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Chicago Tribune: Shake-up ahead for Northwest Side politics as city's lone Republican state lawmaker retires
A major shake-up is coming to the Northwest Side’s political representation in Springfield.
Four days after the Illinois Supreme Court announced the appointment of Democratic state Sen. John Mulroe of Chicago to a vacant Cook County judgeship, Republican state Rep. Michael McAuliffe, who represents the western half of Mulroe’s district, announced Monday that he’s retiring, effective immediately.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Ready or Not, Electric Scooters Arrive on Chicago’s West Side
The City of Chicago launched its electric scooter pilot program this weekend on parts of the West Side, featuring 2,500 scooters from 10 different companies.
The program will serve as a test to see if scooters are a viable transportation option for Chicago residents.
Daily Herald: Arlington Heights eases zoning rules for potential southern town center on Algonquin
With an eye toward creating a town center at the southern gateway of Arlington Heights — whose density would mirror that of the village’s downtown — village trustees Monday agreed to loosen zoning standards that could help pave the way.
The so-called overlay district, approved on a 8-0 vote, covers 17 acres on the southeast corner of Arlington Heights and Algonquin roads that the village and a developer envision for a mixed-use area of multifamily homes, entertainment, restaurants, offices and possibly a hotel.
Daily Herald: U-46 board reviews tentative $580M budget for upcoming school year
Elgin Area School District U-46 school board officials Monday night reviewed a proposed $579.7 million spending plan for the 2019-20 school year.
The tentative budget for fiscal year 2020 calls for a $21.6 million increase in spending from last year’s budget of $558.1 million. The increase largely is in salaries and benefits ($16.8 million), which constitute 70 percent of expenditures, said Dale Burnidge, director of financial operations.
Rockford Register-Star: Business website ranks Rockford 99th of 100 Illinois cities
ChamberofCommerce.org puts Rockford near the bottom of its list of best places to live in Illinois.
The business website released its 2019 report detailing best cities to live in each state on Monday.
Decatur Herald & Review: Decatur city council approves contractor for $1.8 million in road work
City officials on Monday said $1.8 million of work on 3.32 miles of Decatur streets will likely be finished in September after the city council approved a bid from Dunn Company to carry out the project as a contractor.
With the exception of Councilman Rodney Walker, who was absent Monday, the council voted 6-0 to enter an agreement with the Decatur contractor. The road work is primarily funded by money collected by the city’s local motor fuel tax, which is 5 cents on each gallon of unleaded fuel and 1 cent per gallon of diesel fuel.