The U.S. Senate bill to help reopen the government has a surprise baked in — a ban on the sale of synthetic hemp products. A similar prohibition had been floated in Illinois and even was supported by Gov JB Pritzker, but House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch refused to call the bill up for a vote. Plus, the mayor of Chicago had hoped to tax these unregulated and sometimes dangerous products.

The Tribune Editorial Board writes that the federal government is on “the cusp of bringing the embarrassing ‘debate’ in Illinois over hemp to a merciful close.”

The board also calls out critics of the Chicago Police Department’s use of overtime in its second piece today. Chicago has demanded a lot of its police officers over the past few years, and the department can’t be solely to blame for the current budget crisis.

In commentary, the Democratic mayor of the village of Lyons writes about U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García’s last-minute decision to not run for reelection and the red flags it raises. Richard Boykin, a candidate for the 7th Congressional District, asks that Democrats in Illinois opt in to the new federal tax-credit scholarship program, even though it was created by a Republican president.

Lastly, columnist Laura Washington is back this week discussing a new fashion trend — brooches worn by men.

Thanks for reading.

— Grace Miserocchi, opinion editor

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