Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Associated Press: Illinois held 'auction' of residents while closing facility
The rush to close a large institution for adults with developmental disabilities during former Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration led to extraordinary strategies to move residents quickly and hide problems with an underfunded group home system, according to a newspaper investigation.
The Chicago Tribune says state officials required group home operators to sign a pledge not to undermine the state’s plans to close Jacksonville Developmental Center — or risk getting no referrals from the facility to fill empty beds.
Chicago Sun-Times: Nearly 200 new Illinois laws to take effect in January
Nearly 200 new Illinois laws will take effect in the new year, including first-in-the nation rules requiring hairstylists to undergo training to help domestic violence victims and others making it easier for juvenile offenders to get a fresh start.
The 192 laws taking effect Jan. 1 cover many topics, including health, law enforcement and youth. There’s even one for state history buffs.
Chicago Tribune: CTA announces deal with unions to extend jobs program for felons
The CTA announced a tentative agreement Friday with two unions to extend a job program for felons.
The Second Chance program, which provides temporary jobs cleaning buses and trains to felons, was set to end Saturday amid a contract dispute with the rail and bus unions. The specifics of the tentative agreement were not released, however, and the proposal still needs to be approved by the unions. Second Chance workers pay union dues.
Chicago Sun-Times: Crooked pol’s pension take was $2M; now widow collects
In the 1980s, the FBI enlisted the help of an undercover mole to ensnare crooked Chicago politicians “dumb enough to listen to him,” according to one account.
Among those charged was then-Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Morgan Finley, accused of accepting $25,000 in bribes from the operative so a company could get a leg up on a government contract to collect parking-ticket fines.
NBC 5 Chicago: Illinois’ Stopgap Budget Expires at the End of the Year
With budget negotiations halted in Springfield, it seems unlikely that Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state’s top legislative leaders will be able to reach a new deal before the current stopgap spending plan expires at the end of the year.
But what does that mean for Illinois residents?
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Long-Vacant Michael Reese Site Poised for Development
For nearly a decade, the former Michael Reese Hospital site in the Bronzeville neighborhood has sat empty and unused.
In 2008, the city of Chicago purchased the nearly 50-acre property and tore down most of the buildings on it in anticipation of making it the 2016 Olympic Village. Those hopes, of course, were dashed in 2009 when Chicago wasn’t selected to host the 2016 Games.
State Journal-Register: Time to end cash-bond system?
Several local officials don’t see eye-to-eye with Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, who has called for Illinois to abolish its cash-bond system.
The outspoken sheriff says Illinois’ current system is unfair to low-level defendants who can’t afford to pay.
In addition, Dart argues, the cash-bond system puts society in danger when defendants with violent backgrounds are freed until trial when posting bail.