Suspected murderer free pending trial
In an early test of the controversial Illinois law known as the SAFE-T Act, a Troy man accused of murdering his girlfriend will remain out of jail until his trial.
The alleged crime happened nearly two weeks before the SAFE-T Act took effect last month, which eliminated cash bail in Illinois. The state’s attorney filed a petition to have Michael Perham sent back to jail with no bond under the new law.
The petition that was denied Tuesday morning says Perham fired eight shots at his longtime girlfriend with two bullets hitting her from behind.
Legislative staffer union measure advances
Legislation that would authorize legislative staff to form a union has advanced out of committee.
The measure would create the Legislative Employee Labor Relations Act and comes in response to an effort by Democratic staff in House Speaker Chris Welch’s office to unionize and negotiate wages through collective bargaining.
Welch said he intends to push for the bill’s passage during the upcoming fall veto session, which begins Tuesday, Oct. 24.
Majority don’t want Pritzker as president
A majority of Illinoisans don’t want to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker in the White House.
An Illinois Policy Institute poll found that 60% of respondents would not support Pritzker in seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024. Pritzker has said he has no plans to run for president, but some have speculated he would be a candidate if President Joe Biden chose not to run.
