Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Firing Speaker Madigan: Legislators, oust him now or doom Illinois to 2 more years of dysfunction
The conversations have been hushed and private, and in some circles considered preposterous. Would a Democrat in the Illinois House consider challenging 74-year-old Michael Madigan for the role of speaker? The vote is Jan. 11.
One Democrat, Rep. Scott Drury of Highwood, told WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program he would consider it. Other names have been dropped, including that of Rep. Elaine Nekritz, D-Northbrook, though she told us discussions of her opposing Madigan were part of a “scheme” by Gov. Bruce Rauner to create a distraction.
ABC 7 Chicago: Census: Illinois Lost More People Than Any Other State
Census Bureau estimates show Illinois lost more people than any other state in the past year.
The new figures released Tuesday cover July 2015 to last July and show a decline of 37,508 people in the state.
In total, eight states lost population in the same time period, including Pennsylvania, Wyoming and New York.
“Our loss rate is anywhere between two and six times the rate of surrounding states when you adjust for population,” said Michael Lucci, of the Illinois Policy Institute.
Chicago Tribune: A week after hitting Pritzker, Republicans go after Kennedy
A week after the Illinois Republican Party launched an early attack of the 2018 campaign with robocalls criticizing J.B. Pritzker, a potential Democratic challenger to Gov. Bruce Rauner, the party has now moved to Chris Kennedy, a Democrat who could try to leverage his famous political heritage into a run for governor.
The party on Tuesday announced an internet video that previews how the Republicans would try to get ahead of Kennedy’s ability to draw on his bloodline if he were to join the race.
Crain's Chicago Business: The cost of malpractice cases at Chicago's two public hospitals: $160 million—and counting
In early 2012, Linda Myers, a 60-year-old cancer patient, was vomiting and choking just before receiving a CAT scan at Cook County’s Stroger Hospital.
What happened next was the focus of a lawsuit her daughter, Michele Mallicott, brought against the public hospital. During the scan, Myers vomited again, causing her to choke and stop breathing long enough that she suffered brain damage, according to the Cook County lawsuit. Myers, a south suburban housekeeper, remained on life support until she died eight months later, according to court records. Late last year, Mallicott settled her lawsuit against the hospital for $1.5 million.
Chicago Tribune: City Council must allow public comment, judge rules
The City Council must allow members of the public to comment at all meetings, rather than just during committee sessions, a Cook County Circuit Court judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge Diane Joan Larsen concluded that not allowing speakers at full council meetings violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act. “Public comment must be allowed at all open meetings,” Larsen wrote.
Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel proposes higher fines for environmental violations
Rookie Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) has urged Mayor Rahm Emanuel to crack the whip against tire dumping, an environmental hazard that Lopez claims was endangering the lives of Southwest Side residents and destroying their quality of life.
It looks like the mayor finally got the message, even though it took seven months of behind-the-scenes lobbying.
Chicago Tribune: Amazon's Aurora distribution center deal may be one of the last last under EDGE program
Amazon is bringing two more distribution centers to the Chicago area with the promise of more than 1,000 jobs in Aurora, thanks in part to nearly $12.9 million in new corporate tax breaks through a state jobs program that soon may be overhauled.
It’s the latest in a set of tax breaks that potentially could save Amazon more than $100 million over the next decade if the giant delivery company fulfills promises to create thousands of jobs.
Chicago Sun-Times: Several CPS schools could be closed to make way for Englewood HS
Several South Side high schools are expected to be on the chopping block in the next few years to make way for a shiny new neighborhood high school in Englewood, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
The city’s public school system has set aside about $75 million in money it has borrowed for construction projects for what it’s calling a “Southside High School” at an undisclosed location.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Aldermen Propose Plan to Divest From Fossil Fuel Companies
Local lawmakers and activists are pushing for Chicago to join a rapidly growing list of cities worldwide that have committed to the fossil fuel divestment movement.
Thirty-nine aldermen have signed a resolution calling for Chicago pension funds to cut off any new investment in fossil fuel companies. The plan, which was presented to the City Council Finance Committee last week, would order the city’s pension boards to divest from any direct holdings in such companies over the next five years and invest in renewable energy sources that will “mitigate or limit effects of burning fossil fuel.”
Rockford Register-Star: Gov. Rauner signs bill to extend tax credit vital for Rockford redevelopment
Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation that extends a tax credit vital to the revival of downtown Rockford.
Rauner’s action extends the River Edge Redevelopment Zone program until Jan. 1, 2018. The program allows for an income tax credit for the restoration and preservation of qualified historic structures in the designated zones. There are River Edge Redevelopment Zones in Rockford, Aurora, Elgin, Peoria and East St. Louis.
NBC 5 Chicago: Calumet City Residents to Vote on $15 Minimum Wage for All Workers
The Calumet City Council approved an ordinance Monday allowing residents to vote to raise the minimum wage to $15 for all workers, including those who earn tips.
Residents will vote on the measure in the city’s upcoming April election, making Calumet City the first city in Illinois to allow a referendum on the minimum wage.
The Southern: Deadline approaching for state education funding commission
Illinois’ top leaders aren’t meeting to discuss the state budget, but a group that includes rank-and-file lawmakers from both parties has been meeting more frequently in recent weeks to come up with a plan to overhaul the way the state funds public schools.
Despite the standstill over the broader state budget, members of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s education funding reform commission say they’re optimistic that the group, which has been meeting since summer, will be able to come up with at least the outlines of what a new school funding formula should look like.
The Southern: Why did the state close Rend Lake Resort? And will it reopen?
It’s been a long and winding road to this point.
At one time, Rend Lake Resort was a beehive of activity, drawing tourists from Chicago and Metro East St. Louis to Southern Illinois. Last Friday, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced it had terminated the concessionaire’s lease and closed the facility.
In a Friday news release, the IDNR stated the resort faced delinquent rent payments of $205,000 while also owing $14,000 in real estate taxes as well as back payments for utilities and hotel operator’s taxes.