$2,024 up for grabs during NBC Chicago's New Year's Eve show. How to play for your chance to win

The new year is just around the corner, and NBC Chicago is ringing it in with “A Very Chicago New Year” to celebrate 2024.

As part of the celebration, you can put your knowledge on Chicago trivia to the test and play for $2,024 to start off your new year on a fortunate note.

Play below for your chance to win. The game starts after 11 p.m. on Dec. 31. Rules and regulations, listed below, apply.

A Very Chicago New Year’s Trivia Contest
Official Rules
December 31, 2023

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION:  NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Void outside the WMAQ Geographic Viewing Area (defined below) and where prohibited. The A Very Chicago New Year’s Trivia Contest (“Contest”) will take place on December 31, 2023 at 11:00 P.M. CT until December 31, 2023 at 11:50 P.M. CT (“Contest Time”).  All times in the Contest refer to Central Time (“CT”). Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible Entries (as defined below) received. Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws. FIRST PRIZE (AS DEFINED BELOW) DOES NOT INCLUDE ACCOMMODATIONS, PARKING OR TRANSPORTATION.

ELIGIBILITY: Open only to permanent, legal United States residents who are physically residing in the WMAQ terrestrial geographic viewing area in (i) the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry, and Will in the state of Illinois; and (ii) the counties of Jasper, Lake, LaPorte, Newton, and Porter in the state of Indiana (the “WMAQ Geographic Viewing Area”), and who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older as of the start of the Contest Period. Officers, directors, and employees of Contest Entities (as defined below), members of these persons’ immediate families (spouses and/or parents, children, and siblings, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside), and/or persons living in the same households as these persons (whether or not related thereto) are not eligible to enter or win the Contest. Contest Entities, as referenced herein, shall include WMAQ, 454 North Columbus Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 (collectively, “Sponsors”), Play Megaphone Inc. d/b/a Megaphone TV, 7 World Trade Center, Floor 46, New York City, NY 10007, and their parent, subsidiary, and affiliate companies, and each of their administrative, advertising, and promotion agencies, and any other entity involved in the development, administration, promotion, or implementation of the Contest.  First Prize Winner (defined below) must be able to attend Event (defined below) on August 13, 2024, or First Prize (defined below) will be forfeited.

TO ENTER:

Second Prize: To enter for the Second Prize (defined below) only, in advance of the Contest Time, either 1) visit https://NBCChicago.com/play (the “Website”), or 2) tune in to watch “A Very Chicago New Year” (the “Show”) on NBC 5 Chicago (check your local listings) on December 31, 2023 at or about 11:05 P.M. CT and scan the QR code with your personal mobile device to be taken to the Website.  Once at the Website, follow the provided instructions to enable the “A Very Chicago New Year’s Trivia Game” (the “Game”). Thereafter, submit the entry form, which includes your full name, phone number, email address and ZIP code (“Second Prize Entry”).

First Prize and Grand Prize: To enter and compete for the First Prize (defined below) and Grand Prize (defined below),in advance of the Contest Time, visit https://NBCChicago.com/play (the “Website”) on your personal mobile device and follow the provided instructions to enable the Game (as defined above). Thereafter, submit the entry form, which includes your full name, phone number, email address and ZIP code (“First Prize Entry” and “Grand Prize Entry”).

“Second Prize Entry”, “First Prize Entry” and “Grand Prize Entry” may collectively be referred to herein as “Entry” or “Entries”. All Entries become the property of Sponsors and will not be acknowledged. If you choose to submit your Entry and/or play the Game using your web-enabled mobile device, data rates may apply. See your wireless service provider for details on rates and capabilities.

Limit one (1) Entry per person per prize category. Multiple Entries received from any person beyond this limit will void all such additional Entries. Sponsors’ computers shall be the official timekeeper for all matters related to this Contest. Entries must be received before December 31, 2023 at 11:50 P.M. CT, and Game must be played live during the Contest Time to be eligible for the Contest. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means or by any means that subverts the entry process will be disqualified. Entries that are incomplete, garbled, corrupted, fraudulent, or unintelligible for any reason, including, but not limited to, computer or network malfunction or congestion, are void and will not be accepted.  In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder (or registered subscriber) of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. “Authorized account holder” of an email address is defined as the person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrant’s name, Display Name, state, likeness, image, and/or voice for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval.  

PRIVACY: Entrants will have the opportunity to receive information from Sponsors and their selected partners by checking the appropriate box(es). If, at any time, you no longer wish to receive materials from Sponsors or our partners, please go to our privacy policy, located at http://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy, or the applicable partner’s privacy policy and follow the procedures indicated.

WINNING AND PRIZE NOTIFICATION: The first Five Hundred (500) eligible participants (collectively “Second Prize Winners”, each a “Second Prize Winner”) to successfully complete and submit an entry form for the Game will be awarded a second prize (collectively “Second Prizes”, each a “Second Prize”). To compete for the Grand Prize (defined below) or the First Prize (defined below), once in the Game, follow the instructions to answer ten (10) trivia questions (collectively “Questions”, each a “Question”) throughout the Game. The player with the highest point value at the end of the Game is the potential grand prize winner (“Grand Prize Winner”), subject to verification of eligibility. The player with the second highest point value at the end of the Game is the potential first prize winner (“First Prize Winner”), subject to verification of eligibility. The Contest will be conducted under the supervision of Sponsors. Decisions of Sponsors are final and binding with respect to all matters related to the Contest. Winning is subject to verification of eligibility. Sponsors will make two (2) attempts to notify potential Winner at the phone or email address submitted at the time of Entry. Grand Prize Winner, First Prize Winner, and Second Prize Winners may be referred to herein as “Winner” or “Winners”. Sponsors may share each potential Winner’s name and contact information with Contest Entities and/or any prize supplier, as applicable, if necessary. Each potential Winner may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, and, except where prohibited, publicity release (collectively, “Contest Documents”) within two (2) days of such notification.  Noncompliance within this time period, with these Official Rules or the return of or inability to deliver any Prize (as defined below) or Prize notification may result in disqualification and, at Sponsors’ discretion, and time permitting, an alternate potential Winner may be selected from among all eligible remaining entrants. Limit one (1) Prize (defined below) per family or household.

PRIZE:  There will be one (1) grand prize awarded (“Grand Prize”) to the Grand Prize Winner; one (1) first prize (“First Prize”) awarded to the First Prize Winner; and five hundred (500) second prizes (collectively “Second Prizes”, each a “Second Prize”) will be awarded to the first five hundred (500) participants that successfully register for the Game; one (1) Second Prize will be awarded to each Second Prize Winner.

The Grand Prize consists of the following: A check for two thousand twenty-four dollars ($2,024).

The First Prize consists of the following: two (2) “Celestial Colleagues” VIP tickets for First Prize Winner and one (1) guest (“Guest”) to attend the Saviors Tour show scheduled to take place on August 13, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. CT at Wrigley Field located at 1060 W Addison Street, Chicago, IL 60613 (“Event”).  First Prize Winner must be able to attend Event on August 13, 2024, or First Prize will be forfeited. First Prize is subject to certain terms and conditions as specified by issuer. Restrictions may apply. FIRST PRIZE DOES NOT INCLUDE ACCOMMODATIONS, PARKING, OR TRANSPORTATION.

