Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan’s legal team asks judge to toss sexual harassment lawsuit by former campaign worker
House Speaker Michael Madigan’s legal team on Tuesday asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a former campaign worker who alleged she lost a chance to move up in the powerful Democratic leader’s political organization because she reported that a top aide sexually harassed her.
The request was made as part of a court filing in which the Madigan-chaired Democratic Party of Illinois denied a series of allegations brought by Alaina Hampton. She contends she was retaliated against after she lodged complaints that Madigan lieutenant Kevin Quinn harassed her through phone calls and inappropriate texts.
The Southern: Illinois tamps down 'pension spiking' for teachers; educators fear disincentive for hiring
Illinois’ leaders say they are taking a dramatic step in cooling the state’s long-simmering teacher pension crisis.
But others say they’re putting years of political mismanagement on the backs of the teachers themselves, in a way that will make it harder to attract the best to Illinois classrooms in the future.
Northwest Herald: Rep. McSweeney: New budget will cause more people to leave Illinois
Illinois is a great state with a great history. Two of the finest U.S. presidents of all time – Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan – have deep connections to our state.
Illinois is indeed home to some of the best minds and greatest innovations of all time.
Chicago Sun-Times: Blagojevich formally asks Trump for clemency
Rod Blagojevich is crossing every item off his get-out-of-prison to-do list.
That’s especially true after President Donald Trump blurted out last week that he is mulling a commutation for the former Illinois governor six years into a 14-year prison sentence.
State Journal-Register: Ferguson-Booth building project loses TIF funding
The Springfield City Council voted 8-1 Tuesday to cancel a more than $1.1 million tax-increment financing grant and an $800,000 TIF loan to redevelop historic buildings on the corner of Sixth and Monroe streets.
Bright New Day Investments, led by Rick Lawrence, has worked to convert the vacant Ferguson, Booth and Bateman-Kennedy buildings into apartments and office space since he bought the property in 2012. To date, $3.8 million in TIF funds were committed to the project, though most of it has not been paid out to Lawrence.
Fox Illinois: Aldermen to spend $250,000 to join Springfield economic development effort
The city agreed to spend $250,000 to be a part of a holistic approach to Springfield economic development.
The Director of Office of Economic Development, Valera Yazell, said the county is putting in $500,000. The city and county is teaming up with the Land of Lincoln corporation for a better strategy of bringing more foot traffic to Springfield. All parts wish to focus on creating jobs and bring a university presence to downtown.