CCI Radio Hour: Feb. 17, 2020
Executive Director Bob Gilligan speaks with Bishop Malloy of Rockford; discusses the possible impact of a U.S. Supreme Court case on tax credit scholarships; and gets an update on Illinois' tax credit scholarship program.
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CCI Radio Hour: Jan. 20, 2020
Executive Director Bob Gilligan explores the USCCB's election-year initiative, "Civilize It"; limiting solitary confinement with state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago; reforming the felony-murder charge with advocate Marshan Allen; and vaping with Shana Crews of the American Cancer Society.
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CCI Radio Hour: Dec. 16, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan discusses the upcoming March for Life Chicago with speaker Claire Culwell; the Global Child Thrive Act with representatives of USCCB and CRS; a ministry for homeless men with Deacon Alfred Coleman; and the joy of adoption with Christopher Orlet of the Belleville Messenger.
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CCI Radio Hour: Nov. 18, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan explores fallout from the Reproductive Health Act with a Flossmoor dentist; mental health services provided by the new Encompassing Center; the Joliet Diocese's new Laudato ministry with Kayla Jacobs; and the miracle attributed to Archbishop Sheen with Bonnie Engstrom.
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CCI Radio Hour: Oct. 21, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan discusses a recent federal report on the impact of assisted suicide on the disabled; three current U.S. Supreme Court cases that could impact religious freedom; an effort to consolidate downstate and suburban pension pension funds for police and firefighters; and a preview of the veto session with a Capitol News Illinois journalist.
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CCI Radio Hour: Sept. 16, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan talks about federal officials lowering the cap on migrants seeking entry into America; Aid for Women's annual benefit dinner; the 50th anniversary of Misericordia; and an engineer turned novice taking her final vows as a Franciscans of the Eucharist.
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CCI Radio Hour: Aug. 19, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan discusses the importance of the first 72 hours after an inmate's release with Dr. MaryClare Birmingham of Kolbe House; the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children with Sr. JoAnn Persch; and a new report on American opinions on abortion and contraception with Natalie Jackson of the Public Religion Research Institute.
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CCI Radio Hour: July 15, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan discusses the deleterious effects expected from gaming expansion with Les Bernal of Stop Predatory Gambling; Holy Cross Hospital's new crisis stabilization unit; and humanitarian aid for migrants with Sr. Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA.
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CCI Radio Hour: June 17, 2019
Executive Director Bob Gilligan discusses the complete funding of the Tax Credit Scholarship program in the FY 2020 budget with Juan Rangel of Empower Illinois; human trafficking with Pat Winn, who heads up Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rockford; and the final version of the "Reproductive Health Act" with Ralph Rivera of Illinois Right to Life.
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2019 legislative session marked by last-minute push on abortion, marijuana, gambling expansion, statewide construction program
In the final days of the 2019 legislative session, Illinois lawmakers approved legislation making abortion a fundamental right, legalizing marijuana for recreational use, switching the state's income tax from a flat rate to a graduated rate and to be put before voters in November 2020, expanding gambling with up to six new casinos that include a site in Chicago, legalizing sports betting, doubling the gas tax, hiking annual license plate fees by 50 percent, and increasing cigarette taxes by a dollar a pack. Earlier in the year, legislators OK'd a measure to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 by 2025.
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