Clothing

Lawsuit claims DMV rule about head coverings violates religious, civil liberties The lawsuit’s plaintiff said she felt pressured to sign the form last year at a driver’s license facility in Rockford, and now fears losing her license if she’s seen without a head covering.

(Chicago Sun-Times) A civil rights group is suing Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White over a rule it claims violates people’s religious rights at driver’s license facilities across the state. The issue: Anyone wearing a religious head covering while taking a driver’s […]

Banks & Banking

Woman charged with robbing Rogers Park, Skokie banks in one day Willie M. Thomas demanded money from a Wintrust Bank in [Chicago] and a Byline Bank in [Skokie] Aug. 15, according to federal prosecutors.

(Chicago Sun-Times) Federal charges have been filed against a woman in two bank robberies in north suburban Skokie and West Rogers Park earlier this month. Willie M. Thomas robbed both Aug. 15, stealing more than $8,000 in total, according to a criminal […]

Crime

Muslim group sounds alarm over ‘human error’ in Quebec City police’s hate-crime numbers Earlier this year, the SPVQ said there was a big reduction in hate crime, but StatsCan numbers said otherwise

(CBC) A Muslim civil liberties group is calling on Quebec City police to take hate crimes more seriously, after the police force blamed “human error” for a large discrepancy between their own records and those provided by Statistics Canada. “All Canadians deserve to feel […]

Academics & Education

CSDM warns prospective teachers about religious symbols, despite saying it wouldn’t apply Bill 21 Commisioner says government threats of putting CSDM under trusteeship unfair

(CBC) Quebec’s largest school board appears to be falling into line when it comes to the province’s new religious symbols law, despite saying earlier this summer it wouldn’t apply the rules until holding further consultations. The Commission scolaire de Montréal (CSDM) began quietly including a notice […]

Banks & Banking

Woman robs banks in Skokie, West Rogers Park on same day: FBI The same woman is suspected in an April 29 robbery at a Huntington Bank branch in Oak Lawn. A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered for tips that lead directly to her arrest.

(Chicago Sun-Times) A woman robbed two banks Thursday in north suburban Skokie and West Rogers Park on the North Side. About 11:50 a.m., a woman with a gun robbed the Byline Bank at 8400 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, according to the FBI. […]

Government & Politics

After Israel allows West Bank visit to grandmother, Tlaib says she’s not going Legislator cites ‘humiliating’ terms for family trip, which she’d requested after being denied formal visit with Omar; she’d been blasted by Palestinians for ‘surrender’ to Israel

(Times of Israel) Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib changed her mind Friday on visiting the West Bank, hours after Israel said it would allow her to visit relatives in the Palestinian territory on humanitarian grounds. The about-face was the latest in a series […]

Government & Politics

In climbdown, Israel says Tlaib can enter to visit her Palestinian family Congresswoman to be allowed into the country after she vows to respect ‘any restrictions,’ refrain from promoting a boycott during her stay

(Times of Israel) Interior Minister Aryeh Deri on Friday said he would allow Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, whom Israel barred from visiting the country a day earlier along with her colleague Ilhan Omar, to enter Israel on humanitarian grounds. The decision came […]

Government & Politics

Israel announces US lawmakers Omar and Tlaib will not be allowed to visit Move comes after Trump tweeted that letting them in would ‘show great weakness’; ministry would consider allowing in Tlaib to visit West Bank relatives on humanitarian grounds

(Times of Israel) Israel’s Interior Minister Aryeh Deri announced on Thursday that Israel has decided to deny entry to two US congresswomen, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, over their support for boycotting the Jewish state. The two had been expected to travel […]

Government & Politics

Israel could bar Omar, Tlaib from visiting, official says Netanyahu discusses thorny issue with AG, top ministers; final decision on the US Congress members lies with interior minister, who has been adamant about banning BDS backers

(Times of Israel) After extensive consultations, the Israeli government may decide not to let US Democratic congresswomen Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib enter the country, an Israeli diplomatic official said Thursday. The planned visit of the two controversial freshman lawmakers has made […]