Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch wants a graduated income tax do-over — this time tied to pension funding
New Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch suggested Wednesday that the state should again ask voters to approve a graduated-rate income tax, but this time target the new money toward paying down Illinois’ massive pension debt.
The call for a do-over came after voters in November overwhelmingly rejectedDemocratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal. Opponents, including Republicans and business leaders, used distrust of Springfield to argue for keeping the state constitution’s flat tax requirement.
Crain's Chicago Business: Biz, civic groups push Pritzker to veto firefighter pension bill
The Center Square: Pritzker still not clear on when fuller reopening possible even as more Illinoisans eligible for vaccines
Despite increased vaccine doses coming to the state, and the state expanding who can get the vaccine, Gov. J.B. Pritzker still won’t say when the state will enter Phase 5 of his COVID-19 reopening plan.
Thursday marks the beginning of the governor’s expansion of who can get the COVID-19 vaccine. The expansion includes anyone with underlying health conditions. A third vaccine may soon be available after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine meets requirements for the agency’s emergency-use authorization.
Associated Press: Madigan’s successor resigns amid ‘questionable conduct’
The hand-picked successor to former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s seat abruptly resigned Wednesday, under pressure from his sponsors who accused him of unspecified “questionable conduct.”
Edward Guerra Kodatt submitted his resignation to the House clerk Wednesday morning, according to Democrat Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside, citing a spokesman for the new House speaker. Kodatt quit just three days after he was chosen from among 10 candidates to replace Madigan, a Democrat from the Southwest Side of Chicago who had held the post for more than 50 years.
The Center Square: Madigan successor who resigned after three days can take full month’s salary
Former state Rep. Edward Guerra Kodatt, D-Chicago, was sworn in Sunday after being hand-picked by former state Rep. Michael Madigan. He resigned Wednesday. He’s eligible for an entire months’ lawmaker pay.
Kodatt was nominated by Madigan Sunday to fill the seat the former Illinois House Speaker vacated last week. Tuesday, Madigan issued a statement saying Kodatt should step down.
Chicago Tribune: As parents push demands, CPS says it aims to reopen high schools before year’s end, while teachers union laments ‘inhumane’ negotiations: ‘We need to do better’
Chicago Public Schools parents spoke out against the district’s reopening plan Wednesday morning in front of City Hall and planned to present a bundle of demands to Mayor Lori Lightfoot before the Board of Education meeting.
Raise Your Hand, who started an online petition outlining what it calls its “TLC demands” — short for trust, learning and care — wants to be brought to the table as CPS officials proceed with the next phase of their reopening plan on Monday. That is when kindergarten through fifth graders who opted for in-person learning will return to classrooms, with sixth- through eighth graders returning on March 8.
Chicago Sun-Times: Black female aldermen want ban on no-knock warrants, other changes to avoid repeat of botched raid on social worker’s home
For Black women of the City Council’s Progressive Caucus, the botched raid on the wrong house that humiliated an innocent woman and forced a crying and pleading Anjanette Young to stand naked and handcuffed before male police officers for 40 minutes was personal and painful.
On Wednesday, they turned their outrage into action.
State Journal-Register: Big budget cuts to Springfield Fire Department; Ald. Redpath urges 'fiscal responsibility'
Nearly half of the Springfield Fire Department’s operating budget was slashed Tuesday and the Springfield City Council added on eight amendments that directly affected the Fiscal Year 2022 corporate fund budget before giving its final approval on a 9-1 vote.
That vote capped a nearly four-and-a-half-hour evening that started with a Committee of the Whole meeting then went to a public hearing session before the special city council meeting.
WTTW: With Mayor’s Backing, Progressive Aldermen Propose Demolition Fee to Slow Gentrification
Property owners and developers who want to demolish existing buildings in Pilsen and near the 606 Bloomingdale Trail would be required to pay a fee of up to $15,000 that would be used to fund affordable housing projects across the city, under a proposal for a pilot program introduced Wednesday by two progressive aldermen and Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Demolitions have been banned along the 606 trail since February 2020 as aldermen worked to craft a response to gentrification-fueled displacement happening along the popular biking and jogging trail.