■ Overdose deaths drop in 2024 PAGE 4
FREE Vol. 39 No. 2
January 15, 2025 ■ Also serving Garfield Park ■ austinweeklynews.com
@AustinWeeklyNews
@austinweeklynews
@AustinWeeklyChi
Announcing VIBE! page 12
Rep. Ford files new bill to regulate delta-8 The first bill of this legislative session proposes delta-8 regulation, rather than banning most sales like the previous bill By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Last week, a bill died in the Illinois General Assembly that would have banned most sales of delta-8, an unregulated psychoactive material found in the cannabis plant. Delta-8 can be bought from the likes of smoke shops or gas stations by anyone, including minors. While Gov. JB Pritzker approved the bill – sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson didn’t, saying delta-8 is a good source of revenue for the city, which has a budget deficit projected over $980 million for the 2025 fiscal year. The bill died this month, when it failed to receive three-fifths of the House votes. Now, Rep. La Shawn Ford has filed the first bill in the Illinois House this legislative session, which began Jan. 8. His new bill is a departure See DELTA-8 on page 8
Homelessness spikes 116% in Illinois in 2024, mostly in Chicago FOLLOWTHEFLOW - ADOBE STOCK
Illinois was one of 43 states, as well By LUZANE DRAUGHON The national increase from as the District of Columbia, to report increases in 2024. Many factors could 2023 was 18%, according Illinois saw about a 116% increase in account for the increase, including the national shortage of affordable housing homelessness based on a January 2024 to an annual HUD report, Point-in-Time Count, a report of shel- and wages that aren’t keeping pace with living. multiple reasons cited tered and unsheltered individuals expe- costsSeeof HOMELESSNESS on page 3 Staff Reporter
riencing homelessness on a single night.
Follow us on Instagram! @austinweeklynews Top stories, local government, features, events, dining, art, and schools right at your fingertips!