Ninety-nine new state laws take effect today

Starting today, Champaign, Urbana and other Illinois cities have the power to buy the local water system from an unwilling private seller; carbon monoxide detectors are required in most homes; callers to state agencies will be able to get a live person on the phone during business hours; and diners who don't finish their bottle of wine at a restaurant can take it with them.

Those and other changes are among the 99 new state laws taking effect today. Some, like declaring Dec. 10 Jane Addams Day, or adding an extra student member to the Illinois Board of Higher Education, will have little effect on citizens' daily lives, while others could have a much larger impact.

Also on this date

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• Champaign Electoral Board to meet on petition objections
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• Homer library making move to former church building
• Rantoul to help power Wal-Mart
• Panel to start talks on possible smoking ban in Danville
• Thunderstorm knocks out electricity for about 7,000
• Study: Exercise benefits younger brains, too
• Obituaries

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