Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan and the Do-Littles
Day Two of the Illinois General Assembly’s special session wound down Thursday without passage of a state budget. Surprised? Only 24 of the Senate’s 37 Democrats showed up. Seventeen House lawmakers missed the day altogether. Rep. Cynthia Soto, D-Chicago, wasn’t in Springfield because she was presenting her credentials to the Cook County Democratic Party. She’d rather be a commissioner on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, and she wants the party’s endorsement.
We might be outraged. Except, the no-shows didn’t miss much of anything. This in a state whose finances are imploding for lack of decisions from its leaders.
State Journal-Register: Illinois House leaders meet, but no action on a budget
After months of silence, the two Illinois House leaders met for about 30 minutes to discuss ways of bringing the state’s two-year budget impasse to an end.
The discussion came as House Democrats continue working on their own spending-and-revenue plan that would be an alternative to a proposal offered by Republicans and one that already passed the Senate with Democratic support.
Chicago Tribune: Republicans propose new schools plan in Springfield, but budget again remains elusive
Republican lawmakers Thursday put forward a new plan to overhaul the state’s education funding system and send less money to Chicago Public Schools than a competing proposal from Democrats, who are unlikely to approve it.
Democrats, meanwhile, used a second day of a special session called by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner to hold an hours-long hearing highlighting their objections to GOP efforts to change Illinois’ workers’ compensation rules.
Chicago Tribune: Rauner won't sign 911 funding plan that could increase phone taxes
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration said Thursday he would not support legislation that would allow the city to raise telephone fees in order to pay for 911 emergency service.
The measure, which was approved in the final hours of the spring legislative session, contained a provision extending the Emergency Telephone System Act. That law is set to expire on July 1, and allows phone carriers to collect money to support local 911 services.
Chicago Tribune: Why Emanuel-Rauner talks on Thompson Center fell apart
Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Gov. Bruce Rauner’s latest attempt at let’s make a deal careened off the rails Thursday, with each side blaming the other over a failed trade that would have cleared the way for more city pension reform and the sale of the James R. Thompson Center.
It’s the latest episode in a long-running series of finger-pointing between a mayor eager to complete political transactions and a wary governor who often is steadfast in demanding statewide financial and tax changes in exchange for legislative help for Chicago.
Peoria Journal-Star: Report: Illinois worker compensation reform reduced costs, but remain high
An overhaul of the workers compensation system in 2011 has succeeded in reducing costs for taxpayers, but a recent study also found Illinois remains the most expensive among 18 states surveyed.
The cost per claim in Illinois decreased 6.4 percent since the reform was enacted, according to the Workers Compensation Research Institute. The Illinois Policy Institute estimates the annual cost to taxpayers at $1 billion.
Chicago Tribune: Medicaid expansion could end early in Illinois under Senate Obamacare replacement bill
Many low-income adults across the nation could lose Medicaid expansion coverage under the Senate’s Obamacare replacement bill — but in Illinois those losses could come three years earlier because of a state law.
About 650,000 Illinois residents could lose their Medicaid expansion coverage in 2021, if the Senate bill becomes law and a state statute, meant to keep Illinois’ Medicaid expenses in check, remains in place.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Preckwinkle Expects 2018 County Budget to be Nearly $100M Short
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle says she will run for a third term to continue her efforts to promote fiscal responsibility and encourage more government transparency.
In the preliminary forecast for the 2018 county budget released Thursday, she has restated her commitment to a three-year fiscal plan that does not include raising more taxes. But that is after the County Board approved a new 1 percent tax on hotel stays in 2015 and a new penny-an-ounce soda tax set to go into effect in July.
Chicago Tribune: What shoppers need to know about the Cook County soda tax
That 2-liter of pop you’re picking up for the Fourth of July picnic might pack a little sticker shock this year as Cook County rolls out a new penny-per-ounce tax on a wide variety of sugar- and artificially-sweetened beverages.
As one example, a 2-liter bottle, which usually costs about $1, will incur a 67-cent soda tax.
Daily Herald: Census: Suburbs are getting older, more diverse
The suburbs have an older, more diverse population than in 2010, a new report by the U.S. Census Bureau says.
The report released Thursday showed the number of retirement-aged residents increased dramatically.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County Board chairman: LITH Sanitary District pulling 'shenanigans' to avoid consolidation
A political and legal battle is brewing over a move by the Lake in the Hills Sanitary District to buy land in Kane County, which, if successful, would negate an ongoing effort to consolidate it into the village.
To the legal counsel retained by some of its members, the impending purchase makes the district a multicounty entity, which means that the McHenry County Board not only can’t consolidate it under a new law but also loses the authority to appoint its three-member board. But to County Board Chairman Jack Franks, who as a state representative wrote the law allowing the county to abolish certain small units of government, the move is an illegal and immoral attempt to stymie taxpayer relief and accountability.
Decatur Herald & Review: Report: Decatur lost 300 jobs over past year
Decatur has 300 fewer jobs than it did a year ago, according to the most recently released figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s.
The Decatur metro area’s unemployment rate has dropped almost a full percentage point since last May, but that doesn’t necessarily paint a rosier picture.
Belleville News-Democrat: Trash talking those Belleville politicians and their higher fees
If Belleville is interested in cleaning house, it is going to take more than another $2 a monthon trash bills.
The Belleville City Council on Monday raised trash fees to $20 a month and $15 for seniors. That is $2 more for regular service and $1 more for seniors.