If First Prize Winner chooses to attend the event with no Guest, the remaining elements of First Prize shall constitute full satisfaction of Sponsors’ Prize obligation to First Prize Winner and no additional compensation will be awarded. Guest, if any, may be required to execute and return releases of liability and, where legal, publicity releases (collectively, “Guest Documents”), which must be returned with the Contest Documents, or Guest portion of the Prize will be forfeited. If Guest is a minor, First Prize Winner must be such minor’s parent or legal guardian and must execute and return the Guest Documents on minor’s behalf.

Each Second Prize consists of the following: one (1) NBCU Chicago tote bag. Prizes will be awarded “as is” with no warranty or guarantee, either express or implied by Sponsors.

Grand Prize, First Prize, and Second Prize may be referred to herein as “Prize” or “Prizes”.

Estimated Retail Value (“ERV”) of the Grand Prize is two thousand twenty-four dollars ($2,024).  The ERV of the First Prize is six hundred fifty dollars ($650). The ERV of each Second Prize is two dollars ($2). ERV of all Prizes is three thousand six hundred seventy-four dollars ($3,674). Actual Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize may vary.  Any difference between ERV and ARV will not be awarded. For any Prize with a fair market value (“FMV”) of Six Hundred dollars ($600) or greater, Sponsors will furnish an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 to Winner for the FMV of Prize for the year in which Prize was made available to Winner.

All details of Prizes will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion.  Sponsors reserve the right to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with a similar prize (or prize element) of comparable or greater value. All taxes and other expenses, costs, or fees associated with the acceptance and/or use of Prizes are the sole responsibility of Winners. Prizes cannot be transferred by Winners or redeemed for cash and are valid only for the items detailed above, with no substitution of Prizes by Winners. If a Prize is unclaimed within a reasonable time after notification from Sponsors, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, it will be forfeited, and time permitting, an alternate Winner may be selected from the remaining eligible Entries at Sponsors’ sole discretion. 

First Prize Winner must be able to attend Event on August 13, 2024 or First Prize will be forfeited. Sponsors shall have no responsibility or liability for cancellations, delays, or any other change by any company or person providing any element of First Prize due to reasons beyond Sponsors’ control and are not responsible or liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence thereof. Date and/or time of Event is subject to change. Event is subject to cancellation. First Prize Winner and/or Guest, if any, must comply with all applicable venue rules and regulations in connection with the First Prize.

All parts of the Prize are subject to availability, and subject to change or cancellation without written notice or warning. Should an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities, epidemics, pandemics and the spread of infectious diseases, including without limitation COVID-19 (as defined by the World Health Organization and any of the strains, variants or mutations thereof), and any related governmental or judicial actions, including but not limited to travel restrictions, taken in connection with, or as a response to, any such event, or any other event beyond the reasonable control of a party, whether or not existing, known, foreseen or foreseeable at the time this Contest occurs, render the redemption or fulfillment of all or a portion of the Prize delayed, hindered, adversely affected, impracticable, or impossible, Sponsors in their sole and absolute discretion, reserve the right to evaluate, make modifications to, and restructure the redemption and fulfillment processes and timelines for the Prize, or portion thereof, that Sponsors are responsible for, which may include, but is not limited to, providing additional time for redemption and/or fulfillment. Sponsors may modify and/or restructure the Prize or portions thereof to comply with government orders or guidelines and Sponsors’ health and safety requirements.  In addition, Winner and Guest should be aware of and comply with government guidelines regarding travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines before traveling. Should the Prize, or a portion thereof, become unavailable Sponsors shall make reasonable efforts to provide Winner with substitute experiences and/or items of a similar nature and value for that portion of the Prize that is unavailable. If no substitute prizing is reasonably available then the remaining components, if any, of the Prize shall constitute full satisfaction of Sponsors’ Prize obligation to Winner, and no other or additional compensation will be awarded.

Prize fulfillment and related activities will take place on a date and time designated by Sponsors and only when and in a manner that it is safe to do so, as determined in Sponsors’ sole discretion in consultation with appropriate health and safety experts. Winner and Guest, if any, must follow all instructions given by representatives of Sponsors at all times.

In connection with any visit to any location in connection with the Prize, please be advised that Sponsors’ policies, CDC guidelines, and the recommendations of health officials must be followed. Please note that any public location where people are present provides an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19, and Sponsors cannot guarantee that any person will not be exposed during a visit. 

If required, Winner and Guest, if any, must cooperate with Sponsors’ inquiries related to public health matters and follow Sponsors’ related rules and processes, including, but not limited to, disclosures or processes recommended or required by public health authorities to protect the health and safety of Winner, Guest, and others. Winner and Guest may be subject to health screenings (which may include, but are not limited to, temperature checks, symptom screening, lab testing, and/or other medical exams) to be conducted by Sponsors or their designee(s) prior to or during the fulfillment of the Prize and related activities. Failure to fully comply with Sponsors’ requests or requirements may result in forfeiture of the Prize or portions thereof, as determined in Sponsors’ discretion.

During a period starting approximately four (4) weeks before participation in activities related to the Prize and ending approximately four (4) weeks after participation in the last of such activities (such period(s) subject to change based on medical guidance, and/or policy guidance), Winner and Guest may be required to inform Sponsors, upon Sponsors’ request, about matters relating to communicable illnesses and safe fulfillment of the Prize and related activities, including, without limitation: (a) medical symptoms; (b) travel history; (c) recent contact with others who have displayed symptoms of or have otherwise been confirmed to have a communicable illness; and (d) active public health orders issued by a civil authority or any similar public health mandate (e.g., order to quarantine, order to stay at home, order to disclose communicable illness) to which Winner and/or Guest are subject.

CONDITIONS: By entering the Contest, each entrant agrees for entrant and for entrant’s heirs, executors, and administrators (a) to release and hold harmless Contest Entities,  and each of their respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or entrant’s acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of Prize or any portion thereof (including any travel related thereto); (b) to indemnify Released Parties from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Contest and to hereby acknowledge that Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to Prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by prize supplier that are sent along with Prize; (c) if selected as a Winner, to the posting of such entrant’s name on the Website and the use by Released Parties of such name, voice, image, and/or likeness for publicity, promotional, and advertising purposes in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval, and, upon request, to the giving of consent, in writing, to such use; and (d) to be bound by these Official Rules and to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error therein or in the Contest itself, and to be bound by all decisions of the Sponsors, which are binding and final.Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disqualification from the Contest at Sponsors’ sole discretion.

