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ForestParkReview.com ForestParkReview.com Vol. 103, No. 35
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F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW
Franklin townhomes approved PAGE 4
Park seeks Tony Hawk grant forr skatepark PAGEE 8
AUGUST 26, 2020
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Illinois to award cannabis licenses ‘in coming weeks’ Forest Park ready for potential businesses with zoning and tax in place By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
Illinois’ first round of cannabis dispensary licenses will be “issued in coming weeks,” according to an Aug. 12 press release from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The release also announced that the state’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) approved rules for a tiebreaking process in granting the 75 new licenses. The licenses were scheduled to be awarded by the IDFPR on May 1, but the process was put on hold by Gov. J. B. Pritzker on April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Emergency tiebreaking rules had been issued in December but expired after six months; therefore, a permanent set of rules was needed before licenses could be awarded. The tiebreaking rules determine that a random drawing will be done among applicants in the same Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) region with tied scores. Applicants with tied scores will be awarded conditional licenses in the order they are drawn; the conditional license gives them 180 days to finalize a location for a dispensary. Once the location is secured, the awardee will be issued the adult-use license to sell marijuana. Tiebreaking rules are necessary because licenses will be awarded based on a point system; a process must be in place to decide to whom a license should be awarded if applications receive the same number See CANNABIS on page 6
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH: Avery Tan shows off his ninja warrior skills at the Park District of Forest Park’s back-to-school ice cream social on Aug 21. District 91 schools began, remotely, on Aug. 25.
D91 begins remote learning
Superintendent: ‘This is real school, and it will count’ By MARIA MAXHAM Editor
On Aug. 25, District 91 students, teachers and administrators began the school year, a year that promises to be
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different from any previous one. The district made the decision to begin the year with completely remote learning due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But while D91, like most districts, had to scramble to make distance learning work at the end of the past school year, and assignments at that time were not required nor were grades issued, the 2020-21 school year has stricter guidelines in place. First, attendance will be taken every
day class is in session. And more than once throughout the day. Second, students will be given grades on assignments, and progress reports and report cards will be issued. Teachers will focus on learning loss but, importantly, also on teaching grade level standards. “This is real school, and it will count,” said Superintendent Lou Cavallo during a presentation on remote learning See D91 REOPENING on page 10
Guide to voting
Two unions extend concessions
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