New bill would prevent police from searching a car over the smell of marijuana

Illinois is about to get a whole lot cooler.

There is currently a bill going through the Illinois Capitol that would prevent police from searching someone’s car based on the smell of marijuana. However, an officer would be given enough reason to search the vehicle if they see that the person behind the wheel is intoxicated, or if smoke is coming out of the car.

While law enforcement worries about public safety concerns that could arise over this, it has passed the Senate and is on its way to the house.

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Justin paid his taxes and now 4 Chicago libraries are staffing a therapist that anyone can talk to for free

The city has started a new program to reduce the stigma surrounding therapy. Instead of going to a clinic for mental help, people can now talk to a therapist in select Chicago Public Libraries. This pilot program is a partnership between Chicago Public Libraries and health department.

The services are free for anyone over the age of 13.

The pilot program is held at four libraries Edgewater, Blackstone, Mt. Greenwood and Beverly.

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The Weekend Q101

Friday:

Cubs host the Rangers (Friday-Sunday): The Cubs host their second weekend home series of the year as they take on the Texas Rangers this weekend.

‘The 85 Shop: Sneaker heads, rejoice. The folks at eBay are celebrating the release of the new film ‘Air’ with a pop-up store in the West Loop at 1045 W Fulton Market. The ’85 Shop will honor the birth of the Air Jordan 1 and its rise during the 1980s. You can check out a complete collection of Air Jordan 1s in every colorway and a never-before-released Air Jordan 1 sample, alongside other iconic sneakers of the era like the Puma Clyde and Adidas Forum.

Jo Koy at the United Center: Comedian Jo Koy heads to the United Center on Friday as a part of his World Tour. Koy recently starred in the Universal Picture film Easter Sunday, set around a family gathering to celebrate Easter Sunday, the comedy is based on Jo Koy’s life experiences and stand-up comedy. Limited tickets are available here.

Static-X at House of Blues: Nu-metal legends Static-X headline a raucous night at House of Blues on Friday evening. Tickets can be found here.

Saturday: 

Chicago Fire host the Minnesota United: The Fire take on the surging Minnesota United at Soldier Field at 7:30 on Saturday evening.

Bunny Rock 10k, 5k, and Kids Egg Dash in Grant Park: 9:00AM at Arvey Field (Grant Park), the Bunny Rock Chicago 10K, 5K, and Kid’s Egg Dash takes over the city. This mixes the pain of running long distances with the fun of 80’s music. More info can be found here.

Spring Egg-stravaganza: The Lincoln Park Zoo holds their annual Easter festivities on Saturday morning with egg hunts for all ages, photos with the Easter Bunny, and plenty of outdoor games and activities. Additional information can be viewed on the Lincoln Park Zoo website.

Easter at The Forge: The Lemont-based adventure park is hosting a fun day of Easter activities on Saturday. An itinerary can be found here.

Adult Easter Egg Hunt Bar Hop in Wrigleyville: Unleash your inner-beast at an adult-oriented Easter bar crawl in Wrigleyville. Details on admission can be found here.

Sunday: 

Lil Wayne at Radius: Lil Wayne heads to Chicago for a rare non-festival gig on Sunday night at Chinatown’s Radius. This marks the first time Weezy has performed in Chicago since the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.

Bulls close out the regular season at home vs. the Pistons: The Bulls regular season comes to an end against the Pistons on Sunday. The Bulls clinched a play-in spot earlier this week, despite constantly losing.

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A couple won a baby at a Brewers game

A 50/50 raffle at a Brewers game had dramatic ramifications.

Erin and Cassie Murphy had spent over a year trying to go through fertility treatments and were over $20,000 deep into the process. In April 2022, the couple went to a Brewers game and put down some cash on the team’s 50/50 raffle. The rest is history.

@sarahmcgrewnews

This family’s story knocks it out if the park! A #milwaukee couple struggle struggling to get pregnant finally added a new member to their team… and they got a little help from the Brew Crew! #brewcrew #brewers #thisismycrew #fertilityjourney #mke #lgbtq #baby #newstok #news #positivenews

♬ original sound – Sarah McGrew

The couple won $18,000, then used that money on one more round of IVF.

In February, they welcomed Foster Murphy into the world.

Congratulations to the entire Murphy family, and congratulations to the Brewers for having the most impactful promotional giveaway of all-time.

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A new law aims to ban participation trophies

Three state senators in North Carolina are aiming to ban participation trophies in sports. The bill says, “Youth sports or other youth recreation activities operated under the authority of a local government shall not include awards for participants based solely on their participation in the sport or other activity. Awards provided in connection with the activity, if any, shall be based on identified performance achievements.”

