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Question for folks -- especially attorneys practicing in #Illinois and #CookCounty -- regarding the news that charges have been dropped in the Jussie Smollett case:
What should we make of the fact that Smollett agreed to forfeit his bond to the city of Chicago? 1/x
What should we make of the fact that Smollett agreed to forfeit his bond to the city of Chicago? 1/x
I'm getting this information from the @washingtonpost story washingtonpost.com/arts-entertain… and here are the relevant snippets from the story: /2 
Some quick Googling tells people will sometimes forfeit their bond in order to cover court costs and fees. And it is possible that the state or the county have crazy fees associated with just getting charged with a crime (@Beth_Colgan has informed my on that issue) 3/x
HEADS UP >> All eyes on powerful Ald. Ed Burke today on heels of the FBI raiding his offices 👇👇👇@WBEZ @DenverManuel #politics
#FBI raided Burke's offices in November, 3 months shy of #Chicago elections. Burke has been alderman for 50 years. He controls the $$ at City Hall (AKA: chair of the @ChiCouncil Finance Committee), via @WBEZ's @dmihalopoulos @claudiamorell @beckyvevea >> tinyurl.com/ycbjunke
Important background: Burke's private/public lives are so intertwined he's recused himself from hundreds of @ChiCouncil votes that have sent $$$ in benefits to his private clients, via @dmihalopoulos @WBEZ & @DavidKidwell1 @phjudge @BetterGov >> tinyurl.com/y79292bp
Could the charity care battle return to Illinois hospitals? @CookCountyBoard commissioners, frustrated by how much free medical care its @CookCtyHealth provides, is targeting rival hospitals to step up >> tinyurl.com/ycalmusx @CarlaKJohnson @AllanBaumgarten @bobjherman
Some background >> @CookCtyHealth provides nearly 1/2 of all the free care in #CookCounty, even though there are nearly 70 hospitals here. The burden has grown, while other hospitals provide less. @WBEZ dug into this in August >> tinyurl.com/ycvzevgh
Here's a main factor: in 2012, non-profit hospitals & state lawmakers brokered a deal. Hospitals can keep property tax breaks w/OUT having to treat patients for free. Instead, they provide broader financial benefits (IE: train docs, treat expensive trauma patients)
.@CookCtyHealth is the region’s medical safety net, known for treating everyone whether they can pay or not. But how much free health care can it provide? The estimated tab this year: about half a billion dollars. Here’s why. Read/listen @WBEZ (1/16) >> tinyurl.com/ydfzefjd
2 big reasons: 1) @CookCtyHealth’s share of free care is growing, while other hospitals in #CookCounty provide less 2) #CookCounty health system’s ability to bill & get paid. (2/16) @cookcountygov
First, about that growing amount of free care. We’re starting to see the ripple effect of a 2012 Illinois law. It aimed to settle how much free care non-profit hospitals in the state must provide to keep what can be very lucrative property tax breaks. (3/16) @KHNews @hamiltonproj
