Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan aide ousted in sexual harassment texting scandal responds to woman who made the accusations
A former top aide to Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan broke his silence Wednesday about sexual harassment allegations against him, echoing a legal defense already laid by the speaker’s camp and attacking the political worker who made the charges.
Ex-Madigan lieutenant Kevin Quinn, who was fired in February as Democratic foot soldier Alaina Hampton was about to go public, downplayed suggestions that the speaker’s political army retaliated against her after she complained about unwanted advances as well as aggressive text messages and phone calls from Quinn.
State Journal-Register: State, AFSCME argue over contract impasse
Attorneys for AFSCME and the Rauner administration squared off in court Wednesday over whether the two sides have reached impasse in contract talks that got underway more than three years ago.
The administration, armed with a decision from the Illinois Labor Relations Board, said the two sides have reached an impasse in the talks over the issue of outsourcing work.
State Journal-Register: AFSCME wins state employee step increase ruling
Unionized state workers could get their overdue step increases by the end of the year following a state labor relations board ruling.
The Illinois Labor Relations Board rejected a request from Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration to hold another hearing on the issue before step increase money was paid to workers who are owed it. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees called the move by the Rauner administration a stalling tactic.
Chicago Tribune: A long, hot summer for CPS
School’s out for many Chicago Public Schools students. But not for district leaders, City Hall and others charged with keeping students safe.
There will be no summer respite for them.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago taps Elon Musk’s Boring Company to build high-speed transit tunnels that would tie Loop with O'Hare
Autonomous 16-passenger vehicles would zip back and forth at speeds exceeding 100 mph in tunnels between the Loop and O’Hare International Airport under a high-speed transit proposal being negotiated between Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s City Hall and billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk’s The Boring Co., city and company officials have confirmed.
Emanuel’s administration has selected Musk’s company from four competing bids to provide high-speed transportation between downtown and the airport. Negotiations between the two parties will ensue in hopes of reaching a final deal to provide a long-sought-after alternative to Chicago’s traffic gridlock and slower “L” trains.
Chicago Tribune: Tollway board approves deal with railroad to allow O'Hare western access
The Illinois Tollway board on Wednesday approved a deal with a Canadian railway to allow highway ramps over train tracks just west of O’Hare International Airport, which will make possible long-anticipated western highway access to and from the airport.
By a 6-0 vote, the Tollway board approved a “letter of intent” with Canadian Pacific Railway at a special meeting. Under the terms of the letter, both parties agree to withdraw litigation against each other and to allow construction to go forward. The letter also permits negotiations to proceed on issues like air rights and right-of-way.
Daily Herald: Metra official: 'We dropped the ball' on BNSF Line, and fixes could take weeks
Metra’s rollout of a new BNSF Line schedule let down riders, one Metra director said Wednesday as complaints about crammed BNSF Line trains surged and administrators acknowledged it could take several weeks to get all the kinks worked out.
“My issue is customer service,” Director Steve Palmer said. “I believe we dropped the ball.”
Associated Press: Ex-treasurer of Illinois town gets 4-year sentence for theft
The former treasurer of a southern Illinois city has been sentenced to 48 months in prison for embezzling more than $300,000 from the city over a four-year period.
Ryan Thorpe was indicted by a federal grand jury on wire fraud and embezzlement from a local government charges.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois coroner will no longer hold remains of poor until relatives pay
Officials in an Illinois county have ended a coroner’s practice of holding the remains of poor people until relatives come up with $1,000.
The Associated Press reported last month that Coroner James Keller was having people who couldn’t afford to bury loved ones sign over their rights to the deceased, leaving them without the death certificate. He’d have the body cremated and bury the ashes if relatives couldn’t pay.
Daily Herald: Gurnee to consider $4 million tax incentive for Great America
The Gurnee village board will consider approving a $4 million tax incentive program for Six Flags Great America next week.
The money would help the park offset the $15 million in capital improvements officials plan to complete in the next seven years. Jack Linehan, the assistant to the village administrator, said Wednesday the money would go toward infrastructure work and security enhancements.
State Journal-Register: Springfield uses new sales tax rebate to lure business into city boundaries
The city of Springfield is offering a new tax incentive to get businesses to annex into the city from the county.
In exchange for annexing into the city, Motorheads Bar & Grill, 600 Toronto Road, will receive sales tax rebates of up to $25,000, which will offset the $48,000 cost of setting up a water line.