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Peoria Journal-Star: Lawmakers, governor vow transparency in capital bill spending
Gov. JB Pritzker and local lawmakers pledged transparency Thursday on how money in the state capital bill will be spent.
Most of the money in the $45 billion plan will be spent directly by state agencies, particularly the Department of Transportation, Pritzker reminded attendees at a news conference to announce Peoria-area projects. Dollars raised by the state for transportation purposes must be spent on transportation projects under an amendment to the Illinois Constitution approved by voters.
Associated Press: Illinois overhaul of financial systems $150M over budget
An effort by the state of Illinois to consolidate hundreds of separate financial reporting systems has cost $150 million more than estimated.
Auditor General Frank Mautino’s audit of the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology found that the cost of the Enterprise Resource Planning project exceeded the initial five-year, $250 million estimate by 60 percent largely because of an aggressive implementation schedule. It began by tackling 260 separate financial reporting systems.
Chicago Sun-Times: State blows first deadline in Chicago casino timeline: ‘Working through the process’
Less than two weeks after Illinois’ massive gambling expansion was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, state officials have stumbled out of the starting gate in the race for a Chicago casino.
The Illinois Gaming Board was supposed to have selected a consultant to conduct a feasibility study on the city casino within 10 days of Pritzker signing the bill on June 28 — the law’s first hard deadline that came and went Monday.
Crain's Chicago Business: CTU makes explicit threat to strike Chicago schools
In an email, union President Jesse Sharkey repeated recent complaints that Lightfoot has not followed through on campaign promises to boost early childhood education, neighborhood schools and the like. “Those campaign promises mirrored the equity agenda of our movement,” said Sharkey, passing over the fact that CTU endorsed another candidate for mayor, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
Chicago Tribune: ‘A red flag’: Developers sought reimbursement for $20,000 in donations to Chicago alderman
As developers sought taxpayer help to overhaul a prominent South Side apartment building, an unusual email arrived at the Chicago Housing Authority that raised a red flag for its top ethics watchdog and drew interest from the FBI.
In the 2013 email, the developers sought taxpayer reimbursement for various expenses tied to the redevelopment of the historic Rosenwald Courts housing complex in Bronzeville. In the more than two dozen standard entries was one eye-catching line: “Donation-Alderman $20,000.”
Chicago Sun-Times: Carrie Austin grand jury also looking into family who’ve made millions on City Hall deals
A federal grand jury looking into Ald. Carrie Austin’s purchase of a new home has also subpoenaed records regarding businesses connected to a family of suburban entrepreneurs whose companies have been paid more than $100 million on City Hall deals in the past 17 years.
All but one of the companies are owned by Lemont businessman Boris Nitchoff, his sons Alex Nitchoff and Constantino Nitchoff and his granddaughter Lauren Nitchoff. The other company is owned by Antonia Tienda, who city records show formerly worked as a project manager for one of the Nitchoff companies.
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Dirty tricks’ that ‘undermine’ candidates aren’t a crime, Madigan attorneys argue
Political candidates have a constitutional right to run — no matter the reason — and “dirty tricks” are not a federal crime, lawyers for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan declared in a court filing this week.
That assertion comes in a federal case that alleges the powerful Southwest Side Democrat planted two “sham” candidates on the ballot, the central complaint of a lawsuit stretching into its third year.
Chicago Sun-Times: Lightfoot pleads for patience in weaning city off ‘addiction’ to punishing those who can least afford it
Chicago has become “addicted” to balancing its budget on the backs of people who can least afford it and it’ll take years to wean the city from that habit, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Thursday.
Lightfoot campaigned on a promise to bring equity to an overly punitive ticketing, towing and booting policy that has unfairly targeted minorities and forced thousands into bankruptcy.
Northwest Herald: Attorney general's office advises Algonquin Township to respond to Edgar County Watchdogs' FOIA request
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County Chairman Frank Haney loses appointment power
Appointment of Winnebago County’s next administrator will be a decision in the hands of the County Board after board members stripped Chairman Frank Haney of that power Thursday.
And if board member Jim Webster has his way, former administrator Steve Chapman would serve as the county’s interim day-to-day boss until the county conducts a search and hires a permanent full-time administrator.
State Journal-Register: City council approves new insurance plan for CWLP
With insurance for City Water, Light and Power properties set to expire this weekend, the Springfield City Council approved a new coverage plan at a special meeting Thursday.
The ordinance pays up to $2.1 million to R.W. Troxell and Co. to insure 40 CWLP properties, including Dallman Power Plant Units 31, 32, 33 and Unit 4. With it, the city narrowly avoided a lapse in coverage.