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Should Biden step aside? Illinois Democrat congressman weighs in

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Should Biden step aside? Illinois Democrat congressman weighs in


Calls within the Democratic Party for President Joe Biden to step aside are growing louder.

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Illinois Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley expressed concerns following Biden’s poorly received debate performance last week, which has caused a dip in his polling numbers. Democrats are now worried not only about keeping Donald Trump out of office but also about their prospects in the House and Senate.

“At this point, it’s Joe Biden, unless he decides he’s not that nominee,” Quigley said. “We move forward with that understanding unless there’s a change.”

White House officials and Biden campaign surrogates have claimed the president simply had a bad night during the debate. However, Quigley believes Biden’s problems extend beyond a single debate.

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“I think we gotta be honest with ourselves, this wasn’t just one bad debate performance. There are very real concerns, and you have to take the voters for where they are, not where you want them to be,” Quigley said.

Quigley emphasized that the decision is ultimately Biden’s to make, but he should consider his lagging poll numbers and their effect on down-ballot races.

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“If I were to talk to him, what I would say is, this was a tough race, it’s going to be a much tougher race. You were down in states, that hasn’t changed, got worse, so we’ve gotta make a decision, one he alone has to make,” Quigley added.

US President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Supreme Courts immunity ruling at the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, DC on July 1, 2024. The US Supreme Court ruled July 1, 2024 that Donald Trump enjoys some immunity from prosecution as a

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Quigley is not the only top Democrat speaking out. Texas Congressman Lloyd Doggett publicly called on Biden to step aside, and South Carolina Democratic stalwart Jim Clyburn said he would support Vice President Kamala Harris should Biden step aside. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also suggested that both Trump and Biden should take cognitive tests.

Quigley believes Biden would leave with his head held high if he chose to step down now.

“He’s really had one of the most successful presidencies of my lifetime, so I think what he has to appreciate is, that should be his legacy, and where do we go from here. That decision rests with only one person, and that’s President Biden. He has to come to terms with that,” Quigley stated.

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A Democratic strategist expressed doubts about Biden’s ability to continue given his poor polling numbers. Reports indicate that Biden plans to meet with top Democrats on Capitol Hill and governors and will sit down for an interview with ABC News on Friday.



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Illinois

Controversial 'overdose prevention sites' get $18 million in Illinois funding

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Controversial 'overdose prevention sites' get  million in Illinois funding


A state board Thursday approved up to $18 million in funding for controversial “overdose prevention sites” that would allow people to use drugs in a public space where clinicians could make sure they’re safe.

The money would come from the state’s growing $235 million opioid settlement fund.

The fund is generated by Illinois’ share of settlements from lawsuits that states have filed against drug manufacturers and retailers. The fund is expected to rise to least $795 million in Illinois.

New York City and Vancouver, Canada are among the cities that have overdose prevention sites. State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, has previously introduced legislation that would make such sites legal in Illinois.

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On Thursday, the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board voted 8-3 to approve funding for up to three overdose prevention sites, each of which would annually get up to $2 million over a three-year pilot program, for a total of $18 million.

Dr. Miao Jenny Hua, a board member and Chicago’s interim deputy commissioner of behavioral health, was among those who voted for it. Board member Chelsea Laliberte Barnes said there’s “35 to 40 years of global evidence as to why this proposal is critical.”

Details of the pilot program haven’t been worked out, including where the sites would go. But the priority will be given to communities with the highest number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses. Chicago’s West Side has the worst overdose problem in the state.

The opioid settlement board acknowledged the pilot program may need accompanying legislation to protect drug users and clinicians from getting prosecuted under state drug laws.

Last year, the Illinois ACLU and AIDS Foundation of Chicago supported Ford’s proposed legislation to allow the sites. But the bill failed because opponents instead favored a measure to supply jails, hospitals and other institutions with fentanyl test strips.

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The board’s funding approval is expected to give a boost to new legislation Ford plans to file in the General Assembly to allow overdose prevention sites to operate legally in the state.

“Living in an area that is probably one of the highest fatal overdose communities, I think this is monumental and it’s actually going to save lives,” Ford, who represents the West Side, said after the board’s vote.

The vote, in his opinion, will be one of the best recommendations to come out of the Illinois Opioid Remediation Advisory Board. Members at Thursday’s meeting echoed Ford’s sentiments, describing it as historic.

“Many people think that this is just about people going into the site to use drugs,” Ford said, adding that the locations are expected to provide other services to address medical issues and job placement. “These sites will be about a safe place where people will have a chance at life and they will have a chance for recovery.”

On Thursday, the opioid settlement board also approved $20 million in one-time statewide housing for people recovering from drug addiction.

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Musk makes joke about Gov. Pritzker’s weight on social media, Pritzker fires back

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Musk makes joke about Gov. Pritzker’s weight on social media, Pritzker fires back


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The Governor of Illinois fired back after Elon Musk personally insulted him on social media Wednesday.

“Nothing is more dangerous than getting between JB Pritzker and the buffet table!” Elon Musk wrote from his personal account on the X platform that he owns. X is formerly known as Twitter.

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Gov. JB Pritzker responded to the message by posting an image of himself purchasing a hot dog at a famous Chicago hot dog stand – the Wieners Circle. “I salute @The WienerCircle, not Nazis.”, he wrote.

Musk’s message containing the insult also included a video clip of Pritzker at a news conference reacting to a temporary freeze on federal funding that the White House announced Tuesday. Pritzker in the clip reiterated his promise to Illinois residents that he would defend their freedom, health, and security from the Trump administration.

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Musk has been criticized for gestures he made during President Donald Trump’s inaugural parade that resembled Nazi salutes.

Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@gannett.com.



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Former Illinois caregiver charged after elderly patient suffers severe burns from hot shower: AG

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Former Illinois caregiver charged after elderly patient suffers severe burns from hot shower: AG


Criminal charges have been filed against a Glendale Heights woman accused of neglecting an elderly patient at a long-term care facility in Bensenville, resulting in serious injuries.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul alleges the now-former caregiver failed to check the water temperature before placing the resident in a hot shower.

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What we know:

Raoul’s office said the incident occurred in June 2024 at a Ray Graham Association (RGA) home in Bensenville. The facility serves individuals with disabilities or healthcare needs who require round-the-clock care.

According to Raoul, Darnitia Conner failed to test the water temperature before placing the elderly resident in a hot shower, leading to second-degree burns across most of the patient’s lower body.

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Conner also allegedly tried to conceal the incident by failing to notify medical staff about the severity of the injuries.

What they’re saying:

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“Residents of long-term care facilities and community-based group homes rely on caretakers for their health and wellness,” Raoul said in a statement. “All Illinois residents deserve to be safe in their homes, and it is appalling that any caretaker would cause serious harm to an elderly or vulnerable patient in their care.”

DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick praised the collaboration between local and state authorities that led to the charges.

“The Sheriff’s Department takes the health, safety, and well-being of all the residents of DuPage County seriously. It was especially disturbing to find a caregiver in a position of trust cause bodily harm to one of its residents because of willful abuse and neglect,” Mendrick said.

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What’s next:

Conner, 58, was charged with multiple felonies, including three counts of abuse of a long-term care facility resident and two counts of criminal neglect, each carrying a potential five-year prison sentence.

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She also faces one count of reckless conduct, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

Conner has pleaded not guilty, and her next court appearance is scheduled for March 10.

The Source: The information in this article was provided by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

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Crime and Public SafetyDuPage CountyGlendale HeightsNewsKwame Raoul



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