COOK COUNTY RECORD

This month, Illinois found itself surrounded by right-to-work (RTW) states when Missouri's new Republican governor completed the encirclement by signing into law legislation that riled the state’s unions.

Anti-abortion activists say they are pleased a federal judge has recognized what they called consistently biased treatment at the hands of Chicago Police enforcing the city's so-called abortion clinic "bubble zone" rules, but they said they intend to appeal the judge's findings that the ordinance is constitutional.

As the calendar flips to a new year, a host of new laws in Illinois and elsewhere will take effect, including a number of which employers should particularly be mindful.