Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan’s lawyer defends how he handled harassment complaints as major case snares spotlight
The attorney charged with looking into the sexual harassment complaint that rocked House Speaker Michael Madigan’s Democratic organization acknowledged she regrets she didn’t react faster after a female campaign worker said she received unwanted advances and text messages from a longtime Madigan loyalist.
“In hindsight, I wish I had put everything in my personal and professional life aside and focused solely on this until it was brought to a resolution,” Heather Wier Vaught, who examined the issue on behalf of Madigan’s political organization, told the Tribune.
Crain's Chicago Business: Revolving door spins again at state's utility regulator
Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013 named little-known Sherina Maye to the Illinois Commerce Commission, his final appointment to a traditionally sleepy body that, in keeping with his consumer-friendly brand, he hoped would be transformed into a tough utility regulator.
But unlike Quinn’s four other nominees who in various ways tried to pursue his agenda, Sherina Maye Edwards (now her married name) turned out to be a reliable vote for rate hikes and other utility requests. She also proved to be an ally of Peoples Gas as the utility fought to preserve a costly, mismanaged gas-main replacement program and gain approval for a lucrative sale to a Milwaukee-based utility holding company, WEC Energy Group.
Chicago Tribune: Obama center's roadwork costs will total $175 million, city says
Proposed roadwork and underpass construction for the planned Obama Presidential Center will cost about $175 million, Chicago officials said Friday. It’s the first time the city has given an estimate of the public cost of the privately funded center.
The proposed changes include widening portions of South Lake Shore Drive and Stony Island Avenue to accommodate a key feature of the center, the closing of a portion of Cornell Drive. A report prepared for city and state transportation officials said Cornell would need to be closed by the end of 2019 for the center to open as planned in 2021.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago, rest of Illinois get a C- for state of roads, bridges from engineering trade group
An engineering trade group has given Illinois’ roads, bridges, rail, transit and other infrastructure a grade not worthy of hanging on the refrigerator: a C-minus.
The grade was part of a report by the American Society of Civil Engineers, a national organization that represents those in the business of designing and fixing bridges, roads and other structures. The group also issues grades for other states.
Chicago Sun-Times: With CPS set to close 4 South Side schools, questions on community support
When Chicago Public Schools leaders announced plans to permanently close Englewood’s four high schools and replace them with a new, $85 million school, they cited the schools’ plunging enrollment along with community support.
Yet the plans drew vocal opposition at meetings since mid-January that the school system set up to demonstrate that support. Shouting matches erupted, and police were called in at one as parents and students complained that the four schools collectively had seen enrollment plunge to under 500 due to CPS officials’ neglect.
Daily Herald: Kane County clerk will open Aurora satellite office if election commission voted down
If voters decide to disband the Aurora Election Commission, Kane County would open a satellite clerk’s office in the city.
That’s the plan outlined in a letter of intent signed by County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen, Clerk Jack Cunningham and Mayor Richard Irvin.
Peoria Journal-Star: Parking ticket in Downtown Peoria to rise to $20?
The cost of a parking violation in Downtown Peoria may be increased from $15 to $20.
Public Works Director Scott Reeise addressed the Peoria City Council earlier this month, proposing that the city’s equipment currently used to monitor parking was outdated and able to be replaced by a smartphone app.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Judge: State must turn over names of associates in arena theft case
The state was ordered Friday to give to the defense the names of people who may have been involved with John Y. Butler’s alleged theft of public money from the city-owned arena.
Butler’s firm, Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM), operated the former U.S. Cellular Coliseum for 10 years before he opted not to renew an agreement with the city in 2016. Butler and four other CIAM officials were charged in September with more than 100 counts of theft, money laundering, wire fraud and tax evasion.
Bloomington Pantagraph: 'Not out of the woods': Richland braces for state budget uncertainty
As Bloomington-Normal’s community college moves to increase tuition for the coming school year, Richland Community College leaders have not ruled out the chance they will follow suit.
Those discussions will take place in the coming weeks, said Richland President Cris Valdez, and will include members of the student government. Any adjustments would come on top of a 3 percent tuition hike approved by the college’s board of trustees last year.