ADDITIONAL TERMS: Sponsors reserve the right to permanently disqualify from any promotion any person it believes has intentionally violated these Official Rules.  Any attempt to deliberately damage the Contest or the operation thereof is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsors, who may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The failure of Sponsors to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities outside of the control of Sponsors (except compliance with applicable codes and regulations), or other “force majeure” event will not be considered a breach of these Official Rules. Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants’ or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with the Contest. Released Parties are not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; for inaccurate transcription of Entry information; for errors in any promotional or marketing materials or in these Official Rules; for any human or electronic error; or for Entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, late, damaged, or returned. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Contest or any element thereof (including, without limitation, these Official Rules) without notice in any manner and for any reason (including, without limitation, in the event of any unanticipated occurrence that is not fully addressed in these Official Rules).  In the event of cancellation, modification, or suspension, Sponsors reserve the right to select Winners in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to the time of the event warranting such cancellation, modification, or suspension.  Notice of such cancellation, modification, or suspension will be posted on the Website.  Sponsors may prohibit any entrant or potential entrant from participating in the Contest, if such entrant or potential entrant shows a disregard for these Official Rules; acts with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant, Sponsors, or Sponsors’ agents or representatives; or behaves in any other disruptive manner (as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion).  Sponsors reserve the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.

DISPUTES: The Contest is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, and the forum and venue for any dispute shall be in New Yok, New York. If THE controversy or claim is not otherwise resolved through direct discussions or mediation, it shall THEN be resolved by FINAL AND binding arbitration administered by JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., in accordance with its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures or subsequent versions thereof (“JAMS Rules”).  The JAMS Rules for selection of an arbitrator shall be followed, except that the arbitrator shall be experienced and licensed to practice law in New York. All proceedings brought pursuant to this paragraph will be conducted in the County of New York, New York. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT: For the names of the Winners, available after January 15, 2024, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by March 11, 2024 to: A Very Chicago New Year’s Trivia Contest, NBC Tower, Floor 5, 545 N Columbus Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, Attn: Matt Knutson.

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Sydney and Auckland are the first major cities to ring in 2024 as war shadows celebrations elsewhere

Sydney and Auckland were among the world’s first major cities to ring in 2024, with revelers cheering spectacular fireworks displays that lit up the skies over Sydney Harbor and New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower.

As the clock struck midnight in Australia, tons of explosives erupted in a 12-minute display that focused on the Sydney Harbor Bridge. More than 1 million people — a number equivalent to one in five of the city’s residents — watched from the shore and from boats in the harbor.

“It’s total madness,” said German tourist Janna Thomas, who had waited in line since 7:30 a.m. to secure a prime waterfront location in the Sydney Botanic Garden. “It’s not so easy to find a good place to sit, but the view is incredible.”

In Auckland, the light rain that fell all day had cleared as forecast by midnight over the city of 1.7 million people before the countdown began on an illuminated digital display near the top of the 328-meter (1,076-foot) communications and observation tower.

The ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and heightened tensions in parts of the world, are affecting this year’s New Year’s Eve celebrations in a myriad of ways. Many cities were deploying extra security, and some places canceled New Year’s Eve events altogether.

More police than ever were deployed throughout Sydney. The waterfront has been the scene of heated pro-Palestinian protests after the sails of the Sydney Opera House were illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas that triggered the war.

At the Vatican, Pope Francis recalled 2023 as a year marked by wartime suffering. During his traditional Sunday blessing from a window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, he offered prayers for “the tormented Ukrainian people and the Palestinian and Israeli populations, the Sudanese people and many others.”

“At the end of the year, we will have the courage to ask ourselves how many human lives have been shattered by armed conflict, how many dead and how much destruction, how much suffering, how much poverty,” the pontiff said. “Whoever has interest in these conflicts, listen to the voice of conscience.”

In Japan, temple bells rang out across the nation as people gathered at shrines and temples to welcome in the new year. At the Tsukiji Temple in Tokyo, visitors were given free hot milk and corn soup as they stood in line to strike a big bell, and a pipe-organ concert was held before a majestic altar.

In New York City, officials and party organizers said they were prepared to ensure the safety of tens of thousands of revelers expected to flood Times Square in the heart of midtown Manhattan.

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What is Watch Night? The New Year's Eve tradition that dates back to the Civil War, explained

Mayor Eric Adams said there were “no specific threats” to the annual New Year’s Eve bash, which was set to feature live performances from Flo Rida, Megan Thee Stallion and LL Cool J, as well as televised appearances from Cardi B and others. Organizers said in-person attendance was expected to return to pre-COVID levels, even as foot traffic around Times Square remains down slightly since the pandemic.

Amid near-daily protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, New York City police said they would expand the security perimeter around the party, creating a “buffer zone” that would allow them to head off potential demonstrations.

Officials also planned to monitor any protests with drones, the mayor said.

“We will be out here with our canines, on horseback, our helicopters, our boats,” Adams said. “But as we saw last year, after having no specific threats, we get a threat.”

During last year’s New Year’s Eve party, a machete-wielding man attacked three police officers a few blocks from Times Square.

Security will also be heightened across European cities on Sunday.

In France, 90,000 law enforcement officers were set to be deployed, domestic intelligence chief Céline Berthon said Friday.

Of those, 6,000 will be in Paris, where French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said over 1.5 million people are expected to attend celebrations on the Champs-Elysees.

Darmanin cited a “very high terrorist threat” partly because of the Israel-Hamas war. Police for the first time will be able to use drones as part of security work, he said, and tens of thousands of firefighters and 5,000 soldiers would also be deployed.

New Year’s Eve celebrations in the French capital will center on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, including DJ sets, fireworks and video projections on the Arc de Triomphe, highlighting “changes in the city and faces of the Games,” according to the press service of the City of Paris. Other planned events include “the largest Mexican wave ever performed” and a “giant karaoke.”

The security challenge ahead of the Olympics was highlighted when a tourist was killed in a knife attack near the Eiffel Tower on Dec. 2. Large-scale attacks — such as that at the Bataclan in 2015, when Islamic extremists invaded the music hall and shot up cafe terraces, killing 130 people — also loom large.

In Berlin, some 4,500 police officers are expected to keep order and avoid riots like a year ago. Police in the German capital issued a ban on the traditional use of fire crackers for several streets across the city. They also banned a pro-Palestinian protest in the Neukoelln neighborhood of the city, which has seen several pro-Palestinian riots since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas.

In Russia, the country’s military actions in Ukraine have overshadowed end-of-year celebrations, with the usual fireworks and concert on Moscow’s Red Square canceled, as last year.

After shelling in the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod Saturday killed 24 people, some local authorities across Russia also canceled their usual firework displays, including in Vladivostok. Millions throughout Russia are expected to tune into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s address.

In Muslim-majority Pakistan, the government has banned all New Year’s Eve celebrations as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In an overnight televised message, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar urged Pakistanis to “show solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza” by beginning the new year with simplicity.

Kakar said Muslims across the world were saddened over Israel’s attacks on Gaza that resulted in the killings of thousands of innocent people.

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What is Watch Night? The New Year's Eve tradition that dates back to the Civil War, explained

The tradition of Watch Night services in the United States dates back to Dec. 31, 1862, when many Black Americans gathered in churches and other venues, waiting for President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Emancipation Proclamation into law, and thus free those still enslaved in the Confederacy.

It’s still being observed each New Year’s Eve, at many multiracial and predominantly Black churches across the country.

