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Chicago Tribune: Charter school network asking labor board to put an end to teachers strike
The Acero charter school network is seeking a court order to end a teachers strike that kept about 7,500 students out of the classroom.
The network on Friday filed an unfair labor charge with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, arguing the strike violates state law. Acero says teachers walked out without meeting the requirements necessary for educational employees to strike. The Chicago Teachers Union did not follow mediation or notice requirements before striking, the complaint alleges.
Chicago Sun-Times: Another $11.7M added to mountain of settlements tied to police misconduct
Throw another $11.7 million on the mountain of legal settlements tied to misconduct allegations against Chicago Police officers. The agenda for Monday’s meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee includes three more costly settlements.
The largest of the three — for $10.5 million — will go to Lewis Gardner and Paul Phillips. Gardner was 15 at the time of his arrest. Phillips was 17.
WBEZ: Chicago Task Force Will Take on Ticket and Debt Collection Reform
The city of Chicago on Thursday took a potentially big step toward reducing the harmful impact of its ticketing and debt collection practices on low-income and minority motorists, launching a task force that will examine issues ranging from disparities in enforcement to punishments for people who don’t pay their tickets.
The task force, called the Chicago Fines, Fees & Access Collaborative, was created by City Clerk Anna Valencia and will bring together officials from police, finance and other key city departments, as well as more than a half-dozen aldermen, community organizations and independent researchers.
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County Board chairman, Loves Park at odds over subsidy veto
The decision last month by the Winnebago County Board to hand over nearly $1.7 million to the city of Loves Park to help pay for infrastructure improvements to East Riverside and Interstate boulevards passed narrowly by a vote of 11-8 with one abstention.
And three of the yes votes came from board members who are no longer on the board.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Some counties keeping property tax prepayment for 2018
Last year’s federal tax law may have brought a lasting new service to some Central Illinois taxpayers.
After several area counties added the ability for residents to pay their next year’s property taxes in advance, taking advantage of a federal deduction limited in the tax law that took effect Jan. 1, two will keep that program for 2018.
Champaign News-Gazette: As interim Urbana superintendent, Williams' pay set at $1,200 per day
While Urbana looks for a new school superintendent to replace the ousted Don Owen, interim fill-in Preston Williams will be compensated up to $144,000 for a maximum 120 days of work in the job he once held, according to district documents.
Meanwhile, the school board — which voted Tuesday to place Owen and Assistant Superintendent Kathy Barbour on paid leave effective immediately — said its search for permanent replacements will begin “shortly.”