People behind the bill claim that participation trophies are teaching children to be just “okay” and are no longer striving for greatness.

Are they jerks for this? The conversation lives on Facebook!

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Firefighter dies in high-rise fire, second in two days

A Chicago firefighter died Wednesday following a high-rise fire in Gold Coast. This marks the second CFD death in two days. Lt. Jan Tchoryk, 55, was making his way up the stairs to the 27th floor when he went down.

Mayor Lightfoot released a statement, saying, “Our Fire Department and our City have suffered yet another great loss with the passing of Lieutenant Jan Tchoryk, a 26-year veteran of CFD. I extend my most heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, and CFD colleagues who mourn the loss of a heroic firefighter. It is unprecedented to lose two firefighters in two days. Our first responders put their lives on the line every single day for us, & they deserve our support today & always. If you see a first responder today, thank these heroes who take an extraordinary risk to keep us safe.

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Remembering Kurt Cobain & Layne Staley

Cobain died at the height of Nirvana and grunge’s popularity in 1994, while Staley never officially left Alice In Chains (his final performance with the band was July 3, 1996) he had become a recluse and was found dead in his home in 2002.

Two grunge icons . Two important voices for the History Of Alternative. WATCH: both bands’ respective MTV Unplugged performances here.

Illinois man who dissed wife on ‘Family Feud’ now accused of brutally murdering her

Timothy Bliefnick, a resident of Quincy, Illinois, is being held without bond over the killing of his estranged wife, Rebecca “Becky” Bliefnick. Timothy Bliefnick is charged with first-degree murder and home invasion.

Timothy immediately became a prime suspect not only due to the separation between he and his now ex-wife, but because of this Family Feud clip that resurfaced after the killing.

@staytunednbc

Timothy Bliefnick, a past contestant on FamilyFeud, has been charged with killing his estranged wife. His lawyer has responded to a resurfaced clip and says her client intends to plead not guilty.

♬ original sound – staytunednbc

If convicted, Timothy Bliefnick could face life in prison.

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Travis Kelce is hosting a music festival and he’s bringing MGK, Rick Ross with him

Kansas City Chiefs tight end and burgeoning cross-over superstar Travis Kelce is doing what everyone else does when they have money to spend: he’s creating a music festival. The All-Pro player announced on Tuesday that he’ll host a festival called “Kelce Jam” during NFL Draft weekend. The inaugural event will be held April 28 at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs, Kansas.

Kelce is bringing the likes of Machine Gun Kelly, Rick Ross, and Kansas City rap legend Tech N9ne with him.

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Brandon Johnson will be the next mayor of Chicago

Brandon Johnson, a first-term Cook County board member, former teacher, and union member, defeated Paul Vallas in last night’s runoff mayoral race. Johnson finished second during the city’s initial round of mayoral voting, and last night, in a shock to many, scored the win over Vallas with 51.45% of the vote. The AP called the race at 9:30.

Johnson will take office on May 15.

For more information on Johnson and where he stands on the issues, you can check out his website.

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Chicago mourns firefighter who lost his life in house fire, days after walking his daughter down the aisle

The Chicago Fire Department lost a veteran of the force yesterday in a house fire on the South Side. Jermaine Pelt, who recently celebrated his 49th birthday, had been a member of the Chicago Fire Department since 2005. He had recently walked his oldest daughter down the aisle.

A procession escorted Pelt’s body from Christ Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office Tuesday morning as the city and the department honored his service.

Q101 extends their best wishes to the Chicago Fire Department and the Pelt family.

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Today is Portillo’s Day! Celebrate 60 years of Chicago’s finest food

Outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has declared today Portillo’s Day, as the billion-dollar franchise celebrates it’s 60th anniversary. Starting as The Dog House in Villa Park, the chain has since expanded across the country with over 70 locations in 9 states.

To celebrate, fans can enter the restaurant’s birthday sweepstakes for a chance to win free Portillo’s for a year.

They’re also throwing it back to The Dog House. For the next 10 Thursdays, The Dog House will visit the parking lot of the following establishments,

  • April 6 – Canal & Taylor (520 W. Taylor St.)
  • April 13 – Oak Lawn (4020 W. 95th St.)
  • April 20 – Bolingbrook (134 E Boughton Road)
  • April 27 – Downers Grove (1500 Butterfield Road)
  • May 4 – Naperville (1992 W. Jefferson)
  • May 11 – Glendale Heights (235 North Ave.)
  • May 18 – Elgin (1020 S. Randall Road)
  • May 25 – Crystal Lake (855 Cog Circle)
  • June 1 – Rockford (6090 State St.)
  • June 8 – Villa Park (635 1/2 North Ave.)

