Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan relents, and hires an independent investigator
I got this, said House Speaker Michael Madigan after a fellow Democrat in the state Senate was accused of bad behavior. I won’t tolerate harassment and bullying in Illinois politics, Madigan insisted, after two of his operatives were accused of abuse. You can trust me to fix the culture, Madigan repeated after his deputy majority leader also faced allegations.
Whoa, that’s a lot of troubling incidents, followed each time by Madigan, the state’s most powerful Democrat, vowing to do better. His promises rang hollow, though, because of an obvious conflict of interest: As House speaker and state party chair, Madigan shouldn’t be trusted to root out pernicious behavior in vast organizations he controls.
Chicago Sun-Times: Cook County faces $177 million in deficits over next two budget years
Cook County officials may have to fill a roughly $82 million budget hole for 2019, according to a preliminary forecast of the county’s finances released Tuesday.
Budget officials are also projecting a $95 million deficit for the county’s operating funds in 2020, potentially setting the stage for two, rough fiscal years.
Chicago Tribune: 'This is how we do it in Chicago!': CPD investigating whether alderman posed as cop during parking flap
Chicago police are investigating whether Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno impersonated a cop during a parking flap Sunday in the Lakeview neighborhood during which he allegedly flashed a “badge” and demanded that a woman move her parked car, according to a police report.
A 35-year-old woman reported to police that she had pulled into a parking spot about 6:30 p.m. in the 3300 block of North Clark Street when Moreno drove next to her in his black Audi and told her to move her car, police said. He then pulled out his wallet, flashed a “badge’’ and said: “You better pay your parking tickets! This is how we do it in Chicago!’’ according to a police report.
Crain's Chicago Business: Emanuel won't return Elon Musk's $50,000
He’s keeping it, every penny!
That’s the response—the cleaned-up response—from Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s campaign to calls for him to return the $50,000 campaign contribution he received from tech exec Elon Musk three years ago now that Musk’s Boring Co. has been selected for the high-profile but somewhat controversial task of creating 12-minute express transit service between the Loop and O’Hare International Airport.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: NTA Families Sue CPS, Claim School Transition Plan Violates Civil Rights
Chicago Public Schools’ controversial plan to transition a Near South Side elementary school into a high school violates state law and discriminates against low-income, black students, according to a new lawsuit filed by district parents.
Four families from the National Teachers Academy are suing CPS and the Chicago Board of Education, hoping to reverse a district decision to phase out K-8 classes at their school over the next few years, arguing the move is illegal and violates their civil rights.
WBEZ: This Chicago Court Uses Peace Circles To Dole Out Justice
An experimental court on Chicago’s West Side resolves cases with peace circles instead of judges and juries — and officials say it could expand into other communities.
The Restorative Justice Community Court brings young adults accused of nonviolent crimes, such as drug possession or vandalism, face-to-face with their victims and neighbors.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Aviation Department commissioner leaving this summer, mayor's office says
Ginger Evans will step down as aviation commissioner this summer, to be replaced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s procurement chief as the head of the agency that will oversee the massive overhaul of O’Hare International Airport.
Jamie Rhee will take over Aviation when Evans resigns Aug. 1, Emanuel’s office announced Tuesday.
Belleville News-Democrat: Vacant property fines could put Belleville in real estate business
Belleville has a problem with vacant properties, and it’s gotten worse since 2010.
“Nobody wants to live next door to abandoned buildings,” said Maggie Ausmer, who lives across from a vacant apartment building at 4 N. 96th St.