Illinois
Push to curb domestic violence in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD (WGEM) – Illinois lawmakers are renewing their focus on curbing domestic violence in the state.
The renewed focus comes after what police are calling a murder-suicide last week in Villa Park involving a man on pretrial release after a domestic violence arrest.
Police found Winston Elguezabal and his wife Julie dead on April 26 following an apparent murder-suicide. Winston Elguezabal was on pretrial release after a recent domestic violence arrest.
Under the Pretrial Fairness Act portion of the SAFE-T Act, people accused of domestic violence are presumed to be released while awaiting trial. They can be held but the prosecution is required to file a motion and prove they’re too dangerous to be on the streets.
State Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, wants to change that.
“We want to get serious about domestic violence, domestic abusers, those who are causing bodily harm to women and children, the victims of domestic violence, we need to flip that presumption,” he said. “My legislation is very simple in nature, the presumption will be flipped.”
He will introduce a bill requiring the accused to file a petition and prove they are not too dangerous to be released.
Democrats are pushing for another bill called “Karina’s Bill.” They believe it’s too easy for people accused of domestic violence to access firearms.
“I would ask my colleagues who want us to work on all of these items to think about the victims of domestic violence and readily availability of firearms to the perpetrator, and the protections are not there yet. We need to give law enforcement the tools to seize those weapons,” said state Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, D-Villa Park.
“Karina’s Bill” would require police seize someone’s weapons within 96 hours when they’re giving a court order to surrender their Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card. Right now, they can turn their guns over to another FOID card holder including someone in the same house.
Curran said he supports the underlying idea of getting guns out of the hands of accused domestic abusers. He cautions though that ongoing negotiations between lawmakers, advocates and law enforcement have to get the policy details right since executing search warrants can be very dangerous.
Copyright 2024 WGEM. All rights reserved.
Some polls opened up for early voting on Thursday, with less than six weeks to go until primary day in Illinois.
The actual date of the primary election in Illinois is March 17. But if work, school, doctor’s appointments, or other responsibilities prevent one from casting a ballot that day, early voting is an alternative.
MORE: Early voting dates, locations for Chicago and surrounding counties
DuPage County was to open up the polls at five locations beginning at 8 a.m. However, “due to unresolved candidate objections currently pending before the Appellate Court,” the start of early voting and vote by mail has been delayed for “early next week.”
The McHenry County Election Center, at 410 S. Eastwood Dr. in Woodstock, will fire up its machines for residents of that county at 8:30 a.m.
Also at 8:30 a.m., the Will County Clerk’s office, at 302 N. Chicago St. in Joliet, and the Kankakee County Clerk’s office, at 189 E. Court St. in Kankakee, begin early voting.
Ballots can be cast at the Lake County Courthouse, at 18 N. County St. in Waukegan, starting at 9 a.m.
Primaries do not always see the best voter turnout, but this election includes some key races that will affect politics across the entire state. Voters will determine who runs on the Democratic and Republican tickets for Illinois governor, and the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) is also up for grabs.
A total of 14 Democratic candidates are running for the nomination for Durbin’s seat, and eight on the Republican side.
Early voting is not yet open for Chicago and suburban Cook County residents.
Early voting begins Thursday, Feb. 12, for city residents. The downtown supersite has moved to a new location at 137 S. State St.
Suburban Cook County early voting doesn’t start until March 2. Click here to look up the early voting site near you.
For those who prefer to vote by mail, the United States Postal Service now says it cannot guarantee that ballots will be postmarked the same day they are sent. This means ballots mailed on the primary day of March 17 may not count for this election.
USPS suggests returning vote-by-mail ballots by March 10 to be safe.
Illinois
Building management gave consent for immigration raid at South Shore apartment complex: Court docs
CHICAGO (WLS) — New details are being revealed about an immigration raid at a South Shore apartment complex last year.
Newly filed court documents for someone detained in the raid reveal the building’s owner or manager gave verbal and written consent for the raid on Sept. 30 at 75th and South Shore Drive.
ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch
New court documents also showed officers were responding to a tip of migrants living in the building.
Last month, the state of Illinois launched an investigation into the raid and whether the landlord or building management may have tipped off the Department of Homeland Security.
READ MORE | Landlord accused of housing discrimination in South Shore immigration raid amid state investigation
The owner and manager of the building have not responded to ABC7’s requests for comment.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security claims two members of a Venezuelan gang were arrested in the raid.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Self-driving cars could soon be making their debut in Chicago.
Illinois state Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Illinois) has introduced a bill that would authorize autonomous vehicle pilot programs in several counties.
The bill would authorize an autonomous vehicle pilot program in several counties, including Cook County, and downstate Sangamon County — which includes Springfield.
If the pilot program is successful, the Illinois Department of Transportation could legalize self-driving cars statewide within three years.
The bill comes as self-driving car operator Waymo tries to gain a foothold in Illinois, according to published reports.
The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law.
Previous attempts to legalize self-driving cars in Illinois have gone nowhere.
Ancient Alaskan Site May Explain How First People Reached North America
Why Last 2 Games Will Help Arizona in Long Run
No. 6 GymDogs, No. 10 Arkansas Clash Friday in Fayetteville – University of Georgia Athletics
Bio lab found in Las Vegas is similar to scene discovered in California, raising questions from officials
3 Colorado snowboarders — Vail’s Ollie Martin, Silverthorne’s Red Gerard and Aspen’s Jake Canter — are Olympic medal threats
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
The Long Goodbye: A California Couple Self-Deports to Mexico
Republican who said Sen Cassidy ‘sucks,’ gets Trump endorsement after ditching Senate bid for House run
Man charged with ‘terrorism’ for bomb at Indigenous protest in Australia
Nike faces federal probe over allegations of discrimination against white workers
Video: Fulton County in Georgia Demands Return of 2020 Election Materials
-
Indiana4 days ago13-year-old rider dies following incident at northwest Indiana BMX park
-
Massachusetts5 days agoTV star fisherman, crew all presumed dead after boat sinks off Massachusetts coast
-
Tennessee5 days agoUPDATE: Ohio woman charged in shooting death of West TN deputy
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoVikram Prabhu’s Sirai Telugu Dubbed OTT Movie Review and Rating
-
Indiana3 days ago13-year-old boy dies in BMX accident, officials, Steel Wheels BMX says
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on Oscar-Winning Adaptations of Popular Books
-
Politics7 days agoVirginia Democrats seek dozens of new tax hikes, including on dog walking and dry cleaning
-
Austin, TX6 days ago
TEA is on board with almost all of Austin ISD’s turnaround plans
