Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Proposed financial transaction tax could be heard in Springfield
As Illinois lawmakers consider new measures in Springfield, a controversial tax on stock market trades has been put back in line to be considered.
Supporters of the Financial Transactions Tax Act, dubbed the “LaSalle Street Tax” after the bustling Chicago street at the center of the business district, have hailed it as the solution to the state’s fiscal problems. But, even some of the state’s most progressive politicians have balked at the premise. Some said they worried the reaction would be an exodus of financial activity.
Chicago Tribune: Facing federal indictment in gambling case, Casey Urlacher resigns from Illinois Civil Service Commission
Casey Urlacher, the mayor of suburban Mettawa and brother of Chicago Bears’ Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, has resigned from the Illinois Civil Service Commission after being charged last week in a federal indictment alleging that he and others ran an offshore sports gambling ring.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration is “working to identify qualified candidates and name a replacement” following Urlacher’s resignation, Pritzker spokeswoman Jordan Abudayyeh said.
The Center Square: Cannabis consumers in Illinois paid nearly $10.5 million in taxes in January
Cannabis consumers who bought marijuana products at legal dispensaries in Illinois for the adult-use cannabis law that took effect Jan. 1 paid more than $10 million in taxes in January from nearly $40 million in total retail sales.
The Illinois Department of Revenue announced from just the state excise taxes alone, cannabis buyers paid $7,332,058 in taxes in the month of January. The tax on cannabis products is based on potency and ranges between 10 percent to 25 percent. There’s an additional 7 percent wholesale tax tacked on before the sale.
The Center Square: House panel to meet on challenge against appointed lawmaker’s qualifications
An appointed state lawmaker running in next month’s primary could have her qualifications challenged, starting with a hearing this week.
State Rep. Eva Dina Delgado, D-Chicago, was appointed by Democratic party officials in her district after Luis Arroyo resigned from the seat in November. He was arrested on charges of bribing an unnamed state senator. He also gave his local party votes to someone else who then cast the winning votes for Delgado to fill the vacancy.
News-Gazette: Executive order? Confusion reigns now
More than a year after Champaign County voters elected their first county executive, disagreement continues over the extent of the executive’s authority.
The most public dispute has centered on whether it’s the county executive or the county board chairman who has the power to choose and nominate successors to elected offices that become vacant in between elections.
Chicago Tribune: From ‘gaming’ the system to ‘outright cheating’: Probe of CPS standardized tests finds troubling irregularities, watchdog says
For students at some Chicago public schools, a standardized test that typically takes an hour to complete lasted, on average, for many hours over many days.
At one school, the five students who saw the biggest improvement in their math scores each took seven to 10 hours to complete the exam, and were allowed to pause the test as many as 19 times.
Chicago Sun-Times: Firing of Oakland’s top cop by civilian board could harden Lightfoot’s opposition to granting similar powers here, alderman warns
A civilian police commission’s decision last week to fire the police chief of Oakland, Ca. without cause could harden Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s opposition to giving similar powers to a civilian oversight panel in Chicago, an influential alderman warned Monday.
The Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability has acknowledged that state law gives the mayor of Chicago alone the power to fire the Chicago police superintendent.
Northwest Herald: With Route 53 extension dropped, what happens to $54 million in land?
Quashing the proposed extension of Route 53 north into Lake County may have been the easy part.
Residents who waged war against the pricey expansion rejoiced when the Illinois tollway dropped the project last July, effectively dooming it for lack of funds.
Chicago Sun-Times: Cook County Health’s chief financial officer leaving
The chief financial officer of Cook County Health is out in the latest leadership shakeup for the health system.
Ekerete Akpan joined Cook County Health in 2015.
In November, the Board of Cook County Health voted to oust Dr. John Jay Shannon, the CEO of the county’s health arm.
Daily Herald: Backers say the time is right for $147M Barrington 220 referendum
Barrington Area Unit District 220 will seek voter approval next month to borrow $147 million for building projects, including safety and security upgrades at all its schools.
Regardless of the outcome of the March 17 referendum vote, district residents will see a reduction in their property tax bills. How much depends on voters.
Chicago Sun-Times: Battle brewing over smoke detector proposal in city’s oldest homes, residential buildings
A heated political battle is simmering behind-the-scenes over a proposal by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s City Council floor leader to require smoke detectors installed in Chicago’s oldest homes and residential buildings to either be hard-wired or have ten-year batteries in the detectors.
Fire Commissioner Richard Ford II and Public Safety Committee chairman Chris Taliaferro (29th) are dead-set against the idea — and sounded the alarm about it during a closed-door meeting Monday with Lightfoot’s Office of Legislative and Governmental Affairs.
Herald-News: Will County board member to withdraw name from November ballot
Will County Board member Ray Tuminello announced Thursday he would not seek reelection to his seat because of a job opportunity.
Tuminello, R-New Lenox, said because of the opportunity, he’d asked the Will County Clerk’s Office to withdraw his name from the November ballot. He was running for reelection to his county board seat to represent District 12.