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Former President Barack Obama got a special treat for his birthday this year - his very own holiday.

Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law Friday a measure to designate Aug. 4 as "Barack Obama Day" across Illinois.

The newest state holiday will be celebrated each year on the 44th president's birthday, beginning in 2018.

The holiday will be "observed throughout the State as a day set apart to honor the 44th President of the United States of America who began his career serving the People of Illinois in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, and dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans and building bridges across communities," Senate Bill 55 reads. White House Photographer Shares Favorite Obama Photos

While several lawmakers abstained from voting on the measure, it passed both houses earlier this year without a single vote against.

SB 55 was introduced by Sen. Emil Jones III, the son of former Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., who played a major role in launching then-state Senator Obama to the U.S. Senate in 2004 and considers himself to be the former presidents political "godfather."

"Barack Obama Day" joins other commemorative holidays like Adlai Stevenson Day, Ronald Reagan Day and Jane Addams Day, for which workplaces do not close. Michelle Obama Reveals 'Secret' No One Noticed About Barack

Democrats' efforts to make Obamas birthday a legal state holiday during which schools and state offices would close, while banks and businesses could, but would not be required to close stalled after some lawmakers voiced concern that other Illinois presidents, like Reagan, do not have similar holidays.

Republicans, including Rauner, also noted the economic cost of closing state buildings on the holiday, and the impact of workers having the day off.

"It's incredibly proud for Illinois that the president came from Illinois. I think it's awesome, and I think we should celebrate it," Rauner told reporters in February. "I don't think it should be a formal holiday with paid, forced time off, but I think it should be a day of acknowledgment and celebration."

Legislators also voted in July to rename part of a Chicago-area highway after their former colleague, designating the stretch of Interstate 55 from the Tri-State Tollway south to mile marker 202 near Pontiac as the "Barack Obama Presidential Expressway."

Published at 1:10 PM CDT on Aug 5, 2017 | Updated at 6:09 PM CDT on Aug 5, 2017

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'Barack Obama Day' Is Now an Illinois Holiday - NBC Chicago (blog)

What a difference 120 years can make.

Ava DuVernay shared a powerful photo on Twitter Saturday morning honoring the progress African-Americans have made throughout the history of the United States.

Become your ancestors wildest dream, the Selma director tweeted, attaching a photo of a memorial that pays tribute to one of former first lady Michelle Obamas ancestors, Melvinia Shields, who was a slave.

She was born a slave in South Carolina in 1844, the memorial inscription reads. Obama was born in 1964, 120 years after her great-great-great-grandmother.

Shields is buried elsewhere inGeorgia, but the memorial stands in Rex, a community outside of Atlanta, where she worked as a slave on a farm, a struggle referenced on the memorial.

At age 6 she was brought to the nearby Shields farm in what is now Rex, Clayton County, Georgia, states the inscription on the memorial, which was dedicated in 2014,according to The Rome News-Tribune.

Her family would endure a five-generation journey that began in oppression and would lead her descendent to become first lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, the inscription continues. Theirs is a story of hope.

But despite all the progress, America still has a long way to go to overcome prejudice, something Obama and her husband,former PresidentBarack Obama, know from firsthand experience.

In December, Barack Obama, spoke on CNN of the racism hed facedduring his eight years in the White House.Attitudes about my presidency among whites in northern states are very different from whites in southern states, he noted.

And last month,Michelle Obama opened up during a talk to a group of women about the struggles she experienced as first lady. Knowing that after eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who wont see me for what I am because of my skin color, Obama said.

Still, her great-great-great-grandmother would probably be amazed to find out that her granddaughter made it all the way to the White House. And shed sure as hell be proud of her and her husband for speaking out about the racist attacks they experienced.

We cant wait to see how the legacy of the Obama family will continue into the future. (No pressure, Malia and Sasha.)

Read more here:
Ava DuVernay Pays Tribute To Michelle Obama's Slave Ancestor - HuffPost

Pool, Getty Images

Just because you are the former President of the United States daughter, it doesnt mean you cant turn up with the best of them. Malia Obama was recently spotted at 2017 Lollapalooza enjoying the show. And when we say enjoying the show, we mean she was absolutely turnt.

Footage has surfaced of the former First Daughter and a friend having a good old time at the show. In the video, the friend appears to drunkenly fall at Malias feet, who then proceeds to wildly play air drums before helping the girl up.

In another section of the clip, Malia falls to the ground and pounds the pavement as The Killers rock out onstage. She definitely looks like she had a night to remember. If she can remember anything today.

The Chicago native is definitely a fan of her hometown music festival and it seems to be the place where she likes to unwind. Last year, she was spotted at 2016 Lollapolooza reportedly smoking weed in the crowd. A festival attendee named Jerrdin Selwyn blew up Malias spot. I caught Malia smoking pot and I have the pictures to prove it, Selwyn said. You could smell the marijuana smoke. I saw some young guy hand her a cigarette and she took at least one hit on it. She had it in her hand for about one minute, then gave it back to him.

Can she live?

In other Lollapalooza-related news, Vic Mensa and Chance The Rapper reunited onstage last night (Aug. 5) at the event.

Check out the footage of Malia turning up below.

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Malia Obama Gets Turnt at 2017 Lollapalooza - XXLMAG.COM

Wall Street Journal (subscription)

An Obama Labor Ruling That Threatens Small Businesses Wall Street Journal (subscription) A top goal of President Obama's National Labor Relations Board was to make union organizing easier. With this objective in mind, the board subjected countless employers to unprecedented bargaining obligations and legal liabilities. In 2015 the NLRB ... and more »

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An Obama Labor Ruling That Threatens Small Businesses - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner(R) has signed a law designating Aug. 4 as Barack Obama Day in the state, the governors office confirmed Friday.

The honorary holiday commemorates the former presidents birthday. Its not a legal holiday schools and state offices remained open Friday but is intended to celebrate Obamas career and recognize his political roots in the state.

August 4th of each year is designated as Barack Obama Day, to be observed throughout the State as a day set apart to honor the 44th President of the United States of America who began his career serving the People of Illinois in both the Illinois State Senate and the United States Senate, and dedicated his life to protecting the rights of Americans and building bridges across communities, reads the text of the bill.

The bill passed without any oppositionin both chambers of the states legislature.

An earlier version of the bill, which would have designated Aug. 4 as legal holiday, failed in March due to its nearly $20 million price tag.

Rauner voiced support for the honorary holiday in February.

Its incredibly proud for Illinois that the president came from Illinois. I think its awesome, and I think we should celebrate it, Rauner said to a reporter. I dont think it should be a formal holiday with paid, forced time off, but I think it should be a day of acknowledgment and celebration.

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It's Officially Barack Obama Day In Illinois - HuffPost