Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: State lawmakers continue to grapple with handling sexual misconduct complaints
As the sexual misconduct wave hit Hollywood, the media and other industries last fall, an open letter circulated through the Illinois Capitol demanding an end to a culture of disrespectful treatment of women. Lawmakers have been trying to decide the best way to respond, but finding consensus has been more difficult than anticipated.
The governor eventually signed legislation requiring sexual harassment training for lawmakers and others working in the Statehouse, but the debate revealed problems in reviewing such complaints.
State Journal-Register: Gambling expansion in Illinois no sure bet
Proponents of gambling expansion in Illinois are split on whether major legislation will get signed into law in 2018, with some going as far as saying there’s a better-than-even chance.
But, as in past years, others are betting efforts will come up short.
WBEZ: Chicago Schools Chief Pledges Major Changes To Special Education
The new head of the Chicago Public Schools told Chicago aldermen on Friday that she plans to scale back controversial changes to the school district’s program for children with special needs.
Janice Jackson’s pledge came during a City Council hearing about an overhaul to the program implemented by her predecessor Forrest Claypool, who resigned last month.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township officials amend budgets to cover bills
Algonquin Township officials have amended their road district and town budgets to cover about $1.5 million in unanticipated costs – including more than $300,000 spent on lawyers working on in-house legal battles.
At a Wednesday meeting, trustees transferred money from two of the township’s surplus funds to reshape the budget to pay for legal fees, engineering on roadwork and other operational costs.
Daily Herald: Property tax refund for AT&T costs District 220 $1.1 million
The office of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx settled 5,208 property-tax appeals during her first 11 months in office, resulting in refunds to businesses totaling more than $79.5 million, with the largest single settlement costing Barrington Area Unit District 220 $1.1 million in property tax revenue this year, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The break for AT&T Corp. related to refunds it sought for its Hoffman Estates office complex, which it has largely vacated in recent years. AT&T was represented by the law firm owned by powerful Chicago alderman Edward Burke, who held a fundraiser for Foxx at his home shortly before her election and contributed $10,000 to her campaign.
State Journal-Register: Cuts, consolidation, higher taxes in Langfelder’s budget plan
A mixture of cuts, consolidation and tax increases would pull Springfield through the next fiscal year, which starts in March, if aldermen accept Mayor Jim Langfelder’s budget proposal.
Budget director Bill McCarty handed out budget books last week to aldermen, and the city will have its first budget workshop open to the public Thursday.
The Southern: Alexander County Housing Authority rated worst in America by HUD
The Alexander County Housing Authority is the worst rated public housing authority in America, according to the latest assessment scores released by Housing and Urban Development last month.
There are about 3,400 public housing authorities in the country.