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State Journal-Register: Pritzker administration seeks extension in AFSCME impasse appeal
The Pritzker administration is asking for an extension to appeal the AFSCME contract impasse issue, something that isn’t sitting well with the union.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration said Thursday that it is asking for a three-month extension to decide whether to appeal a lower court decision that the state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are at impasse in talks over a new contract.
Belleville News-Democrat: Pritzker, others consider gambling expansion to boost state finances, balance budget
A long-sought gaming expansion has again been called for by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, leaving questions about what it could look like, and bringing up concerns of decreasing casino revenues.
Getting a gaming expansion would require finding enough support, while not upsetting those areas that already see benefits from casinos, which have been seeing shrinking revenues.
Chicago Tribune: State's Attorney Kim Foxx announces support for legalizing pot, calls for expunging misdemeanor convictions
Announcing her support for legalizing marijuana in Illinois, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said her office plans to help expunge all misdemeanor marijuana convictions in an attempt to help those hurt by the criminal record.
Foxx’s comments came during a luncheon speech before the City Club of Chicago at which she touted improvements to her office since taking over in December 2016.
Chicago Tribune: FBI agents seize computer servers in 2nd search of Ald. Ed Burke's City Hall office last month
FBI agents returned to powerful Ald. Edward Burke’s City Hall offices for a second time in December to seize a large stack of computer servers tucked into a closet-size room, records obtained by the Chicago Tribune on Thursday show.
The Dec. 13 search was in stark contrast to the highly visible raid carried out by the FBI two weeks earlier when agents arrived early in the morning, covered the windows to Burke’s Finance Committee offices with brown butcher paper and worked for hours behind closed doors.
Chicago Sun-Times: Developer of Old Main Post Office cooperating in federal investigation of Burke
The developer of Chicago’s Old Main Post Office is cooperating with federal investigators working to build a corruption case against Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th), the now-deposed chairman of the City Council’s Finance Committee, according to a source familiar with the investigation.
For more than two decades, Harry Skydell has served as director of acquisition and development for 601W Companies. He could not be reached for comment. The nature and extent of Skydell’s cooperation are not known.
Crain's Chicago Business: Lincoln Yards wins Plan Commission approval
After a meeting that included heated testimony from North Side residents calling for more time to review the proposal, the commission approved developer Sterling Bay’s Lincoln Yards megaproject, which would redraw historically industrial riverfront land with a sprawling campus featuring skyscrapers as tall as 650 feet.
Daily Southtown: Ex-Posen mayor accused of embezzling village funds
The former mayor of Posen has been charged with embezzling village funds during his final two full years in office, according to a federal indictment.
Donald Schupek, who served three terms as mayor of the small south suburban community before losing a re-election bid in 2017, was indicted Jan. 17 on charges he stole money from the village’s checking account.
Northwest Herald: Crystal Lake-based School District 155 approves new teachers contract
The Community High School District 155 Board approved a three-year teachers contract that includes an increase in pay and benefits for district employees.
The board voted, 4-2, in favor of the contract, with Rosemary Kurtz and Ron Ludwig voting against it. Amy Blazier was absent.
Northwest Herald: 2 Algonquin Township trustees allege extortion, intimidation by Gasser
The Algonquin Township board will hold a special meeting at 2 p.m. Friday to vote on releasing minutes from an executive session where a pair of trustees alleged in a McHenry County Sheriff’s Office report that Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser leveraged his cooperation in lawsuit settlement negotiations in an attempt to coerce the board into approving his bills and increasing his legal budget by $100,000.
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County Board reduces chairman’s authority
The Winnebago County Board voted 12-8 Thursday night to transfer powers from the board chairman to the county administrator.
County Administrator Carla Pascal will now answer to the board, not to board Chairman Frank Haney.