Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs changes to election law; groups sue over protest restrictions

Pritzker signs changes to election law

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed into law an election bill that would give Democrats a significant advantage toward keeping their legislative majorities before the November general election. Under the measure, local political party organizations would no longer appoint candidates to fill out legislative ballots where the party didn’t field a candidate in the Primary Election. House Republicans said the process that led to this legislation passing through the House in just a single day shows just how far the Democrats will go in flexing their political muscles in the General Assembly.

Groups sue over protest restrictions

A group of nine organizations have filed a federal lawsuit with the ACLU of Illinois after the city of Chicago denied their request to march near the Democratic National Convention. The coalition calling itself Bodies Outside of Unjust Laws wants to demonstrate near the United Center, McCormick Place and Michigan Avenue but say the city told them they are restricted to an area that is more than three miles from the United Center. The convention will be held in Chicago Aug. 19-22.

Man arrested in cold case

A 79-year-old man has been charged with a 1966 murder in Calumet City. Eighteen-year-old Karen Snider was found dead with over 100 stab wounds in her home by her husband 58 years ago. James Barbier was questioned but never charged. New DNA analysis led investigators back to Barbier. He was tracked down in Missouri to face charges of first-degree murder.