percentage of fatal crashes involve intoxication. It's a problem in the North and the West, while far fewer fatal, intoxicated crashes occur in the South. Read more