Author: Rock Fusco Connelly LLC
Transportation Chief Takes Action on English Test for Truck Drivers
On April 28, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order enforcing the federal requirement that professional drivers be proficient in English. The President says that under Federal law, in order to operate a commercial vehicle, a driver must “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, to understand highway
Illinois Lawmakers Given More Time to Address CTA Service Cuts
As a result of anticipated 2026 budget cuts, funds originally set aside for both Metra and Pace are now being reallocated to the Chicago Transit Authority to help extend services further into next year. This has given legislators in the state more time to address the previously made cuts and attempt to fill the budget
Transportation Brokers Must Face Lawsuits Over Negligent Drivers, Illinois Court Rules
The Illinois First District Appellate Court recently decided that brokers for transportation and trucking services can no longer use federal law to shield themselves from liability in automobile death cases caused by drivers they hire. Amid an ongoing judicial debate over the application of The Federal Aviation Administration Act (“FAAA”) in state tort claims, the
Illinois Allowed to Refuse Assisting Federal ICE Agents but Cannot Interfere with Enforcement
On July 25th, U.S. District Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins threw out the Justice Department’s lawsuit which attempted to enforce Illinois into compliance with their requests for immigration enforcement assistance. While the Judge has sided with the state, she hasn’t provided a free pass to act against ICE’s recent measures. The Court ruled that while federal
CME Group Beats Class Action by Commodities Traders
Concluding a legal battle which has stretched more than a decade, a Chicago jury recently returned a verdict in favor of CME Group Inc., and against a group of commodities traders claiming wrongful denial of access to an Aurora data center specifically built by the exchange for high-speed algorithmic trading in 2012. After only four
Chicago Dead Last Among Major U.S. Metros on Building New Homes
According to data released by Construction Coverage, an analytics service for building and real estate professionals, Chicago has ranked last among the top metro areas in the county for the number of new homes built in 2024. Last year, the Chicagoland municipalities authorized 4.5 new homes for every 1,000 existing residential units. That’s less than
What the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Means for Your Taxes
On July 4, 2025, the federal government passed a major new bill known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). This legislation extends many parts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and introduces several new tax rules that could impact individuals, families, and business owners for years to come. Temporary Tax Cuts Are
20 States, including Illinois, granted preliminary injunction against the USDOT from withholding Federal Funds.
Recently, US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Sean Duffy released a letter titled, “Follow the Law”, which threatened to withhold federal funding from sanctuary states. 20 states, including Illinois, filed a lawsuit against the USDOT stating that withholding federal funds undermines the states authority and creates undue burdens when it comes to managing local resources
Tip Credit Op-Ed Newsletter
Since July of 2024, Chicago has been phasing out the tip credit which allows employers to pay their employees the minimum cash wage if they receive tips sufficient to cover the difference between the minimum wage. The State of Illinois currently has a minimum wage of $15 per hour, however, for tipped workers this can
Trump Administration Faces Growing Litigation in Illinois Over Immigration
Amidst the Trump administration’s efforts to increase immigration enforcement, Illinois courts have received an influx of actions from both private and public attorneys seeking to curb federal law enforcement’s ability to carry out the President’s mass deportation campaign. Following the lead of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, who reiterated his strong support for protections for undocumented