Durbin Declines Archdiocese Award Amid Bishops' Criticism; Kennedy Expressway Set to Reopen
The Archdiocese of Chicago, led by Cardinal Blase Cupich, had planned to honor Senator Dick Durbin for his work in immigration and human dignity. However, following protests and criticism from fellow bishops, Durbin declined the award, leading to the cancellation of the ceremony.
Cardinal Cupich expressed sadness but respect for Durbin's decision. The senator, who has been vocal about his stance on abortion, faced criticism from some bishops who disagree with his position. Meanwhile, Illinois has been raking in significant revenue from sports betting, ranking second only to New York with over $958 million collected since 2018. This places the state among the top earners nationally, with total collections reaching $9.3 billion.
In other news, a major construction project on the Kennedy Expressway, funded by $169 million in state taxpayer money, is nearing completion. The entire outbound stretch is set to reopen by 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4.
The planned award ceremony for Sen. Durbin by the Archdiocese of Chicago has been cancelled due to his decision to decline the honor. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to benefit from substantial sports betting tax revenues, and the Kennedy Expressway's outbound stretch is expected to fully reopen this weekend.
