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Chicago Tribune: DCFS investigator under review in AJ Freund case faced prior discipline, sits on McHenry County Board
The last child welfare investigator who made contact with Andrew “AJ” Freund before the young Crystal Lake boy was allegedly killed by his parents is a local elected official with a history of workplace complaints and a recent suspension, according to documents reviewed by the Tribune.
In one case, the investigator was disciplined for ignoring a court order to connect a family with support services, delaying help for four children in a home with a record of domestic violence and alcohol abuse, the documents show. Separately, prosecutors wrote a letter saying he failed to alert them about a mother’s heroin use and that he refused to hold a child because he was worried about bedbugs.
Northwest Herald: Repeating same pension mistakes
In April, DeKalb School District 428 Board members approved two four-year contracts for administrators that will give them 6% raises in each of the last years before they retire.
Both employees will begin with salaries in the six figures. With an eye toward making them eligible for the largest possible pension benefit, the district board agreed to guarantee the annual increases while also paying all of their required contribution to the pension systems.
Daily Herald: Doubled state gas tax just a start
Location is everything when it comes to who pays the most in gasoline taxes to fix the state’s highways and transit system.
Lawmakers in early June agreed to double the 19-cent state motor fuel tax on July 1 to fund a $33 billion transportation program. But that’s just the beginning of a series of possible additional gas tax increases.
Chicago Sun-Times: State’s all-in gambling expansion offers new temptation for those struggling to stay out
They’re pharmacists and nurses, doctors and dentists, lawyers and laborers, retirees and millennials.
Some have master’s degrees. Others dropped out of high school.
State Journal-Register: New texting-while-driving rules go into effect July 1
Illinois drivers caught using their cellphones will soon face harsher penalties that could ultimately lead to a license suspension.
Beginning July 1, drivers caught using an electronic device will no longer be issued just a warning ticket on their first offense. Instead, drivers will be issued a moving violation. Three moving violations in a year will result in a license suspension.
Chicago Tribune: Ex-Ald. Willie Cochran set to be sentenced Monday for misusing ward charitable fund
Another convicted Chicago alderman could be headed to prison Monday.
Former Ald. Willie Cochran is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jorge Alonso for using a ward charity fund like his personal piggy bank, including to pay for gambling trips, fancy meals and accessories for his Mercedes.
WBEZ: Grand Jury Probes Austin’s Family Members, Top Aide, Food Stamps
The federal grand jury investigation into veteran Chicago Ald. Carrie Austin is looking into a wide range of matters, including her family members, the top aide in her office, campaign finances, and even the use of food stamps, according to court records obtained by WBEZ.
FBI agents carried out a surprise search Wednesday at Austin’s South Side ward office. The alderman has been on the City Council for 25 years and was a staunch ally of former Mayors Rahm Emanuel and Richard M. Daley.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township pursuing settlement in 2017 Andrew Gasser lawsuit, counter suits
The Algonquin Township Board voted Saturday to have its attorney negotiate a global settlement in the cases stemming from a 2017 dispute over public records.
The township has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees since 2017 when Algonquin Township Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser sought a court order to restrain Algonquin Township Clerk Karen Lukasik, his predecessor Robert Miller and former township employee Anna May Miller from destroying any Algonquin Township or Algonquin Township Highway Department records, according to court documents.