Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Pritzker banking on $200 million from legal sports betting, but efforts to expand gambling have never been easy in Illinois
Gov. J.B. Pritzker is counting on $200 million in licensing fees from legalized sports wagering to help plug a $3.2 billion hole in next year’s state budget.
But years of failed efforts to expand gambling in Illinois suggest his plan is no sure thing.
Champaign News-Gazette: Pritzker makes his budget cases
New Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week revealed short-term and long-term financial proposals in his budget address.
Illinois’ new governor made a triumphant appearance before legislators last week, delivering a well-received speech about the state’s woes that included promises to tax and spend his way to a $38.7 billion balanced budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
It was a challenge to determine which was longer — his lists of tax increases or spending increases.
Peoria Journal-Star: Lawmaker proposes cars only have one license plate
Illinois motor vehicles would only need one license plate if a bill sponsored by a Chicago-area lawmaker is passed.
Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, introduced House Bill 1623, which states that the Secretary of State would issue only one license plate to cars, motorcycles, trailers, semi trailers, motorized pedalcycle or truck tractors, instead of two.
WBEZ: Will Chicago Move To An Elected School Board Next Year?
Two years ago, Chicago appeared on the verge of switching from an appointed school board to an elected one after bills cleared the Illinois House and the Senate. But the bills stalled and then died, largely because both then-Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and Mayor Rahm Emanuel opposed the idea.
Now, with Rauner gone and Emanuel on his way out, lawmakers and advocates have renewed hope that Chicago will get an elected school board.
Northwest Herald: Marengo considering development incentives with I-90 interchange coming soon
After years of discussion and planning, construction of the first entrance to Interstate 90 in McHenry County is slated to begin in March, Marengo City Administrator Joshua Blakemore said.
Preconstruction work has been underway on I-90 at Route 23, Blakemore said, and the early part of construction is not expected to impede traffic on Route 23.
Daily Herald: Churchill Downs heading toward finish line for Rivers Casino deal
An Illinois agency as soon as this week may consider approval of Churchill Downs Inc.’s proposed deal for majority ownership in Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, with sports betting cited as a reason the Louisville-based company wants to expand its Chicago-area presence beyond Arlington Park Racecourse.
Churchill Downs intends to acquire about 50.1 percent of Rivers Casino’s parent company, Midwest Gaming Holdings. Churchill Downs expects to pay at least $326 million cash to investment groups for the majority stake, according to the company’s December presentation at a Bank of America Merrill Lynch leveraged finance conference.
Peoria Journal-Star: How well has Tobacco 21 ordinance worked in Peoria?
Some central Illinois cities have already banned the sale of tobacco to anyone younger than 21 — a fact that advocates point to as they try to pass a law to make that apply statewide.
In Illinois, at least 30 communities have passed ordinances to raise the age to buy tobacco products to 21. Peoria, Normal and Washington are the only central Illinois areas to increase the age. The rest have been in Chicago or the suburbs.