Mayor sought to bar reporter from City Hall

By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 16, 2023//

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By: WISCONSIN LAW JOURNAL STAFF//November 16, 2023//

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The Land of Lincoln appears to be dealing with First Amendment matter.

Calumet City, Illinois Mayor Thaddeus Jones asked the local police department to seek a court order barring a journalist from gathering facts, Chicago Tribune reported.

The city cited reporter Hank Sanders under municipal ordinances, alleging he harassed city employees. The three citations carried fines of $750, plus an additional $250 for each day that passed and fines were not paid, Tribune said.

The newspaper which is owned by the Chicago Tribune’s parent company, published a story online Oct. 19 and in print Oct. 20 in which Sanders reported that consultants had informed Calumet City officials that their stormwater facilities were in poor condition before September’s historic rains caused flooding, Tribune reported.

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