Her voice is well known in the “Windy City” as she’s talked with the stars of stage and screen for four decades.  Jeanne Sparrow may not be a native of Chicago, but it’s safe to say that it’s now home.  “I spent my formative adult years here – and that’s what shaped me,” said the seven-time Emmy winning broadcaster and author, who is sharing her secrets to success in 2026. Sparrow has written the book “Fearless Authenticity” to discuss her path from New Iberia, Louisiana to a successful radio career in Chicago.  From her time at Northwestern University to a…
Continue Reading Jeanne Sparrow is one of our ‘Chicagoans You Should Know’

The proposed tax break for the United Center’s 1901 Project has been described as a $55 million subsidy for the owners of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. That is understandable shorthand, but it is not the precise tax mechanism.

The proposal is a Cook County Class 7(b) property tax incentive. It does not write the owners a check. It would reduce the property’s assessment level for 12 years, which in turn lowers the property tax bill that would otherwise apply to the first phase of the project.

That distinction is key, because Class 7(b) is an existing Cook…
Continue Reading United Center’s 1901 Project Shows How Chicago Property Tax Incentives Really Work

May is officially Bike Month in Chicago, and there is no better time to start riding than during the Bike Commuter Challenge sponsored by Keating Law Offices. As Chicago bicycle attorneys and advocates for safer streets, Keating Law Offices is proud to once again support one of Chicagoland’s most important cycling events.The Bike Commuter Challenge runs from Monday, May 11 through Sunday, June 7, 2026, bringing together riders, workplaces, and communities across the Chicago area to promote healthier transportation, safer streets, and a stronger bicycle commuting culture. The Challenge is organized by the Active Transportation Alliance Bike Commuter …
Continue Reading Pedal for Progress: The 2026 Bike Commuter Challenge Sponsored by Keating Law Offices

Please join the ABA’s International Employment Committee for its regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 11 AM CST. Keith Corkan, Employment Law Consultant, with UK firm Preiskel and Co., will discuss UK employment law new and updated legislation and ESG initiatives.
We were supposed to air this last month, but due to technical difficulties, we weren’t able to live broadcast our meeting.
You can join the meeting directly from this link.Meeting ID: 844 3835 2558 Passcode: 681576
Feel free to contact me regarding questions or suggestions for future meetings. I’m co-vice chair of the committee.
The post…
Continue Reading ABA International Employment Committee 5/28 Speaker Keith Corkan

Illinois lawmakers are moving quickly on legislation that could fundamentally change how electric bikes, scooters, and other motorized devices are regulated throughout Illinois. Senate Bill 3336 recently advanced out of the Illinois House Transportation: Vehicles and Safety Committee with unanimous support after previously passing the Illinois Senate unanimously. This sets the stage for the bill to pass the Senate and if signed into law by Governor Pritzker would become the standing law in Illinois. The proposal comes amid growing concern over increasingly powerful electric micromobility devices and a sharp rise in serious injury crashes involving riders, pedestrians, and motorists.For cyclists, pedestrians,…
Continue Reading Illinois Senate Bill Signals a Major Shift in E-Bike Law and Liability in Illinois

Understanding how courts interpret school policies is essential for today’s educational leaders, especially as issues involving gender identity continue to evolve. A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Polk v. Montgomery County Public Schools, offers important guidance for school districts navigating the balance between protecting students and respecting the personal beliefs of staff. This blog post breaks down what the Polk decision means for your district and offers practical steps to help ensure your policies remain both legally sound and supportive of all students.Polk v. Montgomery County Public Schools sets a precedent…
Continue Reading When Faith and Policy Collide: Fourth Circuit Upholds School District’s Gender Identity Guidelines Over Teacher’s Religious Objections

All Wisconsin employers know the basics of the state’s workers’ compensation statute. If an employee is hurt on the job, they may be entitled to benefits under workers’ compensation insurance. However, many don’t realize that if they fail to bring the employee back to work when suitable employment is available, the employer may be exposed to liability in the form of paying the employee up to one year of wages and benefits. This risk comes from Wisconsin’s Unreasonable Refusal to Rehire (URR) statute. Although the consequences of this statute are significant, it is frequently overlooked until it is too late.
Continue Reading Wisconsin’s Unreasonable Refusal to Rehire Statute: A Costly Trap for
Employers

The IRS released PLR 202619013 on May 8, 2026. A limited partnership taxed as a partnership had a partner die. The partnership inadvertently failed to make a Section 754 election for the relevant tax year. The partnership then requested late-election relief under Treas. Reg. § 301.9100-3. The IRS granted the partnership 120 days from the date of the letter to make the election effective for that year.

