Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: Moody’s: Schools winners in new state budget — but impact of gambling, legal pot hazy
A Moody’s Investors report says the state’s new budget provides an infusion of money for local governments and will help some of the state’s largest school districts — including Chicago Public Schools, but the rating agency warns that the impact of expanding gambling and legalizing cannabis sales is less certain.
The rating agency crowned the state’s largest school districts, including CPS, “as the biggest winners [of the budget] with a $375 million bump in formula funding.”
State Journal-Register: Proposed state worker contract includes 11.5% in raises over four years
Members of the largest state employee union would receive 11.5 percent pay increases over the next four years if members approve a proposed new contract with the state.
In addition, members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will receive a one-time stipend of up to $2,500 that will go into effect when the contract is ratified, according to a copy of the proposal obtained by The State Journal-Register.
Crain's Chicago Business: Tuition tax-credit program benefiting private schools survives
Now, backers confront another stiff challenge: raising the money. Despite hoopla surrounding Invest in KIds’ debut last year, less than two-thirds of the $100 million annual allotment was realized. Compared with talk of as many as 15,000 scholarship awards, fewer than 7,000 were made.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago teacher contract talks underway as union casts wary eye toward new mayor
With the Chicago Teachers Union’s contract set to expire June 30, negotiations with the city are ongoing — and the exchange of barbs between the two sides has begun.
This week, the union claimed that Chicago Public Schools officials were “stalling” by backing out of a scheduled negotiating session but that the district, “in a curious turn of events, reversed its position.”
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says city will hire outside firm to oversee workers' comp program
Chicago will transfer day-to-day control of its $100 million-per-year city workers’ compensation program, which for decades was largely handled in secret under the auspices of now-indicted Ald. Edward Burke, to a private company, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced Thursday.
A recent audit, performed by outside auditing firm Grant Thornton, found that the program did not operate according to industry best practices, staff members were inadequately trained, and it lacked “comprehensive policies and procedures governing claim handling, which can lead to inconsistent claim outcomes for workers,” according to the mayor’s office.
WBEZ: Chicago Slow To Reform School Police Program: Report
Chicago’s Inspector General is criticizing the police department for failing to ensure police stationed in schools are carefully chosen, well-trained and understand their roles and responsibilities.
Inspector General Joe Ferguson said the police department has failed to fully implement four of five recommendations his office issued in a report last September.
Chicago Sun-Times: Former Ald. Willie Cochran should serve at least 18 months in prison, prosecutors say
Before federal prosecutors gave their first word on how long they believe former Ald. Willie Cochran should serve in prison, they noted Cochran’s own words:
“I, Willie B. Cochran, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Illinois, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of alderman of the twentieth ward of the City of Chicago according to the best of my ability.”
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Lori Lightfoot says ‘jury’s out’ on whether One Central megadevelopment will proceed
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said “the jury’s out” on whether the multibillion-dollar One Central development between McCormick Place and the Field Museum will proceed.
Illinois legislators this spring authorized state officials to enter into an agreement for up to $5.1 billion in state investments for the proposed megadevelopment along Lake Shore Drive across from Soldier Field that would place a huge transit station over train tracks between McCormick Place and the Field Museum.
Daily Southtown: Ex-Posen mayor pleads guilty to embezzling village funds
The former mayor of Posen pleaded guilty Thursday to embezzling $27,000 from village coffers during his final term in office.
Donald Schupek, 79, who served three terms as mayor of the south suburb before losing a reelection bid in 2017, admitted under oath that in 2015 he had drawn checks on the village’s bank account to give himself payroll advances that he never intended to deduct from future paychecks or repay.
Rockford Register-Star: Auditor to review Winnebago County Chairman Frank Haney’s car crash
Winnebago County Auditor Bill Crowley is reviewing whether Chairman Frank Haney followed proper protocol after he crashed his county vehicle on Saturday afternoon and was cited for running a red light.
Haney said he was driving his county vehicle, a 2017 Ford Explorer, to a high school graduation party. He ran a red light at about 2 p.m. and broadsided a 2016 Toyota Corolla. Neither Haney, his 10-year-old son who was riding with him, nor the driver of the Toyota — the lone occupant of that vehicle — suffered injuries.