Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Associated Press: Supreme Court again rejects appeal by ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday that it will not hear an appeal by imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich of his corruption convictions, the second time in two years it has declined to take up his case.
The nation’s highest court offered no explanation for its decision, letting stand the Chicago Democrat’s convictions. They included seeking to trade an appointment to the Senate seat Barack Obama vacated to become president for campaign cash.
NPR Illinois: Will Illinois Face Another Budget Impasse?
Passing a state budget is arguably the most important thing the Illinois General Assembly does every year — or at least should do every year.
After last year’s drama — when a two-year standoff ended with a Republican revolt against Governor Bruce Rauner — it’s an open question about how things will go this year.
Crain's Chicago Business: Illinois' pension crisis: Is there a way out?
Like a car stuck in the mud, Illinois’ pension-funding crisis seems to only keep getting worse, as the wheels keep spinning but only splatter mud everywhere and dig a deeper hole.
Consider that the unfunded liability in the state’s combined retirement systems has risen in 11 of the state’s past 12 years—despite a roaring stock market, despite a steady increase in contributions that now amount to a stunning $8 billion or so a year, and despite passage several years ago of a plan that markedly reduces benefits for those hired after Jan. 1, 2011. Between 2004 and 2016 (the last year for which audited financials are available) unfunded liability quadrupled, to $123.8 billion, according to the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, the Legislature’s financial watchdog unit.
WTTW Chicago Tribune: New Report Digs Into Drastically Underfunded Police, Fire Pensions
The city of Harvey last week made huge cuts to its police and fire departments after the state diverted more than a million dollars directly into its underfunded pension systems.
Under a law passed several years ago, the Illinois comptroller is required to divert state money directly to pension funds that have been shorted by municipal leaders, should the funds request it.
Chicago Tribune: Mock Indiana? Think again
You’ve probably heard the joke about why trees in Illinois lean east — because Indiana sucks.
Trash-talking our neighbor, or several of them, is the standard response from defenders of Illinois’ embarrassing political status quo. Yes, Indiana has a funded, stable pension system. Yes, Indiana keeps local governments accountable with effective property tax caps. Yes, Indiana pays its bills on time. But, hey, Hoosiers are all a bunch of hicks so who cares?
Chicago Sun-Times: Judges order state to hand over $1.4M in withheld tax revenue to Harvey
The Illinois Appellate Court on Monday lifted a temporary restraining order that had kept south suburban Harvey from receiving $1.4 million in tax revenue as it fights its police pension board over millions in back payments.
A Cook County Circuit Court judge had blocked the cash-strapped city from collecing the money last week, a move that forced officials to lay off dozens of police officers and firefighters.
WBEZ: Rauner Administration's Report Alludes To More Legionnaires’ Cases At Quincy Home
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration insisted on Monday that it did everything within its means to control fatal Legionnaires’ disease outbreaks at the Quincy veterans’ home and opened the door to undiagnosed cases more than a decade ago.
A 32-page report issued by Rauner’s office, among other things, took issue with “misconceptions” about the six-day delay in disclosing to the public details about a known Legionnaires’ “epidemic” at the home in 2015.
Chicago Tribune: Vernon Hills to pay departing village manager nearly $161,000
Vernon Hills officials and former village manager John Kalmar have signed a separation agreement that pays out nearly $161,000 in salary and benefits, according to the recently released contract.
The village manager is the top employee responsible for day-to-day operations. Kalmar signed the deal April 3 and village trustees voted 5-0 to approve the deal on April 4, but the document was kept confidential during a time period that allows for reconsideration.
Chicago Tribune: Get caught double parking in downtown Chicago? Fine could soon triple to $300.
Drivers who illegally double park downtown soon could face triple the fine at $300.
On Monday, Ald. Brendan Reilly advanced his plan to hit vehicles harder if they are parked “on the roadway side of any vehicle stopped or parked at the edge or curb of a street within the Central Business District.”
WBEZ: The Dubious Finances Of Chicago’s Winter Parking Ban
Early on a Monday last month, the city of Chicago auto pound on the West Side welcomed its usual morning parade.
Every few minutes, tow trucks hauled vehicles into the gated entryway of the impound lot at 701 N. Sacramento Blvd., while a stream of visibly upset drivers crawled out of cabs and ride-shares, car documents in hand, to pick up their towed vehicles.
Rockford Regsiter-Star: Rockford City Council OKs pay raises for police, non-union workers
City Council on Monday night agreed to a 2 percent pay increase for Rockford Police Department officers — and a matching pay hike for all non-union employees — after the police union exercised a wage re-opener option.
Rockford City Administrator Todd Cagnoni said the pay raises were factored into the city’s 2018 budget.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria City Council could settle garbage contract Tuesday
The city’s next garbage contract may start a year sooner than expected if the Peoria City Council approves the issue at a special meeting Tuesday.
City staff is recommending that PDC Services, the company that holds the present contract, receive a seven-year contract, with a three-year extension, handling garbage pickups as well as the collection of recyclables.
Belleville News-Democrat: SIUC remains a sacred cow valued as a cash cow. We're unmoo-ved.
It is predictable that the academicians and administration at Southern Illinois University Carbondale rallied to protect their money.
It is predictable that Democratic state Rep. Jay Hoffman reacted to the money vote by again pushing a bill to separate the Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses.