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The Latest Breaking News from Alexi Giannoulias

Barack Obama, in TikTok starring Kankakee Public Library staffers, launches drive against book bans

Book bans are brewing as an issue that could energize voters — on the left and right — from local contests for library and school boards to the White House — heading into the 2024 election cycle.

Chicago Sun-Times

Use license plate readers to track criminals, not invade privacy

An Illinois bill protects women traveling here for an abortion from having license plate reader data used against them by other states. Stronger rules are needed to protect the privacy of other individuals, too.

Chicago Sun-Times

'First of its kind' Illinois law will penalize libraries that ban books

A new law signed in Illinois on Monday will require the state's libraries to uphold a pledge not to ban material because of partisan disapproval, starting on Jan. 1, 2024

The Independent UK

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Ban the ban, not the book? Giannoulias caps return with string of legislative wins, including anti-censorship law

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias told the Sun-Times he was “blown away” after reading about book bans across the country. “To me, this is a slippery slope, and it goes against what education is about,” he said.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois set to become first state to end book bans

Governor JB Pritzker expected to sign bill that would block state funding for public libraries and schools that ban books

The Guardian - US

Library funding becomes the 'nuclear option' as the battle over books escalates

Some libraries are now facing an existential threat: They could lose their public funding over books deemed inappropriate for young readers.

WEKU

Illinois lawmakers push back on library book bans

Illinois lawmakers approved a measure requiring libraries to adopt an anti-book banning policy in order to receive state funding, in a Wednesday vote that fissured along party lines

The Independent UK

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Lightfoot put Knudsen in 43rd Ward seat — and into runoff against challenger Comer

Five months after a City Council appointment from Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Ald. Timmy Knudsen only got about a quarter of the vote in February. Now he’s lining up other Democratic support to survive a runoff with Brian Comer.

Chicago Sun-Times

A quarter of a century after being carjacked, Giannoulias doles out $21 million to fight carjacking surge

Chicago carjacking reports hit a peak of 1,849 in 2021. The Illinois secretary of state was carjacked with high school basketball teammates in 1998. “It was a brutal experience,” he says.

Chicago Sun-Times

Illinois House OKs measure to allow the state to deny grants to libraries that ban books

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois House on Wednesday approved a measure that would allow the Illinois secretary of state’s office to deny grant funding to public and school libraries if they ban books or fail to devise policies against removing titles from their stacks.

Chicago Tribune

Legislation aims to deter book bans at public libraries by withholding grants

Legislation aimed at discouraging public libraries from banning books has been introduced in the Democratic-controlled Illinois General Assembly amid largely partisan battles around the country over what books and school curricula are suitable for children.

Chicago Tribune

Defensive Vallas responds to controversies stirred up by opposition research against him

“I’m the frontrunner. That’s the reason. They know I’ve got momentum. They know I’m rising in the polls. They know that I’m a threat. And this time, they’re gonna try to attack me personally as opposed to challenge me on the issues,” mayoral challenger Paul Vallas told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Chicago Sun-Times

Carvana admits violating Illinois law in settlement with state regulators over car titles, registrations

Used-car retailer Carvana admitted to violating state law by failing to transfer car titles in a timely manner and has reached a settlement agreement with the state, officials said Tuesday.

Chicago Tribune

Carvana, Illinois settle fight over vehicle titles, registrations

The company forfeited a $250,000 bond and agreed to enhanced inspections as conditions for continuing to operate in Illinois.

Chicago Sun-Times

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Chicago Sun-Times

Too naughty to drive: Why Illinois rejected nearly 400 license plate requests in 2022

The secretary of state’s office bars obscene words, allusions to obscenities in any language and messages targeting politicos. Even backwards curses are a no-no.

Chicago Tribune

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sets out 2nd-term agenda as weapons ban bill heads for final vote

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Seeking to build on the successes of his four years in office, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered a second-term agenda Monday that called for a state constitutional right to abortion, making preschool available to every family and making public college free for children in working-class families.

Chicago Sun-Times

From free college to universal preschool, Pritzker pledges second-term ‘agenda as ambitious and bold as our people are’

In a speech that paid respect to everyone from a nurse who died from COVID-19, to victims of gun violence, to former Gov. Dwight Green, Gov. J.B. Pritzker vowed to “fight against a rising tide of hate,” protect women’s reproductive rights and finally get an assault weapons ban passed.

Chicago Sun-Times

Democrat Alexi Giannoulias wins race for Illinois secretary of state

Former Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias ran a well-funded campaign against veteran Illinois legislator Dan Brady, a Republican, to succeed the retiring Jesse White.

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Chicago Sun-Times

Giannoulias wasn’t expecting a return to politics but more than a decade later, he’s back

Secretary of State Jesse White’s decision to retire changed the calculus for 46-year-old Alexi Giannoulias, who is now Illinois’ youngest statewide elected official.

Chicago Sun-Times

Resumes, hometowns, politics vary more than three secretary of state candidates’ plans for job-rich office

Former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias of Chicago is the front-runner to complete his political comeback over central Illinois GOP state Rep. Dan Brady and suburban Libertarian Jon Stewart.

Chicago Sun-Times

Sun-Times/WBEZ Poll: Pritzker’s ‘coattails’ pull other, lesser-known statewide Democrats along for the ride

Democrats hold strong leads in the races for Illinois secretary of state, attorney general, comptroller and treasurer, according to the poll. “Absolutely, I do think it’s a coattail effect with Gov. Pritzker,” one voter said.

Chicago Sun-Times

Clobbered in race for Illinois secretary of state, Valencia will seek reelection as city clerk

After taking July off to catch up on sleep, vacation with her husband and reconnect with her 2-year-old daughter, City Clerk Valencia chose to shake off the ethics scandal centered around her husband’s lobbying activities.

Chicago Sun-Times

Giannoulias opts for kid-to-kid strategy in TV spots about drivers’ licenses, taxes, corruption — and basketball

The two new TV ads feature the former state treasurer playing basketball with children, as he promises to fight corruption and improve services at drivers’ license facilities. “With modernized services, saving time and money could be a slam dunk,” he says in one.

Chicago Sun-Times

A special session on abortion rights is not looking all that likely

Lawmakers and advocates have been brought together for talks ever since a special session statement was issued in July, but, as always, the devil is in the details.

Chicago Tribune

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls on the ‘coalition of the sane’ to defeat ‘the lunatic fringe’ as Democrats rally at state fair

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Democrats looked to both the past and the future as rallying points on their day at the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday, castigating former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s one-term stewardship of the state and warning that the party’s candidate for governor in November, Darren Bailey, would…

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