Mayor Rahm Emanuel reported making $554,000 in 2017 — by far his highest income since taking office, according to a newly released tax return from the mayor.

In addition to his $201,000 public salary, Emanuel reported making an additional $353,000 from interest, dividends and capital gains from investments, the records show. The mayor claimed $104,000 in deductions and paid $118,000 in taxes for an effective tax rate of 26 percent.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s tax on cigars, chewing tobacco and roll-your-own tobacco is legal and can be added to the price of those tobacco products, according to a court ruling.

The Illinois Appellate Court overruled the Cook County circuit court last week in a lawsuit brought by a tobacco retailers group against Emanuel’s 2016 taxes. The group sued on the grounds state law prohibited new types of tobacco taxes, and the city had previously only taxed cigarettes.

Years ago, the Lake Villa Library District board asked voters for permission to build a new facility, but voters rejected the plan.

By the end of next summer, the district will open a new 66,000-square-foot library in Lindenhurst.

Early applications at the University of Illinois’ flagship campus jumped 24 percent this fall to a record high, though it’s unclear if it’s just an early bump or an overall increase, the UI’s top admissions official says.

Several factors appear to be at work, including the new “Illinois Commitment” offering free tuition to lower-income students, said Andy Borst, director of undergraduate admissions for the Urbana campus.