(The Center Square) – The U.S. House approved legislation aimed at preventing credit card companies from using merchant category codes to identify firearm retailers, a measure supporters say protects the privacy of lawful gun owners.

A Cole County judge said Wednesday he will rule quickly on a case that will determine if property tax caps voted on in April take effect later this year. At the end of a three-hour hearing, Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh gave attorneys in the case one week to file proposed findings for him to consider. […]