Illinois Quick Hits: Court rules against parents in East St. Louis busing case

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed an appellate court’s ruling in a case involving state requirements of public school districts when transporting students to and from a nonpublic school.

Parents of students at Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School in East St. Louis filed suit in 2022 after School District 189 stopped providing bus service to Bowman students, citing a shortage of bus drivers.

The supreme court ruled that the district’s transportation obligation was limited to points along its regular bus routes.

HONDURAN MAN SENTENCED AFTER SEVEN DEPORTATIONS

A Honduran national has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported seven times.

Federal prosecutors say Chicago police arrested Jefry Estrada Pastrana, 37, after he failed to appear in court for a Cook County case involving alleged theft and forgery.

Estrada Pastrana pleaded guilty to unlawful re-entry in April and is subject to removal from the U.S.

CHICAGO MAYOR ESTABLISHES GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION OFFICE

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has signed an executive order establishing the new Office of Gun Violence Reduction.

The agency to be led by the deputy mayor for community safety will be tasked with coordinating violence prevention efforts, victim services and community safety investments.

The Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director at Live Free Illinois, told The Center Square the new department would be funded by Chicago taxpayers.

STATE HEALTH DEPT. ANNOUNCES UNIVERSAL CHILDHOOD LEAD TESTING

The Illinois Department of Public Health has announced that universal childhood blood lead testing will take effect Wednesday.

Previously, state lead testing requirements applied to children living in high-risk zip codes. Under the new standard, all Illinois children are to be tested automatically at 12 and 24 months.