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Chicago Tribune: 'It's never been as challenging as it is right now': Frustrated BNSF riders air complaints about delays, overcrowding
BNSF will host a series of town halls to hear from riders frustrated with delays, cancellations, schedule changes, and other problems on the rail line, vice president of passenger operations DJ Mitchell told a public forum of more than 100 people Monday night.
Mitchell also said he will review rail schedules with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and do a better job of communicating with passengers.
Chicago Tribune: Vote delayed on plan to limit Chicago tax subsidies on downtown construction projects
A measure aimed at tightening the rules for awarding public tax dollars to private developments, which could imperil more than $1 billion in subsidies Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants for high-profile projects near downtown, got derailed in a City Council committee Monday.
Supporters of the “TIF Back to Basics Ordinance” said they were confident they had the votes to get the long-stalled proposal through the Finance Committee. But before they could find out, committee chair Ald. Edward Burke asked if any of his colleagues wanted to call for a quorum. The meeting was three aldermen short of that standard, and Burke immediately recessed the committee until Tuesday.
State Journal-Register: Pritzker suggests tax help for small businesses to cope with minimum wage
Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker said Monday the state should consider tax breaks for small businesses to help them cover the cost of a higher state minimum wage.
Speaking after a thank-you rally at the Sangamon County Democratic Headquarters in Springfield, Pritzker said he still supports the idea of gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Charter Strike Over, But Does it Signal Changing Time in Chicago?
About 500 Chicago charter school teachers and 8,000 students were back in the classroom after a historic, nearly weeklong strike came to an end Sunday.
Teachers have a tentative contract with charter operator Acero, but it comes at a time when the environment for charter schools in Chicago is changing. A strike like this one wasn’t much of a possibility 22 years ago, when charters were first welcomed in Chicago. Some experts say it’s likely not the last.
Elgin Courier-News: Tentative deal reached in Geneva School District 304; classes to resume Tuesday
Classes will resume in Geneva School District 304 Tuesday after teachers ratified a five-year proposal Monday afternoon.
The vote comes after Geneva School District 304 and its teachers union reached a tentative agreement during lengthy contract negotiations Sunday into Monday. The deal came about 3:20 a.m. Monday, following 12 hours of negotiations that started Sunday.
WBEZ: Police Union Seeks To Kick Out Its Former President
A Chicago police union vice president has filed charges against former Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President Dean Angelo for comments he made to the media during the murder trial of Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke who was convicted in October for killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald while on duty. The charges against Angelo claim that his comments during the trial violated the police union’s constitution and worked against the best interests of the organization.
Angelo was union president when McDonald was killed. He hired Van Dyke to work as a janitor at the union hall after Van Dyke was suspended by the Chicago Police Department. Angelo was one of Van Dyke’s most vocal supporters throughout the criminal proceedings.
Daily Herald: Dist. 211 board says impasse with teachers continues as strike date looms
The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 board shared a notice via social media Monday night that the district and the teachers union were still at an impasse regarding a new contract.
The earliest the teachers could strike would be Monday, Dec. 17, the board’s message to parents said. Northwest Suburban Teachers Union Local 1211, however, has said the earliest it could go on strike is Thursday, Dec. 13.
Daily Herald: Elgin residents have been hearing loud 'booms.' They want city, state to fix problem.
Residents near Route 31 and Route 20 in Elgin say they have been hearing loud “booms” for several months and are asking the city and the state to help fix the problem.
The noise might be due to semitrailer trucks driving over the Route 31 bridge over Route 20, or possibly the Route 20 bridge over the Fox River, and hitting bumps that cause the trucks to bounce, said Sue Webb, president of the Elgin South West Area Neighbors group.
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County Board re-examines $1.7M Loves Park subsidy
New Winnebago County Board, same squabble.
Loves Park city officials attended a joint caucus meeting of the County Board on Monday to once again pitch the merits of their request for nearly $1.7 million from the county to help pay for infrastructure improvements near Interstate and East Riverside boulevards.
Peoria Journal-Star: School sales tax closer to Tazewell ballot reappearance after Washington approval
The School Board for Washington Community High School threw its support Monday behind an effort by Tazewell County superintendents to place a 1 percent county school facilities sales tax on the April 2 ballot.
The same sales tax measure was narrowly defeated in November by a 51.5 percent to 48.5 percent margin.