Get the latest news from around Illinois.
News-Gazette: Madigan wins ... again
Hey, Mike Madigan.
The news is out. Lord, it’s all over town.
It’s just like Hank Williams wrote in his country classic — you win again.
NBC 5 Chicago: Illinois' Budget Stalemate Left State With Serious Bills to Pay
Illinois finally has a budget plan after two years. Now, to start paying bills.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature’s vote last week to create a $36 billion framework over Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s vetoes ended the nation’s longest fiscal stalemate since at least the Great Depression. At the core of the budget was a $5 billion income tax increase.
Fox Illinois: Contractors work to resume projects following IDOT closure
Illinois is feeling the effects of the two-year budget impasse on its roadways. On July 1, IDOT had to shut down due to not having any funding. This led to every state-funded construction project stopping in its tracks.
Following the state passing a budget on July 6, IDOT was able to reopen. However, the closure cost the state $20 million due to shutting down and reopening projects.
Chicago Sun-Times: 1 of 4 African-American students stuck in subpar schools: report
One in every four African-American students in Chicago Public Schools attends a “failing” school, according to a new analysis that puts the number for Hispanic students at two in 25, and for white students, two in 100.
That’s according to a new analysis published Monday by the education advocacy group New Schools for Chicago, which also says about one in every five schools overall isn’t fulfilling the promise of a quality education. New Schools, previously known for charter school advocacy, took a two-year average of the scores, such as test scores and attendance, that CPS uses to rate its schools from Level 1+ at the top down to Level 3.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel gets some victories from Springfield
Mayor Rahm Emanuel could bask in legislative victories after last week’s special legislative session in Springfield wrapped up.
Emanuel got pension reforms passed, the potential for more money from a 911 phone fee increase and lawmakers’ approval of an education spending plan that would drive more money toward Chicago Public Schools. Earlier, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a plan to crack down on people convicted of repeat gun crimes that the mayor had pushed for.
Chicago Tribune: Jackson Park's revamp — what will Chicagoans pay?
A transformational project for this community.” That’s how Barack Obama described the planned presidential center dedicated to him when he came to Chicago in May to pitch it. Transformational indeed, not just for its venue, Jackson Park, or the struggling South Side neighborhoods nearby, but for the city itself.
Some people would say the same about the Tiger Woods-designed, PGA-worthy revamp of the Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses. Both proposals potentially have the scope and star power to back up such predictions.
Crain's Chicago Business: State Farm is hiking rates on Illinois drivers—again
After hiking auto-insurance rates last year by the most in more than a decade, State Farm is following up with a smaller bite at the apple this year. The insurer of about one in every three Illinois drivers will increase rates on average 2.2 percent beginning in September.
The increase follows a 5.8 percent jump that took effect last Halloween. The Bloomington-based insurer hadn’t raised prices for drivers by that much in 14 years.
Rockford Register-Star: Time to get serious about bringing home rule back to Rockford
Imagine what Rockford could accomplish if home rule authority were restored.
— It could better deal with absentee landlords whose properties become eyesores and drag down the values of other homes in the neighborhood.
Peoria Journal-Star: Stark County Board to meet for the first time since leaders resigned
The pressing financial strains that underlay the intense controversy leading up to the recent resignations of the Stark County Board’s leadership aren’t going to go away simply because two unpopular officials did.
That’s the main message that the board’s senior member hopes people will remember as the panel regroups in the wake of the departures of embattled Chairwoman Coleen Magnussen and Vice Chairman Fulvio Zerla.
Quincy Herald-Whig: Schools, tax districts receive revenue
More than 100 Adams County tax districts have received over $44 million in real estate taxes while awaiting money from Illinois’ recently-passed state budget.
With the first tax distribution of the year on July 3, five public school districts in Adams County each received more than $1 million. Quincy Public Schools got $19.4 million; Mendon Unity School District, $2.2 million; Camp Point Central School District, $1.9 million; Payson School District, $1.6 million; and Liberty School District received $1.4 million.