As the Civil War raged on, Lincoln issued an executive order on Sept. 22, 1862, declaring that enslaved people in the rebellious Confederate states were legally free. However, this decree — the Emancipation Proclamation — would not take effect until the stroke of midnight heralding the new year.

Those gathering on the first Watch Night included many African Americans who were still legally enslaved as they assembled, sometimes in secrecy.

“At the time, enslaved Black people could find little respite from ever-present surveillance, even in practicing their faith,” explains the National Museum of African American History and Culture. “White enslavers feared that religion, which was often used to quell slave resistance, could incite the exact opposite if practiced without observance.”

Over its 160-year history, Watch Night has evolved into an annual New Year’s Eve tradition — it not only commemorates freedom from slavery, but also celebrates the importance of faith, community and perseverance.

This description from the African American museum offers some details:

“Many congregants across the nation bow in prayer minutes before the midnight hour as they sing out “Watchman, watchman, please tell me the hour of the night.’ In return the minister replies “It is three minutes to midnight’; ‘it is one minute before the new year’; and ‘it is now midnight, freedom has come.’”

The museum notes that the Watch Night worship services were traditionally followed by a “fortuitous meal” on New Year’s Day, often featuring a dish called Hoppin’ John.

“Traditionally, Hoppin’ John consists of black-eyed peas, rice, red peppers, and salt pork, and it is believed to bring good fortune to those who eat it,” the museum says. “Some other common dishes include: candied yams, cornbread, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese.”

Some of this year’s services will be conducted virtually, without in-person attendance. Beulah Baptist Church in Philadelphia and First Congregational Church in Atlanta are among those choosing this option.

Among the many churches offering in-person services are Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Reid Temple AME Church in Glenn Dale, Maryland; and Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey.

In Salem, North Carolina, the Rev. William Barber II, a prominent anti-poverty and social-justice activist, will be leading an interfaith Watch Night service at Union Baptist Church along with its senior pastor, Sir Walter Mack. The event is billed as a “service of lament, hope and call to action.”

___

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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Driver charged with OWI after fatally striking pedestrian on Indiana Toll Road in Hammond, police say

A Northwest Indiana man was arrested on Friday afternoon after striking and killing a pedestrian whose vehicle had been involved in an earlier crash on the Indiana Toll Road, state police said.

At around 4:45 p.m., troopers with the Indiana State Police were called to the 0.9 mile marker of Interstate 90 eastbound near the WestPoint Toll Plaza. According to authorities, a gray Nissan SUV possibly hydroplaned and struck the concrete barrier dividing the eastbound and westbound lanes.

A man driving a white Lexus saw the initial crash and pulled over to assist the driver of the Nissan, who asked that he call 911. While he was on the phone with dispatchers, the driver of the Nissan exited her vehicle and began to walk across the interstate toward the Lexus, at which point she was struck by a Ford F-250 pickup truck.

State police said the pickup was traveling eastbound approaching the crash scene, when the driver made a sudden lane change to avoid striking the crashed Nissan. In doing so, he struck the driver of the Nissan, who was outside the vehicle. The woman, who hasn’t been identified, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

After hitting the pedestrian, the pickup struck the Lexus that had pulled over to assist with the initial crash. Two passengers in the Lexus were treated for non-life threatening injuries, police stated. The driver wasn’t injured.

State troopers noticed the driver of the pickup was exhibiting signs of impairment, which prompted them to begin an OWI investigation. The driver, identified as Scott Schuch, 55, of Porter, Indiana, agreed to a blood draw, which was completed at an area hospital.

He was booked into the Lake County Jail on preliminary charges of operating while intoxicated causing death, a Level 5 felony, operating while intoxicated endangering, a Class A misdemeanor, reckless driving causing serious bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor and operating while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor.

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6-month-old girl struggling to breathe dies after hit-and-run on way to hospital on South Side

A 6-month-old girl who was having breathing trouble died Saturday night after a hit-and-run crash in Woodlawn on the South Side.

About 9:45 p.m., the girl’s parents were rushing her to a hospital for breathing difficulties when a Chevy SUV ran a red light and struck their Ford in the 6300 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago police said.

The girl was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital where she died, police said. It was unknown whether her death was related to crash.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified her as Josette Williams. An autopsy was expected Saturday.

A man and woman were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with injuries not considered life-threatening, officials said.

Two people from the Chevy fled on foot and weren’t in custody.

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From cloudy skies to periodic snowfall, here's what to expect around Chicago on New Year's Eve

Plans for New Year’s Eve are in their final stages as Chicago-area residents prepare to ring in 2024, yet the conditions outside can always throw a wrench in plans.

Luckily for those around Chicago, the extremes are going to spare the region, with no major snowstorm or bitter cold affecting the area this year.

Despite the lack of extremes, the unseasonably warm temperatures that graced the area on Christmas Eve and Christmas will not be around for the new year.

Chillier temperatures will continue to move into the area, with highs on New Year’s Eve likely not climbing too far above freezing.

Sunday will feature cloud cover throughout the day, with periodic snow showers light snow expected. Minor accumulations could create some slick spots on the roadways, but no major snowfall event is anticipated.

Lows on Sunday will fall into the 20s, with wind chill values in parts of the area potentially dropping into the teens.

New Year’s Day will feature similar conditions without the snow, with highs slightly above freezing alongside partly cloudy skies and lows in the upper 20s.

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Here's what you should do if you win the $760 million Powerball jackpot

• The Powerball jackpot has ballooned to an estimated $760 million, the sixth-largest prize in the game’s history.
• There are two payout options for the winner: annuitized payments worth $760 million or a lump sum valued at $383.6 million.
• The next Powerball drawing is on Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.

The Powerball jackpot has ballooned to an estimated $760 million — the sixth-largest prize in the game’s history — and experts have tips on what the lucky winner should do first.

If you score the winning ticket, you’ll pick between one of two payouts: annual payments worth $760 million or a lump sum valued at $383.6 million, according to Powerball. Both options are pretax estimates.

The next Powerball drawing is Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET, and the odds of winning the jackpot are roughly 1 in 292 million.

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Whether you choose the lump sum or annuity payments, you’ll be saddled with a hefty tax bill, including an upfront 24% federal tax withholding. But you’ll quickly reach the 37% federal income tax bracket, and the final bill will likely be millions more. (You may also owe state taxes on lottery winnings.)

Assemble a team of financial experts

Typically, lottery winners “don’t have the knowledge base to handle this large sum of money,” said Andrew Stoltmann, a Chicago-based lawyer who has represented several lottery winners. “It’s very similar to what we see with our professional athlete clients.”

That’s why it’s critical to find the right team of experts, including a financial advisor, accountant and attorney, he said.

The winner also needs to prepare for the “estate tax consequences” of the multi-million dollar windfall, according to Warren Racusin, a wealth planning attorney and partner at Lowenstein Sandler.

For 2024, the federal estate tax exemptions are $13.61 million per individual or $27.22 million for married couples. But without changes from Congress, those limits will drop by roughly one-half in 2026 when provisions sunset from the Republicans’ signature 2017 tax overhaul.

“There are a variety of estate planning ideas and techniques that you can use to save on estate taxes and benefit your family,” Racusin said.

