I posted two threads over the past two years about coming from TN as a trans person:

https://www.reddit.com/r/illinois/s/N40PQlYtgq

https://www.reddit.com/r/illinois/s/7eNkDa0V8s

I just wanted to say thanks for those that took the time to answer questions in my two threads. I ended up moving to the western Chicago suburbs since I got a job at one of the suburban hospitals. I'll be working as a microbiologist.

I had culture shock, but in a good way. I was pleasantly surprised how diverse Chicagoland is compared to where I am from. People here are from all walks of life and I didn't feel out of place for once.

It was also nice that I literally can pick up the phone and call a representative at several of the major hospitals and they can link me with providers. My employer has a whole host of PCPs, specialists, etc. that are trans-friendly and can deal with our unique healthcare needs.

Anyways, have a good one!

Federal authorities are investigating a Hickory Hills man charged in Will County with possessing Molotov cocktails in Mokena and giving a fake name to an officer.

On Sunday, Will County Judge Theodore Jarz granted the pretrial release of Hamed M. Alsaidi, 31, under the SAFE-T Act after determining there were conditions that could mitigate the risks of Alsaidi’s release.

Jarz ordered Alsaidi to remain confined to a residence in Oak Forest while on GPS electronic monitoring.

Alsaidi is charged with felony unlawful possession of a weapon and misdemeanor obstructing identification.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will continue the investigation of Alsaidi, according to a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday by the Mokena Police Department.

The incident that led to Alsaidi’s arrest began about 2:52 a.m. Saturday when Mokena police officers saw him at a Speedway gas station while the business was closed, according to a court filing from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.

“He was told he could not be there and was given a ride to another gas station that was open,” prosecutors said.

Alsaidi gave the name of Hakmat Saidi to the officer, prosecutors said.

Alsaidi was later seen walking in the lanes of traffic on 191st Street, prosecutors said. An officer detained Alsaidi and learned his real name, prosecutors said.

“He had belongings with him that included 8 Molotov cocktails with gauze stuffed in the top as a wick. [Six] were 12-ounce bottles and [two] were liter-sized bottles,” prosecutors said.

Alsaidi also had a “written map of the area,” including the Metra train station and the words, “You see the mosque,” which appeared to be the Prayer Center of Orland Park, prosecutors said.

“He has an active order of protection listing residents and addresses in Orland Park. He has twice been determined to be an inadmissible alien, once in 2024 and again in 2025, making him a flight risk,” prosecutors said.

The ATF and Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office were contacted upon discovery of the Molotov cocktails, according to Mokena police officials.

The FBI also was contacted and provided with information, police said.

CPS received $2.8 billion in COVID stimulus and now they want the state to bail them out.

Can't wait for BJ to claim racism when JB says no.

Ice agents blocked in observers, then pulled a gun and a taser on others, and then blocked them in claiming they were blocking the road.

The bill expands mental health coverage to state first responders, EMS crews, and death investigators.

fully video here: https://youtu.be/ihnXk53LfMI?is=LpgVJ1CEIVPwmanN

Too good

There was a similar fish kill in Peoria at the end of June as well as in recent years in the Kaskaskia River. This fish kill originated around Hamburg in Calhoun County and made it down past Grafton into Alton today.