Get the latest news from around Illinois.
WBBM: 'More gimmick than aid': Non-profit political group says Illinois gas tax freeze is misleading
The non-profit Illinois Policy Institute said it’s combatting “gas tax propaganda” by placing signs on some gas pumps in the Chicago area Friday, the day the gas tax was to increase until the legislature approved a pause.
Adam Schuster, with the organization, said Governor Pritzker’s attempt to provide temporary relief for Illinois residents helps them until just after the election is safely over, meaning it’s “more gimmick than aid.”
The Center Square: Price of Independence Day cookout substantially more than last year
If you plan on holding a July 4 cookout this weekend, expect to pay a lot more than what you paid for last year’s meal.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey, the overall cost for the Independence Day cookout is up 17%, or about $10 from last year. Ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation tied in part to increased government spending, and the war in Ukraine are being blamed for the price hikes.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago’s minimum wage is increasing July 1. Here’s what to know.
Chicago’s minimum wage is set to increase Friday, when it will rise above $15 per hour for the first time. The increase, of 40 cents for workers at the city’s large employers, comes at a time when many Chicagoans are struggling with the effects of sky-high inflation.
Groups like the Fight for $15 have pushed for higher minimum wages for years. The state minimum wage in Illinois is $12; the federal minimum wage sits at $7.25. It has not increased since 2009.
WBEZ: As cops leave Chicago public schools, staff move fitfully toward a new model of helping students
The uniformed Chicago police officer who works at Gage Park High School sits in an office most days with nothing to do. He’s bored so often that he recently talked to the principal about coaching baseball to fill his time. Students rarely see him in the hallways. And staff don’t think about asking him to intervene in incidents.
Hyde Park Academy High School’s officer helps monitor arrival and dismissal of students, making sure no outsiders are around to make trouble. He gives advice to students and parents about police matters. But he no longer responds to most in-school incidents, even serious ones.
The Center Squared: With one fewer seat, Illinois voters whittle incumbents for U.S. Congress
Illinois voters have selected a Republican challenger to U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. They also whittled away a couple members of Congress in Tuesday’s primary.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, beat U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, in the Republican primary for the 15th Congressional District. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Miller over Davis in the race.