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Champaign News-Gazette: More gambling?
Illinois is betting big that gambling is an unadulterated good.
Change is coming to Illinois — a higher minimum wage first, soon to be followed by the legalization of marijuana.
Then there is sports gambling, which is an option due to a ruling last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition to action in many of the 50 states, federal legislation may be forthcoming.
Crain's Chicago Business: Chicago still wants you, Amazon
New York—or, to be more precise, Long Island City—never made much sense as the destination for the e-commerce giant’s halfsie headquarters. That a portion of the prize was going to go to the Washington D.C. area surprised no one, but New York was a head-scratcher mainly because so many of the factors Amazon said it was seeking—affordable talent and housing—are in such scant supply in and around the Big Apple. In short, New York doesn’t really need Amazon—and the hostile greeting the company has received there only underscores the point.
Crain's Chicago Business: Why 2019 is shaping up to be a tough year for Chicago’s hotel biz
More than 2,000 new hotel rooms are on track to open this year, adding more competition to a market that is grappling with a supply boom. A down year for big conventions at McCormick Place likely means fewer heads in beds. And after seven straight years of record-setting tourism to the city, hoteliers are about to lose perhaps their greatest cheerleader in Mayor Rahm Emanuel when he leaves office in May.
Northwest Herald: Marengo Fire Protection District to present upcoming referendum
A referendum for a property tax increase that would provide benefits programs for the Marengo Fire Protection and Rescue Squad districts will be presented to the Marengo City Council on Monday.
The referendum is set to appear on the ballot during the April 2 consolidated election.
Daily Herald: Seven referendums on Lake ballots in April
Seven referendums will appear on Lake County ballots for this spring’s consolidated local election.
The proposals include funding requests for school construction, water system improvements and fire department vehicles.
Belleville News-Democrat: More than 3 years later, Fairview Heights still hasn’t filled its city administrator job
In October 2015, about six months after Mark Kupsky was elected Fairview Heights mayor, the city agreed to part ways with its then-city administrator, Jim Snider.
At the time, Kupsky said he looked to possibly restructure the position and search for a replacement within the next three to four weeks for a home-rule community.