Saturday’s Powerball drawing comes roughly two and a half months since a single ticket sold in California won the game’s $1.765 billion jackpot. Meanwhile, the Mega Millions jackpot is back down to $92 million and the odds of winning that prize are roughly 1 in 302 million.

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Boeing urges inspections of 737 Max planes for ‘possible loose bolt'

• Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max planes to look for a “possible loose bolt” in the rudder control system.
• It’s the latest quality issue to affect the company’s best-selling jetliner.
• The inspections will take about two hours per plane, and all new 737 Maxes will undergo the check before they’re handed over to customers.

Boeing is urging airlines to inspect 737 Max planes to look for a “possible loose bolt” in the rudder control system, the latest quality issue to affect the manufacturer’s bestselling jetliner.

The company recommended the inspections after “an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Thursday. “The company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.”

The inspections will take about two hours per plane, and all new 737 Maxes will undergo the check before they’re handed over to customers, Boeing said.

“The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied,” Boeing said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 MAX airplanes and inform us of any findings.

Shares of Boeing were down more than 1% in afternoon trading.

Alaska Airlines plans to start the inspections on Thursday. A spokeswoman said the carrier anticipates completing them in the first half of January. “We don’t expect any operational impact as a result,” she said.

A spokeswoman for United Airlines, one of the biggest 737 Max customers, said the carrier doesn’t expect any impact to its operations as a result of the issue.

American Airlines said in a statement that it will complete the inspections and that it also doesn’t anticipate its operations to be impacted by them.

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Key provision of Illinois' assault weapons ban goes into effect Jan. 1

A key provision of Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and other specific attachments will go into effect on New Year’s Day.

That provision requires individuals who “owned assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and other devices” listed in HB 5471 to register those devices prior to Jan. 1, 2024.

Those devices must have been owned prior to Jan. 10, 2023, when the bill went into effect upon its signature by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Owners are required to submit an endorsement affidavit through their FOID card by Jan. 1 under the provisions of the bill.  

Individuals can do so by creating an account, a process that will require an email address, a state-issued ID and a FOID card to complete, according to Illinois State Police.  

HB 5471 bans the delivery, sale and purchase of assault weapons in the state, impacting dozens of specific types of firearms. It also bans specific attachments, extended magazines and rapid-firing devices.

Those who currently own the weapons are required to register them with the Illinois State Police. Merchants were required to sell or return their current stock of the weapons, and Illinois-based manufacturers can still sell their products outside of the state.

A series of court cases were undertaken about the bill, including a recent ruling that declined to stay the registration requirement ahead of the new year.

Opponents of the bill were dealt defeats in state and federal court, and the law has been allowed to stand since its passage.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to stay the law when it came before that body earlier this year.

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Powerball jackpot hits $700 million, 9th largest ever, ahead of Wednesday night drawing

The Powerball jackpot has risen to $700 million — making it the ninth-largest ever for the Powerball – ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing.

The prize is now $700 million for the drawing on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 — but that’s only for winners who choose to take their riches through an annuity, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for cash, which is currently estimated at $352.3 million, before taxes.

This is the fourth Powerball jackpot to exceed half a billion dollars this calendar year. The Powerball jackpot was previously won on Oct. 11 when a ticket in California won a $1.765 billion grand prize. That winner has yet to come forward.

Since then, there have been 33 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner. The winless streak is due to the abysmal odds of winning: one in 292.2 million.

The jackpot rose to $685 million on Monday after there were no winners for the Christmas Day drawing — and that number rose again Wednesday due to "strong ticket sales," according to lottery officials. Historically, there have been only three Powerball jackpots won on Christmas: The last time was ten years ago, on Dec. 25, 2013, when a ticket in Missouri won the $71.5 million jackpot.

The largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history stands at $2.04 billion and was won by a single Powerball ticket in California on Nov. 7, 2022. The winner, Edwin Castro, came forward earlier this year after months of speculation.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

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Illinois' Paid Leave for All Workers Act takes effect Jan. 1. Here's how it will work

Under a new law in 2024, nearly all workers in the state of Illinois will officially be guaranteed at least one week of paid leave, but how exactly will it work?

The bill will take effect on Jan. 1, but not everyone will experience the newly allotted vacation days right away.

“Illinois is the most pro-worker state in the nation, and the Paid Leave for All Workers Act is a prime example of those values translating into action,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a statement Wednesday. “Starting Jan. 1, I couldn’t be prouder that Illinois is officially becoming the first state in the Midwest to mandate paid leave for any reason.”

Here’s a breakdown:

How many hours of paid leave can workers get?

As part of the Paid Leave for All Workers Act, nearly all Illinois employees will be eligible for a minimum of 40 hours of paid leave per year. Employers can offer more if they choose to do so.

Workers will accrue one hour of leave for every 40 hours worked.

When can workers start using their time?

Employees can start using the time once they have worked for 90 days, the legislation says. That means that starting on March 31, 2024, or 90 days after they begin their employment, workers can begin using their earned time off for any reason without the requirement of providing documentation to their employer, according to the Illinois Department of Labor.

What can the paid leave be used for?

Unlike similar bills in other states, the expansive paid leave legislation requires Illinois employers to give workers time off based on hours worked, to be used for any reason — not just for health reasons.

“If the use of leave is unforeseeable, an employee is directed to provide notice as soon as practicable,” a release from the Illinois Senate Democrats states.

What if all of the hours aren’t used?

The legislation also says that unused paid leave must carry over annually, up to 40 hours, but that “employers are not required to cash out the balance of an outgoing employee’s paid leave,” the release continues.

“Employers that violate the act would be subject to penalties, including fines and compensatory damages for the affected employee,” the bill says.

Who will be eligible for paid leave?

Seasonal workers, such as lifeguards, will be exempt, as will federal employees or college students who work non-full-time, temporary jobs for their university.

• READ: Here are 64 new Illinois laws hitting the books in 2024

How will workers be paid?

Workers will be paid their full wage while on leave and tipped workers will be paid the minimum wage in their respective locale. An employer cannot require an employee to find their replacement for the leave.

What about Chicago and Cook County?

Ordinances in Cook County and Chicago already require employers to offer paid sick leave, and workers in those locations will continue to be covered by the existing laws rather than the new bill.

The Chicago and Cook County ordinances served as pilot programs for the statewide legislation, and assuaged critics who predicted mass business closures that didn’t come to fruition, said Sarah Labadie, director of advocacy and policy at Women Employed, a nonprofit that has fought for paid leave since 2008 and helped push through the legislation.

But both have been the subject of some changes in recent weeks.

Chicago

In Chicago this week, City Council passed a “trailer ordinance” amending its paid time off rules to “provide additional implementation time and flexibility for employers.”

Chicago’s ordinance already mandates that all Chicago businesses provide paid sick leave to employees and any employee who works at least 80 hours for an employer in Chicago within any 120-day period is covered. Under the ordinance, for every 40 hours worked, an employee accrues one hour of paid sick leave, up to 40 hours.

But City Council in November passed what it described as “the most progressive paid time off legislation at the municipal level in the United States.” The legislation guarantees up to five days of paid time off and five days of sick for all workers.