More information can be found on Portillo’s website.

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The Chicago Tool Library, the city’s most underrated resource, expands on the West Side

The Chicago Tool Library is a non-profit library filled with tools for home repair and gardening, sewing, cooking, camping, and so much more. Opening just a few months before the pandemic, the Library survived a challenging few years and is now thriving. The library first resided in Bridgeport, but now can be found in West Garfield Park.

The Chicago Tool Library is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. More information can be found here.

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It’s Runoff Election Day! Here’s where you can vote

The Chicago mayoral race between Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas comes to an end today in Chicago’s runoff election. Polls will be open on Tuesday, April 4, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Chicago voters are eligible to cast their ballot at any voting site in the city, regardless of where they live.

Per Fox 32, these are the voting locations,

  • Ward 1 – Goldblatt’s Building, 1615 W. Chicago Ave.
  • Ward 2 – Near North Library, 310 W. Division St.
  • Ward 3 – Dawson Technical Institute, 3901 S. State St.
  • Ward 4 – Dr. Martin Luther King Center, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
  • Ward 5 – Southside YMCA, 6330 S. Stony Island Ave.
  • Ward 6 – Whitney Young Library, 415 E. 79th St.
  • Ward 7 – Trumbull Park, 2400 E. 105th St.
  • Ward 8 – Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn Ave.
  • Ward 9 – Palmer Park, 201 E. 111th St.
  • Ward 10 – East Side Vodak Library, 3710 E. 106th St.
  • Ward 11 – McGuane Park, 2901 S. Poplar Ave.
  • Ward 12 – McKinley Park Library, 1915 W. 35th St.
  • Ward 13 – Clearing Branch Library, 6423 W. 63rd Pl.
  • Ward 14 – Archer Heights Library, 5055 S. Archer Ave.
  • Ward 15 – Gage Park, 2411 W. 55th St.
  • Ward 16 – Lindblom Park, 6054 S. Damen Ave.
  • Ward 17 – Thurgood Marshall Library, 7506 S. Racine Ave.
  • Ward 18 – Wrightwood Ashburn Library, 8530 S. Kedzie Ave.
  • Ward 19 – Mt. Greenwood Park, 3721 W. 111th St.
  • Ward 20 – Bessie Coleman Library, 731 E. 63rd St.
  • Ward 21 – West Pullman Library, 830 W. 119th St.
  • Ward 22 – Toman Library, 2708 S. Pulaski Rd.
  • Ward 23 – Hall – St Faustina Kowalska Parish, 5157 S. McVicker Ave.
  • Ward 24 – St. Agatha Catholic Parish, 3151 W. Douglas Ave.
  • Ward 25 – Rudy Lozano Library, 1805 S. Loomis St.
  • Ward 26 – Humboldt Park Library, 1605 N. Troy St.
  • Ward 27 – Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph Ave.
  • Ward 28 – Westside Learning Center, 4624 W. Madison St.
  • Ward 29 – Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave.
  • Ward 30 – Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.
  • Ward 31 – Portage Cragin Library. 5108 W. Belmont Ave.
  • Ward 32 – Bucktown-Wicker Park Library, 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave.
  • Ward 33 – American Indian Center, 3401 W. Ainsle St.
  • Ward 34 – UIC Student Center, 750 S. Halsted St.
  • Ward 35 – Northeastern IL University El Centro, 3390 N. Avondale Ave.
  • Ward 36 – West Belmont Library, 3104 N. Narrangansett Ave.
  • Ward 37 – West Chicago Library, 4856 W. Chicago Ave.
  • Ward 38 – Hiawatha Park, 8029 W. Forest Preserve Dr.
  • Ward 39 – North Park Village Admin Bldg, 5801 N. Pulaski
  • Ward 40 – Budlong Wood Library, 5630 N. Lincoln Ave.
  • Ward 41 – Roden Library, 6083 N. Northwest Hw.
  • Ward 42 – Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
  • Ward 43 – Lincoln Park Branch Library, 1150 W. Fullerton Ave.
  • Ward 44 – Merlo Library, 644 W. Belmont Ave.
  • Ward 45 – Kolping Society of Chicago, 5826 N. Elston Ave.
  • Ward 46 – Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
  • Ward 47 – Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave.
  • Ward 48 – Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway St.
  • Ward 49 – Willye B White Park, 1610 W. Howard St.
  • Ward 50 – Northtown Library, 6800 N. Western Ave.
  • Board Supersite – 191 N. Clark St.
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