Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Resign, replace, and disempower voters. Keep repeating.
State Sen. Donne Trotter, a South Side Democrat, has served in the Illinois General Assembly since Ronald Reagan was president. But after 30 years in office, he announced last week that he won’t run again — or even finish the term that ends less than a year from now. His resignation was effective immediately, for reasons he didn’t feel the need to explain.
Odd timing? Not necessarily. Had he quit two months ago, the senator would have given other candidates a chance to file for the March Democratic primary. By quitting now, Trotter allows Democratic insiders to choose his replacement, which is expected to be one of two state representatives he has mentored, Marcus Evans and Elgie Sims.
Crain's Chicago Business: Audit stings Rauner's Medicaid program
A new state audit raises questions about the Rauner administration’s ability to keep tabs on private insurers in a Medicaid program that is estimated to cost the state $60 billion over the next four years.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services failed to adequately monitor $7.11 billion that flowed to and from private insurers in Medicaid managed care, a state program that aims to save the government money, according to a report released today by the Illinois auditor general.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois Capitol workers should wash hands with 'pencil-sized stream of water' after tests find possible bacteria
Employees at the Illinois Capitol have been told to use just a “pencil-sized stream of water” to wash their hands after a test of the water system revealed the possible presence of the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
Officials announced the preliminary test results in an email sent late Monday evening. In recent weeks, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has faced criticism over how it handled a deadly outbreak of the disease at a state-run veterans home.
Chicago Tribune: State charter leader accuses CTU of power grab as merger vote nears
Chicago Teachers Union members will vote this week on a merger with organized charter school teachers, an effort the head of the state’s charter advocacy group described as a power grab that would erode the independence of the publicly financed but privately run schools.
CTU’s vote, which begins Thursday, follows months of organizing and marks the latest development in a gradual alignment of educators at Chicago’s traditionally operated schools and its charters. Changes to the CTU constitution under consideration would allow other teachers — possibly including those at Catholic schools — to come into the union fold “at a later date,” union members have been told by leadership.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser wins round in labor dispute
Is the highway department the same as the road district?
To residents who pay taxes, the answer might seem simple.
Northwest Herald: Crystal Lake-based School District 155 Board approves multiyear superintendent contract
Community High School District 155 Superintendent Steve Olson lost his interim tag Tuesday night.
The district board approved a multiyear contract for Olson, who had served in an interim basis since August. Contract terms will be released Wednesday, officials said.
Daily Herald: Glen Ellyn District 89, teachers union agree to 5-year contract
The Glen Ellyn Elementary District 89 school board and teachers have approved a five-year contract that provides union members with average salary increases of 3 percent for each year of the pact.
The deals ends about six months of negotiations between the board and the Community Consolidated School District 89 Education Association, the union that represents 146 teachers. The two sides began talks in April 2017, but did not meet over the summer.
Rockford Register-Star: Suits against the Winnebago County Jail pouring in daily
The number of lawsuits being filed against Winnebago County officials in response to the intentional prolonged daily lockdowns is growing by the day.
Monday, Dave Kurlinkus, Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s chief of staff Civil Bureau, said four suits had been served.