A trailer ordinance, however, passed this week, pushing the effective date of the new rules to July 1, 2024, “, giving employers an additional six months to understand, prepare for, and implement the new law.”

“I am proud to have worked with employers and workers’ rights organizations to craft a compromise deal that delivers the most progressive paid leave policy in the nation, and today’s trailer ordinance will ensure that employers have sufficient time to understand and comply with the law,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement. “Workers should have the basic dignity of time off to care for themselves and their families. This law will strengthen our workforce, our businesses, and our entire economy while providing the flexibility our employers need to implement by a change of this magnitude. I applaud the City Council for continuing to engage on this issue to address these outstanding concerns.”

Cook County

Similarly, in Cook County, changes were passed this week surrounding the suburban county’s paid leave ordinance.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners passed what it described as “significant amendments,” which take effect on Dec. 31.

At that time, the county’s ordinance will ensure employees:

• Earn at least one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked for your employer in Cook County; and 
• Can use paid leave for any reason of the employee’s choosing. 

“This represents a significant shift, as the Earned Sick Leave Ordinance previously outlined conditions during which earned sick leave could be used (e.g., when you or a family member are ill, receiving medical care, etc.),” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s office said. “Paid leave, by contrast, can be used for any reason, providing more flexibility to employees in Cook County to take time off.”

The county changes help to align more with the state.

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New laws in Illinois for 2024: What to know

As we get closer to 2024, ringing in the new year will bring plenty of change– including legal changes as hundreds of new laws take effect in Illinois.

According to a search of the Illinois General Assembly’s website, at least 318 laws have an effective date of Jan. 1.

• For list of the top 64 laws to know starting in the new year, click here.

Here’s a look at what residents need to know before the clock strikes midnight on the new year:

Laws that impact motorists, commuters

2389: No vehicle shall be stopped or searched by law enforcement solely because of a violation of driving with any object placed or suspended between the driver and front windshield, rear windshield, side wings, or side windows.

HB 2431: Videoconferencing while driving will now be prohibited.

HB 2582: Motorcycle licenses will no longer be offered to residents under the age of 18, with specific exceptions.

HB 3876: Residents of Illinois who buy vehicles in another state must apply for registration and certificate of title no less than 45 days after the purchase of the vehicle.

SB 0896: Auxiliary lighting on motorcycles may not emit blue lights. Auxiliary lights may only emit red light if they are actively braking.

SB 1251: Operators of ambulances or other rescue vehicles must have specified training in the operation of that vehicle. In municipalities with population of under one million residents, sirens and lamps must be in operation at all times when pedestrians and other drivers are present, and when that vehicle has been called to a bona fide emergency or has been directed to disregard traffic laws in the operation of the vehicle. The ambulance must also slow down at red lights to achieve safe operation.

SB 1526: The Department of Transportation must develop a mobile app that provides motorists with updated travel conditions.

SB 1653: The Department of Transportation and local authorities must institute a pilot program to erect and maintain hazard bars, or visual signs and additional signage, for all viaducts and underpasses with a clearance of less than 15 feet. Hazard bars must hang at the same clearance level as the viaduct or underpass, and be located at least 500 feet in front of them.

SB 2028: Requires best practices on stranded motorists to be included in Illinois Rules of the Road publications.

HB 1342: A massive transit bill, the law will explore expanded reduced-fare service, require transit agencies to purchase emission-free buses, and will provide free transit to victims of domestic violence.  

HB 2068: All employers with 50 or more employees, and that are located within one mile of regularly scheduled transit service, will be required to allow eligible employees to exclude public transit costs from their taxable wages.

SB 1892: Public transit benefits provided to a person with a disability by the Regional Transportation Authority shall automatically renew unless it is discontinued by that individual. The individual will need to submit proof of Illinois residency.

SB 0040: New single-family homes and newly constructed or renovated multi-unit residential buildings that have parking spaces must provide at least one electric vehicle-capable parking space for each residential unit. The law does not require developers or builders to install or run wire or cable for such charging stations, but requires them to construct buildings in a such a way as to allow for the installation of charging stations.

SB 1438: The Illinois Dig Once Act will examine ways to reduce the scale and number of repeated excavations related to roads, highways, tollways and expressways for the installation and maintenance of broadband infrastructure.

HB 0042: The IDPH may issue decals for autism awareness license plate decals.

HB 1581: Special registration plates may be issued to United States submarine veterans.

HB 1865: Vehicles owned or operated by private or public university and college police departments may purchase permanent registration plates for $8.

HB 2584: Allows the issuance of Lyme disease research vehicle decals by the Department of Natural Resources. $10 of each issuance and $23 of each renewal will go to the Tick Research, Education and Evaluation Fund, which will be paid as grants to the Illinois Lyme Association.

HB 3436: “Thank a Line Worker” license plate decals will be available. $10 of each original issuance and $23 of each renewal shall be deposited into the “Thank a Line Worker Scholarship Fund.”

Health care changes

HB 2077: Healthcare providers will be required to send prescriptions electronically for specific controlled substances. The bill also allows patients to obtain medical records from dentists who are closing their practices, among other changes.

HB 3203: Pharmacists may sell fentanyl test stripes over the counter. Test strips may also be distributed by county health departments.

HB 3957: Manufacturers and wholesale drug distributors will be required to abstain from price gouging in the sale of essential off-patent and generic drugs.

SB 1889: When a pharmacist is not present in a pharmacy, a registered pharmacy tech, a registered certified pharmacy technician, a student pharmacist and other support staff are able to dispense prescriptions that have been verified by the pharmacist.

HB 1384: Insurance may not deny coverage for medically necessary reconstructive services that are intended to restore physical appearance.

HB 1565: Insurance must provide coverage for medically necessary vaginal estrogen, and must do so without a deductible, coinsurance, copay or any other cost-sharing that exceeds such payment amounts for treatment of erectile dysfunction.

HB 2130: The Insurance Data Security Law sets parameters for security around information obtained by insurance companies, and allows the state to take remedial action against companies that fail to comply with provisions of the law. The bill also makes changes to notification procedures in the event of a cybersecurity breach.

HB 2799: Insurance providers cannot have a higher standard of clinical evidence for the coverage of proton beam therapy than other types of radiation therapy treatments for cancer.

HB 3202: Insurance policies must cover medically necessary home saliva cancer screenings every 24 months if the patient is asymptomatic and at high risk for the disease.

HB 3955: Patients at University of Illinois Hospitals will not be unduly delayed provisions of their care, whether emergency or screening, to inquire about payment methods or insurance status.

SB 1665: Patients eligible for the Uninsured Patient Discount Act do not need to report guaranteed basic income payments as part of their eligibility check.

HB 2519: Hospitals must provide information and materials to voluntarily donate milk to nonprofit milk banks. Those materials must be provided to parents of newborn children upon discharge from the hospital.

HB 3428: Schools shall maintain a supply of opioid antagonists.

HB 3698: IDPH must establish family centers to provide counseling and mental health services to families who are indigent based on behavior or mental health conditions, as determined by IDPH rules.

