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Champaign News-Gazette: Newly elected Democratic legislator standing up to Madigan
A newly elected Democratic state representative from Naperville is shaping up as the most interesting — and dramatic — legislator in the new General Assembly that will take office in January.
That’s because state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray has separated herself from the herd of Democratic caucus members in the most notable way possible. She promises to oppose Speaker Michael Madigan’s bid for an 18th term as the all-powerful leader of the Illinois House of Representatives.
Chicago Tribune: Elk Grove Village says $300K sponsorship of Bahamas Bowl has already paid off, though some residents are skeptical
The way Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson tells it, his brainstorm came when he was stuck inside during the holidays last year, watching a succession of college football bowl games.
Noticing that every game featured a sponsor’s logo painted into the grass at the 50-yard line, he felt inspiration strike: His business-hungry village, which for years has promoted its “Makers Wanted” motto, should get in on the action.
Chicago Tribune: Don't forget Ed Burke's enablers
Butcher paper no longer obscures the entry to Ald. Ed Burke’s City Hall office. But the federal agents who raided Burke’s lair left him politically weakened. Is that enough, finally, to bring scrutiny to the $100 million per year city workers’ compensation system that Burke monolithically controls?
Some Progressive Caucus aldermen see in Burke’s predicament a chance to strip him of that authority and hand the program to the city’s corporation counsel. If this gambit sounds familiar, you’re recalling one of the City Council’s many days of infamy: Feb. 10, 2016. The question is whether aldermen who didn’t find the courage to rein in Burke nearly three years ago will find it today.
Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel criticizes Ginger Evans for not blowing the whistle on Burke
If Ald. Edward Burke (14th) was working behind-the-scenes to interfere with O’Hare Airport contracts, former Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans had a responsibility to report those alleged pressure tactics the moment they happened, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Monday.
Four days after Evans lifted the veil on the Finance Committee chairman’s behind-the-scenes maneuverings at O’Hare, Emanuel essentially asked a simple question of the woman who was Chicago’s highest-paid city official before stepping down last summer: Where has she been?
Daily Herald: Deal averts teachers strike in District 211
A potential strike in Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 has been averted after an overwhelming majority of teachers approved a proposed deal reached Monday after hours of negotiations over the weekend.
The district announced the agreement on its website Monday afternoon.
Daily Herald: South Elgin likely to ask voters for sales tax increase in April
The South Elgin village board wants to place a referendum question on the April 2 election ballot asking voters for a 0.5 percent local sales tax increase to fund road improvements.
To be precise, the village wants to increase by that amount its retailers occupation tax, paid for items you buy, and its service occupation tax, paid when you have services done. As per state law, the increase would not apply to groceries and pharmaceuticals, Village Administrator Steve Super said.
Peoria Journal-Star: Washington approves 7.5 percent property tax levy hike
City Council members Monday voted 7-1 to approve a 7.5 percent increase in the city’s property tax levy.
The hike will cost the average Washington homeowner about $12 a year.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Bloomington aldermen OK levying $25.15M for city, library
The City Council approved preliminary property tax levies totaling $25.15 million for the city and Bloomington Public Library on Monday night and heard details about a reorganization at City Hall.
The council voted unanimously to adopt a 2018 property tax levy of $20.28 million for the city, which is up from the 2017 levy of $20.06 million. The Bloomington Public Library’s levy was set at $4.871 million — a $48,236 increase from the previous year.