Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois school funding talks to resume, issues include whether CPS can raise property taxes further
The four Democratic and Republican legislative leaders are scheduled to meet again Thursday about Illinois’ lack of an education funding plan, looking for compromise on a range of issues such as whether Chicago Public Schools can raise property taxes further and whether districts should be required to provide daily physical education classes.
Details of the talks remain fluid. Still, House Speaker Michael Madigan canceled Wednesday’s planned vote to override Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s changes to a Democratic plan to overhaul how Illinois divvies up money for schools. He declared progress was being made.
Chicago Tribune: Speakers at CPS hearing assail budgeting practices
In a series of occasionally sharp exchanges on Wednesday, Chicago Public Schools officials defended the district’s fiscal practices amid fresh rebukes from advocates and labor union members over a $5.7 billion budget plan that relies on money that has yet to materialize.
Chicago Board of Education members are expected to approve the spending framework next week. Critics on Wednesday targeted the district’s reliance on expensive borrowing and demanded that board members appointed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel support new taxes to help fund the system.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Chicago Teachers to Board of Ed: Find Funding or Reject CPS’ Budget Proposal
As the Chicago Board of Education works through its annual budgeting process for Chicago Public Schools, local teachers and education advocates have called on the board to reject the $5.7 billion spending plan until the district can find more reliable funding sources.
Speakers at the first of two CPS-led public hearings Wednesday repeatedly called on board members to vote down the district’s budget proposal, and instead advocate more strongly for sustainable funding.
News-Gazette: With pension system on brink, there will be hurt
What happens when the irresistible force meets the immovable object?
Or, to put it another way, who pays when a bankrupt municipal pension system collides head on with pension members armed with a constitutional right to be paid?
“We don’t currently know,” said Jeffrey Brown, dean of the University of Illinois College of Business. “But someone is going to have to go without.”
Chicago Sun-Times: Rauner signs bill to end arrests for being seen with gang members
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Tuesday signed legislation that protects parolees from being arrested merely for being seen with alleged gang members.
One of the bill’s chief sponsors called it a “fix” to a problem exposed by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago Tribune: New Illinois law protects consumers who post negative reviews to sites like Yelp
Consumers who post negative reviews on sites like Yelp have new protections under Illinois law.
A bill signed into law last week by Gov. Bruce Rauner prohibits businesses from including or enforcing nondisparagement clauses in contracts for the sale or lease of consumer goods or services. Such so-called “gag” clauses are meant to dissuade customers from posting critical reviews by threatening them with fees if they do.
Chicago Tribune: Ethics officials probing Cook County property tax appeals official
Cook County ethics officials are investigating whether tax appeals Commissioner Larry Rogers Jr. profited when his law firm sued county government, and they’re asking a judge to order Rogers’ firm to turn over income information.
A special assistant county state’s attorney representing the ethics panel filed a petition in Cook County Circuit Court on Wednesday seeking to enforce a subpoena that seeks documents showing “the breakdown of compensation” that Rogers received since January 2014 from Powers, Rogers & Smith LLP.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County board members speak to residents in unofficial setting after failing to reach a quorum for special meeting
The McHenry County Board members who called a special meeting Wednesday night were unable to establish a quorum, but that didn’t stop several members from discussing the issues raised with about 30 people in the audience.
Eight board members called for a special meeting Wednesday night to vote on resolutions to reinforce board members’ commitment to transparency and to discuss whether to authorize the hiring of two people who already were added to the County Board departmental roster.
Rockford Register-Star: Unbudgeted paybacks taxing Winnebago County coffers
The Winnebago County Board is grappling over a pending payment of nearly $300,000 owed to the village of New Milford because of an apparent oversight on the part of the county.
In 2009, the county agreed to reduce the amount it charges Groot Industries to dump garbage at Winnebago Landfill. The suburban Chicago high-volume waster hauler’s host fee went from $3.47 per ton to $2.47 per ton. At the same time, the county also approved a new agreement with New Milford, which receives its host fee payments from the county. The revised agreement reduces the county’s rate of pay to New Milford from 20 cents per ton to 14 cents per ton for Groot waste.
Bloomington Pantagraph: District 87 reaches tentative pact with teachers
Bloomington District 87 has reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract with the Bloomington Education Association.
The tentative agreement includes a 1 percent increase on base salary in the first year and 1.4 percent increases in the second and third years of the contract, according to Superintendent Barry Reilly.
State Journal-Register: District 186 presents facility transformation scenarios
The Springfield School District on Wednesday entered the nitty-gritty phase of its ongoing effort to transform its facilities, unveiling a series of scenarios, with dollar figures attached, to the public.
More than 200 people gathered at Springfield High School Wednesday night for the latest community-engagement session. The next meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 27 at Lanphier High School.