HB 3809: Insurance shall provide coverage for therapy, diagnostic testing and equipment necessary to increase quality of life for children who have been clinically or genetically diagnosed with any disease, syndrome or disorder that includes low-tone neuromuscular impairment, neurological impairment, or cognitive impairment.

HB 3924: Schools shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl to students in grades 9-12.

HB 3932: Students in grades 9-through-12 shall be educated on allergen safety, including ways of recognizing symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction, and steps to take to prevent exposure to allergens, and how to safely administer epinephrine.

SB 0067: Hospitals will be reimbursed for newborn screening tests for the presence of metachromatic leukodystrophy. The genetic disorder causes fatty substances to build up, particularly in the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves, and eventually causes the brain and nervous system to lose function because the myelin, which protects those nerves, is damaged.

SB 0188: Parents who consent to the performance upon their child of a health care service are allowed to inspect and copy the child’s records, so long as it is related to the service the parent consented to.

SB 0380: Individuals can bring action against any health care provider who knowingly or intentionally uses non-approved human reproductive material without the patient’s informed written consent.

HB 2076: IDPH must adopt criteria to identify distressed nursing home facilities quarterly.

HB 2858: Any person may report information about the suspicious death of an adult to an agency affiliated with the Department on Aging. Employers will not be allowed to discriminate against any employee who makes a good faith oral or written report concerning information about the suspicious death of an eligible adult.

HB 3172: This bill eliminates a law that prevented a person from being accepted for residency in assisted living facilities if the person required sliding scale insulin administration.

SB 0069: Every hospital must adopt an influenza and pneumococcal immunization policy that includes procedures for identifying patients age 50 or older for influenza vaccination and 65 and older for pneumococcal immunization. Previously the law only applied to those 65 and older.

SB 0216: Any guardian responsible for the care of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is required to complete a one-hour course within six months of appointment, and then once yearly thereafter.

HB 2039: IDPH and DCFS shall, at the request of local health departments, make any and all public health data related to residents of that jurisdiction available for purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disability.

HB 2756: Those seeking licensing for massage therapy will be required to obtain one hour of continuing education related to domestic violence and sexual assault awareness each time they seek a new license or a renewal.

HB 3087: The Director of Agriculture may declare a temporary halt on the sale, movement or exhibition of certain types of animals to prevent the spread of disease in the state. Such declarations can be made in increments of 30 days.

HB 3849: The Department of Agriculture should encourage food manufacturers to use uniform terms to communicate quality dates and safety dates on food packaging.

SB 0836: Each manufacturer of architectural paint must submit a plan for the establishment of a postconsumer paint stewardship program.

SB 0759: Podiatrists may provide vaccinations to individuals age 18 or older after receiving proper training. That can include influenza, tetanus, and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Laws that center on education

HB 0342: The state Board of Education must develop a district-level Children’s Adversity Index to measure community childhood trauma exposure and requires teachers to provide instruction on trauma-informed practices.

HB 2392: Any teacher who is a member of a statewide association representing teachers and is elected to represent that group in federal advocacy work may spend up to 10 days in a school term representing the association in such a fashion with no deduction of wages. The association will be required to reimburse the employing school district for the cost of a substitute teacher.

HB 2503: Any person who wishes to take a course not offered by their local community college may take that course at another community college, and will be charged the price they would have been charged at their local school.

HB 2789: In order to be eligible for state grants, a public library or library system shall develop a written policy prohibiting the practice of banning books. Alternatively, libraries may adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights.

HB 3402: When hiring physical education, music or visual arts educators, school districts must prioritize the hiring of educators who hold a license and endorsement in those specific areas.

HB 3428: Schools shall maintain a supply of opioid-reversal agents.

HB 3559: A school building’s emergency and crisis response plan must include a plan for law enforcement to rapidly enter a school building in the event of an emergency.

HB 3592: In situations of alleged sexual abuse, witnesses who are under the age of 18 shall only be questioned by a hearing officer, rather than by the teacher accused of misconduct, or a representative of that teacher.

HB 3801: Retention bonuses of $4,000 per year shall be awarded to National Board-certified teachers employed in hard-to-staff schools on a first-come, first-served basis.

HB 3814: In the daily pupil attendance calculation, participation in a “Supervised Career Development Experience” shall be counted toward the calculation of clocked hours of school work per day. Parents and students will be required to obtain assignments missed because of those activities, which include events surrounding State FFA, 4-H programs and more.

HB 3822: The Board of Education must deliver a report to the General Assembly on how to incentivize dual language instruction in schools.

HB 3924: Schools shall provide instruction on the dangers of fentanyl to students in grades 9-12.

HB 3932: Students in grades 9-12 shall be educated on allergen safety, including ways of recognizing symptoms and signs of an allergic reaction, and steps to take to prevent exposure to allergens, and how to safely administer epinephrine.

SB 0099: Changes laws on how to document if a student has a disability. It also requires makes changes to how it’s determined if students are eligible for accommodations, and provides that such regulations be made easily-accessible for students.

SB 0183: An “Alternative School Bill of Rights” will take effect, by which a pupil who is offered a transfer to an alternative school in place of disciplinary action shall be provided with information by administrators. Makes other changes to placement in alternative educational facilities.

SB 1558: Models of study for credit must be made publicly-available to enable students to become direct support professionals for organizations that specialize in assistance for those with developmental disabilities.

SB 1709: The Department of Human resources shall partner with the Board of Education to provide technical assistance for the provision of mental health care during school days with the goal of increasing availability of mental health resources for students.

SB 2374: The State Board of Education shall establish a competitive grant program to support the development or enhancement of computer science programs in K-12 schools.

Laws that impact employee rights

HB 2068: All employers with 50 or more employees, and that are located within one mile of regularly-scheduled transit service, will be required to allow eligible employees to exclude public transit costs from their taxable wages.

HB 2493: All employees in Illinois will be allowed up to two weeks of unpaid leave in the event a family or household member is killed in a crime of violence.

HB 2907: No award of monetary damages shall be granted to employers in labor disputes, aside from those dedicated to damage done to an employer’s property as a result of conduct prohibited by law.

HB 3301: Independent contractors are now included in the definition of “newly hired employees” for purposes of the Unemployment Insurance Act.

HB 3396: Any person who performs an action with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding a picket or other demonstrations or protests, or who places any object in the public way for such purpose, shall be subject to a Class A misdemeanor, with a minimum fine of $500.

HB 3491: Any laborer, worker or mechanic employed by a contractor or subcontractor and is paid in a sum less than the prevailing wage rate for work performed on a project has a right to legal action for whatever difference in salary there may be.

HB 3516: Employees are permitted up to 10 days of paid leave in a 12-month period to serve as an organ donor.

HB 3733: Employers shall email or mail copies of requested records to employees. Employers with remote workers shall provide specified information by email, or conspicuously post it on their website or an intranet site.

HB 3751: Non-citizens who are legally allowed to work in the U.S. will now be eligible to become police officers.

SB 0280: Most employers in Illinois will be required to provide covered employees with at least five days of paid leave per year.

