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Chicago Tribune: FBI raids home of former top Madigan political operative
Federal agents have raided the Far South Side home of Kevin Quinn, a former top political operative for House Speaker Michael Madigan and brother of the 13th Ward alderman, the Tribune has learned.
The FBI executed a search warrant in mid-May at Quinn’s home in the 10300 block of South California Avenue in the West Beverly neighborhood, according to three sources familiar with the investigation.
Associated Press: Nearly 800,000 can clear records for pot possession. Here's how.
For decades, getting caught with a small amount of marijuana could put Illinois residents in jail for up to six months and perhaps worse. The criminal record would follow them for the rest of their lives.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature this week on a law legalizing recreational cannabis includes a provision for nearly 800,000 people to clear their records.
Crain's Chicago Business: High-tax states practice financial destruction
Until politicians start to understand the benefits of economic incentives and an equitable tax system, expect these high-tax states to continue down the road to financial depredation as taxpayers pick up and leave in greater numbers. This is why it’s worth keeping a close eye on recent developments in New Jersey, where the Democrat-controlled legislature last week approved a $38.7 billion budget that scraps Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed millionaire’s tax, raising the risk of a government shutdown.
Champaign News-Gazette: Pension promises pale in comparison to pension problems
All the politicians in Illinois talk about our public pensions woes, but nobody is doing much about it.
The latest to jump into the discussion is new Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Homeowners Across Chicago Brace for Higher Property Taxes
Cook County property owners will be getting new property tax bills in the next few days.
Depending on where you live, you may see a steep increase – especially if your residential or commercial property is in the northern or central parts of Chicago, according to a report released by the office of Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough.
Chicago Sun-Times: CTU pushes Lightfoot’s office as clock winds down on teachers’ contract
A new administration on the fifth floor of City Hall has not led to any progress at the bargaining table with teachers as the clock ticks down on their existing contract.
That’s according to the Chicago Teachers Union, which brought their grievances Wednesday to the first meeting of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s handpicked Board of Education, four days before their contract expires June 30.
Chicago Tribune: Vowing to be transparent, Lightfoot’s new Chicago school board says it will livestream sessions, hold some meetings in neighborhoods
When Mayor Lori Lightfoot replaced the entire Chicago Board of Education earlier this month and named Miguel del Valle president, he said they didn’t want a rubber-stamp board.
Though the mayor’s handpicked board members passed all of the public agenda items at their first meeting Wednesday, they first spent hours debating a range of issues and hearing from citizens, ultimately approving changes to policies including how schools are rated and which companies will be barred from doing business with Chicago Public Schools.
Crain's Chicago Business: Lightfoot cancels $1.4 billion city credit line
In statement released this morning, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said her financial team has examined the city’s needs and determined that, with good cash management, the lines of credit and commercial-paper borrowing no longer are required.
WBEZ: Cook County Health System Leaders Push Back On Blistering Report
Leaders of Cook County’s health system on Wednesday sought to downplay a blistering report that alleges their Medicaid health insurance business called CountyCare owes vendors, including medical providers, $701 million.
Cook County Health’s chief financial officer told county commissioners during their regular finance committee meeting that the total is actually less — around $500 million. Ekerete Akpan said the health system has $372 million in cash to pay down the backlog, and that it does indeed pay its bills.