Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Opponents of proposed constitutional amendment warn of increased business costs
A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution that some argue contradicts federal law governing labor relations could raise taxes on small businesses, opponents of the amendment say.
Amendment 1 is on the November ballot in Illinois. It reads: “Employees shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions, and to protect their economic welfare and safety at work.”
Better Government Association: City Claims on Anti-Violence Program Are Overblown
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has entrusted much of the city’s $400 million violence-reduction strategy to a new city office created to coordinate a holistic approach to attacking “decades of disinvestment and systemic racism at the root of the problem.”
But a Better Government Association investigation reveals the optimistic rhetoric behind Lightfoot’s new Community Safety Coordination Center often outweighs the substance.
Chicago Tribune: Chicagoans adjust dining habits to take bite out of food prices: ‘Life’s not as comfortable as it used to be’
Michael Bacerott was thinking about heading to Shake Shack for lunch on Wednesday. He decided to go to the McDonald’s at Lake and LaSalle streets instead for a simple reason: it’s cheaper.
Bacerott, who lives in South Hammond, Indiana, and works as a clerk in the Loop, has started making adjustments to his dining-out routine. When he goes in to work these days, he’s more likely to bring his lunch from home.
Chicago Sun-Times: Bally’s play for long-awaited Chicago casino now up to state regulators — but hopes to open temporary site next year face long odds
State gambling regulators now hold the cards in Chicago’s casino game.
Bally’s Corporation on Wednesday filed its application with the Illinois Gaming Board seeking approval of its plan for a $1.7 billion riverfront casino-resort at Chicago Avenue and Halsted Street.
WBEZ: K-12 enrollment in Chicago Public Schools could drop by as much as 15,000 students this fall
This fall, the student population of Chicago Public Schools could continue its dramatic downward slide and drop below 300,000 elementary and high school students. Ten years ago, CPS enrolled 378,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
That’s the high-end prediction, based on current grade level enrollment and birth rate data, from researchers who specialize in using data to address civic problems. Last year CPS enrolled 314,500 students plus 15,000 preschoolers. The researchers predict K-12 enrollment could be as low as 262,000 by 2025.