A Section 754 election allows partnership property basis adjustments under Section 734(b), for certain distributions, and Section 743(b), for certain transfers of partnership interests. The election is made by…
Continue Reading IRS Grants Late Section 754 Election Relief After Partner’s Death: Practical Lessons for Partnerships

If you acted in self-defense during a domestic violence incident, proving it means showing that you had a reasonable belief you were in danger and that the force you used was necessary to protect yourself. This is not always easy, especially in domestic violence cases where emotions run high, and both sides tell very different stories. If you are facing charges in 2026, you should know that self-defense is a real and recognized legal defense in Illinois. An Aurora, IL domestic violence defense lawyer can help you build a case that tells your side of the story clearly and effectively.
Continue Reading How Do I Prove Self-Defense in a Domestic Violence Case?

When parents separate or divorce, child support is often the first money question that comes up. How much will be paid? Who pays it? Will the amount be fair? These concerns are real, and the answers affect your child’s daily life and your own budget. A Stafford, VA, child support attorney can help you understand how Virginia sets these amounts and what you can do to protect your family in 2026.
How Does Virginia Determine the Base Amount of Child Support?
Virginia uses rules called the child support guidelines to set how much a parent pays. These guidelines appear in…
Continue Reading How Is Child Support Calculated in Virginia?

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Today’s blog entry comes by way of University of Iowa Clinical Law Professor Emeritus Leonard Sandler who sent me the appellate decision in the case. After reading the appellate decision, which can be found here, I had to read the trial court decision as well. The appellate decision basically says the trial court got it right when it denied a mandatory injunction, but is otherwise rather light on analysis and what the case is all about. The case of the day concerns Solan v. Arizona, which was decided by the Ninth Circuit…
Continue Reading DOJ Service Animal Rules Might Just Stop at the State Hospital or Prison’s Gate

Disparti Law Group is proud to announce Elisa Peña of Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago as the winner of the firm’s 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week Contest. Mrs. Peña was selected from a number of heartfelt nominations and will receive a $250 cash prize along with a Disparti Law Group swag package in recognition of her dedication to her students and community.
An 8th grade teacher at Inter-American Magnet School, Mrs. Peña was nominated by one of her two sons, both of whom are now pursuing careers in education after being inspired by their mother’s example. In the nomination, Mrs. Peña…
Continue Reading Disparti Law Group Announces Teacher Appreciation Week Winner

After a car accident in Cook County, IL, one of the first things you’ll want to do is get a copy of your crash report. It sounds simple enough, but the process depends on which agency responded to the scene. And if you don’t know where to start, it’s easy to waste time chasing the wrong office.
At Disparti Law Group Accident & Injury Lawyers, we help clients obtain and review their crash reports early in the claims process. That report becomes one of the most important documents in your case, so it’s worth understanding how to get it…
Continue Reading Getting Your Accident Report in Cook County

Watch retailer direct-shipping litigation long enough and you start to recognize the rhythm.

Out-of-state wine retailer sues. Consumer plaintiff says he wants bottles he cannot get locally. State says three-tier system. Wholesalers say accountability, inspection, tax collection, underage drinking, orderly markets, and the unquestionable legitimacy of the distribution model. Court nods solemnly. Tennessee Wine gets quoted. Granholm gets distinguished. And the challenger loses.

Not this time.

In Block v. Canepa, the Sixth Circuit held that Ohio’s ban on direct-to-consumer wine shipments by out-of-state retailers, while allowing in-state retailers to ship wine to Ohio consumers, violates the dormant Commerce Clause.
Continue Reading The Sixth Circuit Finally Lets the Retailer DTC Plaintiffs Win — But Block v. Canepa Is Not the End of the Three-Tier System

1. Introduction
Commercial property owners often focus on property taxes when the bill arrives. That is understandable, but it may be too late. In Cook County, the appeal process is tied to assessment notices, township filing windows, and Board of Review deadlines, not just the final tax bill.
2. The Tax Bill Is Not the Starting Point
The bill tells you what you owe. The assessment process helps determine how the taxable value was set. If the assessment is too high, the owner needs to act during the appropriate appeal window.
3. Commercial Appeals Require More Than Complaining About Taxes…
Continue Reading Cook County Commercial Property Owners: Don’t Wait for the Tax Bill to Think About Appeals

Federal law generally prohibits candidates from using campaign funds for personal expenses. But under a narrow exception administered by the Federal Election Commission, certain nonincumbent federal candidates may receive compensation from their campaign committees during the course of a campaign.

The rule is intended to make federal office more accessible to candidates who otherwise would lose income by leaving employment or reducing work to campaign full-time. At the same time, the FEC has repeatedly emphasized that campaign salary is not a general living stipend and cannot become a mechanism for converting campaign funds into personal income.

That tension explains why…
Continue Reading Can Federal Candidates Use Campaign Funds to Pay Themselves?