Illinois’ pension crisis continues to deepen, with the state's unfunded pension liability reaching $143.7 billion, according to the latest report from the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA). This figure is $1.5 billion higher than last year and marks the second-highest total since 2020, when the liability hit $144.2 billion.
President Joe Biden issued 39 pardons and commuted nearly 1,500 sentences on Thursday, marking the largest single-day act of clemency in U.S. history. The move affects Americans convicted of non-violent crimes, with the White House citing rehabilitation and contributions to community safety as reasons for the clemency.
The Supreme Court opted not to intervene on Monday in a case challenging Hawaii’s restrictive gun laws, missing an opportunity to reinforce Second Amendment rights over state-imposed limitations. The case contested Hawaii’s ban on carrying firearms in public without a permit, a policy upheld by the Hawaii Supreme Court earlier this year.
FBI Director Christopher Wray is weighing whether he should resign before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, according to a report from The Washington Times.
The National Police Association (NPA) has strongly endorsed Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, hailing his appointment as “a pivotal moment for law enforcement and public safety across the United States.”
