Pritzker signs EO on autism data
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed an executive order restricting the unauthorized collection, storage and sharing of autism-related medical data for Illinois residents. The order comes after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan to collect medical data from people on Medicare and Medicaid, which he said will be used to study the root causes of autism spectrum disorder. Last month, Kennedy said the agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism.
George Ryan funeral today
A funeral will be held Thursday in Kankakee for the late former Illinois Gov. George Ryan. Ryan had recently been moved into hospice care before his death Friday. The Republican served as governor from 1999 to 2003. His most high-profile act as governor was to place a moratorium on the death penalty in Illinois.
Rat control program launching
Chicago consistently gets singled out as the rattiest city in the country, now a new effort is being launched by the Chicago Bird Alliance to address the problem. Teaming up with a national nonprofit organization, the advocacy group is administering rat birth control by using peanut butter in an effort to move away from rat poison. Officials said the approach will also prevent rat poison from harming other animals, especially birds.
