Illinois To Allow Online Voter Registration

 

An Illinois Voter Casts Her Ballot. (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)

CHICAGO (CBS) — The Governor signed a bill this morning making registering to vote easier for Illinois residents, reports WBBM’s Brandis Friedman.

At the Chicago Public Library in the Logan Square neighborhood, Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a bill that, among other things, allows people to register to vote online.

“We’re moving Democracy into the 21st Century,” said Quinn.

He had support of groups like Chicago Votes, whose Executive Director Rebecca Reynolds says there are 500,000 people in the City eligible to vote, but unable to register.

“We know this is because it is so very hard to register to vote and that there are serious barriers to access this is one of the greatest steps in advancing and expanding our Democracy,” said Reynolds.

Illinois To Allow Online Voter RegistrationWBBM Newsradio's Brandis Friedman

Seventeen other states have already passed similar legislation. Illinois is the 2nd largest state in the union to do so.

The state board of elections is charged with implementing an online system which should be available by July next year.

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Expert Warns Of Decrease In Butterfly Population In Illinois

 

A Monarch Butterfly. (Mike Simons/Getty Images)

(CBS) — You might be noticing fewer butterflies hanging around the plants and flowers in your neighborhood this summer, reports WBBM’s Brandis Friedman explains.

The Illinois Nature Preserve Commission’s Angela Moorehouse says the numbers are alarming.

“This year has been dramatically low from anything I have seen in my 15 years of doing butterfly surveys ,” said Moorehouse.

Earlier this month, the count of butterflies in McDonough County in west central Illinois noted only 22 butterfly species.

“I always like to see around 35 in McDonough County. Seeing only 22 in the McDonough County count is significantly below the average.

Moorehouse explains the drought for a couple of years made it difficult for plants to grow and feed the adult butterflies and left imperfect growing conditions for caterpillars.

Expert Warns Of Decrease In Butterflies In IllinoisWBBM Newsradio's Brandis Friedman

She is especially concerned that those butterflies that only produce young once a year will be even further diminished next year.

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Record Mesothelioma Verdict In California Against Owen Illinois

Congratulations to my friends Joe Satterly , Andrea Houston and the rest of the trial team  for an amazing result in this take-home exposure case.

 The plaintiff offered to prove that the defendant was fully knowledgeable about the dangers of asbestos, conducted animal studies demonstrating same  and failed to provide any warning whatsoever.  A product that issue was an asbestos insulation product used extensively throughout the United States called “Kaylo.”

The jury returned a verdict of $16,342,500 in compensatory damages ($12,000,000 to Mrs. Grigg, $4,000,000 in loss of consortium and $342,500 in economic damages).  Today the jury returned an $11,000,000 punitive award.  There was an intentional tort finding and the setoffs will be about $3,000,000 for settlements.  

 An appeal is likely. The defendant will no doubt argue that the verdict was excessive. This case demonstrates how some juries become very unhappy when they believe information about a product’s dangers was known but intentionally withheld.

Last updated by Chris Placitella at June 6, 2013.

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