SB 2034: Workers at companies with more than 250 employees are eligible for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave if their child dies by suicide or homicide. Small employers of at least 50 people must allow for up to six weeks of unpaid leave. Leave must be completed within one year.

Laws focused on consumer protection

HB 1153: All counties with 70,000 or more inhabitants must create an office of county auditor, a reduction from 75,000 residents. The only county this will impact, according to U.S. Census data, is Vermilion county, which had a population of 72,337 as of 2020.

HB 1236: In competitive bidding situations, county boards shall take into account the bidder’s active participation in an apprenticeship program registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.

HB 1497: Car-sharing vehicles are exempt from the Automobile Renting Occupation and Use Tax if the tax was paid upon the purchase of the vehicle.

HB 1541: If gas or electricity is used as the only source of space cooling, then a utility may not terminate service on any day where the forecast includes temperatures of 90 degrees or warmer, or any day preceding a holiday or weekend when the NWS forecast includes temperatures of 90 degrees or above.

HB 1628: No landlord shall require a tenant to pay any amount by means of electronic funds transfer, including those that automatically debit funds on a recurring basis.

HB 2094: All marketing materials from mortgage companies not connected to a homeowner’s mortgage company must comply with specified requirements, so as not to mislead consumers.

HB 2123: The “Digital Forgeries Act” holds that individuals have rights to legal recourse if they are the target of “deep fakes,” or digitally-altered sexual images.

HB 2214: The Department of Human Services will be required to monitor the frequency with which SNAP benefits are stolen via card skimming, card cloning or other similar fraudulent methods, and submit a report on those thefts to the State’s Attorney.

HB 2217: Tenants must be provided a “Radon Guide for Tenants” pamphlet before agreeing to a lease. The tenant then has 90 days to conduct radon tests of the dwelling unit, and to have the permission of the property owner before taking radon mitigation steps. Leases can also be terminated in specific instances.

HB 2245: Cook County (or any county that exceeds three million residents) will be required to establish a vehicle theft hotline to facilitate the location of stolen vehicles.

HB 2269: All estate-planning documents must be able to be prepared electronically. Previously, only wills were included.

HB 2325: The bill provides that each full-service location at which residential mortgage licensee conducts any part of their business must be recorded with the state. Licensees may allow mortgage loan originators to work remotely if specified conditions are met.

HB 2500: Animal control facilities may not charge an adoption fee for dogs or cats if the person presents a valid ID or Illinois Person with a disability card with the word “veteran” printed on its face.

HB 2562: Owners or properties dedicated to residents age 55 and older must provide a common area whose temperature is maintained between 67 and 73 degrees. Properties without building-wide cooling and heating systems must provide a common gathering space where a cooling system operates when the heat index exceeds 80 degrees.

HB 3087: The Director of Agriculture may declare a temporary halt on the sale, movement or exhibition of certain types of animals to prevent the spread of disease in the state. Such declarations can be made in increments of 30 days.

HB 3097: The Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board may establish a schedule of fees for inspection and permit fees, and also makes changes in provisions of insurance, penalties and other safety concerns about amusement rides.

HB 3236: Contracts, transactions and agreements that extend credit to a consumer to purchase a dog or cat will no longer be permitted.  

Hb 3363: DCFS will be required to establish and maintain a database on the safety of consumer products or substances regulated by the department that is publicly available, searchable, and accessible through the internet. It also expands the definition of “children’s product” to products designed to be used by children age 12 and younger.

HB 3707: The Commerce Commission shall publish all consumer complaints against any towing company on its website.

HB 3808: Streaming services are not required to pay ‘franchise fees’ to local governments for utility lines owned, operated and paid for by cable companies. The change was instituted to prevent consumers from being charged franchise fees for streaming services.

SB 0800: If a repossession agency believes a vehicle that serves as collateral collects or stores personal information, they must clear, erase, delete or otherwise eliminate the personal information collected by the vehicle.

SB 0328: Any person or company that sells products or services that include automatic renewal must disclose the renewal terms clearly and conspicuously before the agreement is signed. They also may not charge credit or debit cards or payment mechanisms without first obtaining the consumer’s consent to the renewal offer terms. They must also make it clear how to cancel the automatic renewal before an agreement can be signed.

SB 0850: The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may designate an area as a food desert even if it doesn’t meet the qualifications set forth in the original Grocery Initiative Act. To do so, the government must use data that includes poverty metrics and access to existing grocery stores, among others.

SB 1440: It is unlawful to knowingly mail or send a postcard or letter if the correspondence does not disclose or disclaim any and all affiliations. Those disclosures must be made in unambiguous language, and must be printed in at least 14-point bold-face font in a black-outlined box.

SB 1463 – Fees and fines can no longer be assessed in Illinois to individuals under the age of 18, except for traffic tickets, boating or fishing violations, or municipal ordinance violations.

SB 1705: A series of tax exemptions will be given to active duty members of the U.S. armed forces, provided they purchase the property using a form of payment were the federal government is the payor.

SB 1741: Property owners with five or more residential units must furnish an itemized statement of damage allegedly caused to leased units within 30 days of a tenant’s departure if a security deposit is being withheld in part or in full.

SB 1817: It is a civil rights violation to refuse to engage in real estate transactions because of immigration status. Specific wording for the law allows for inquiries into immigration status if required by federal law.

SB 1896 – New and used licensed motor vehicle dealers will be allowed to conduct sales activities via the internet, and will be permitted to deliver vehicles to residences or other suitable locations.

Eyebrow-raising new laws

While it was already illegal to text and to talk on the phone without a hands-free device, HB 2431 will also prohibit you from having your camera on during videoconferences on Zoom and similar apps.

Drivers can still use the apps on hands-free mode, but will need to be able to turn them off with the touch of a single button, according to the legislation.

Speaking of driving, police will no longer be able to stop or search a vehicle solely on the basis of having an object, such as fuzzy dice, suspended between the driver and the front windshield, rear windshield, side wings, or side windows.

Motorcycles will also be impacted by SB 0896, as riders will no longer be allowed to use auxiliary accent lights that emit blue light. Such lights will also be prohibited from emitting red light in circumstances outside of doing so when the vehicle is being stopped.

Motorcycles will be allowed to equip forward-facing electric turn signals near the handlebars or the front fork assembly, but the lights must be white or amber in color.

Residents of Illinois communities with covered bridges, or other forms of low-clearance tunnels, will be happy to know the state is exploring a pilot program to explore better warning signage and other items to help prevent collisions.

SB 1653 will institute the program to erect and maintain hazard bars or additional signage on viaducts and underpasses with a clearance of less than 15 feet.

Hazard bars under that legislation must hang at the same clearance level as the viaduct or underpass itself, and must be located at least 500 feet in front of the area where the vehicle will go underneath.

One final law will apply to the display and encounters of specific animals. SB 1883 will make it unlawful for any person to allow any member of the public to come into direct contact with a bear, or a “non-human primate,” according to the terms of the law.

The law requires barriers of sufficient vertical height to be designed to prevent such contact, and violations will be considered Class B misdemeanors.

from NBC Chicago https://ift.tt/wgaCOGE