Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Senate Democrats accuse Rauner of derailing budget deal talks
Senate Democrats on Wednesday accused Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner of sabotaging efforts to pass a plan to end the state’s historic budget impasse by picking off GOP lawmakers weary of crossing their party’s de facto leader.
Republicans dismissed the allegations as scapegoating for a plan that’s not ready for prime time. The public drama unfolded after a long day of behind-the-scenes negotiations, as Senate leaders had hoped for a vote on some of the more controversial portions of the multipart plan. That effort has struggled to get off the ground amid broad opposition from unions, the business community and conservative groups alike.
Associated Press: Cullerton: Rauner sold out ‘grand bargain’ by injecting himself
The top Democrat in the Illinois Senate abruptly canceled key votes Wednesday on a plan to end the state’s historic budget stalemate, accusing Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner of sabotaging a compromise that had been months in the making.
Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago ditched his earlier vow to call votes on key parts of the so-called “grand bargain,” including an income-tax increase and property tax-freeze.
State Journal-Register: No one wins in an AFSCME strike
No one should want nearly 30,000 Illinois state employees to go on strike.
A strike would be detrimental to not only the state employees, but the entire Springfield area. Our hometown company is Illinois government, and the local economy depends on state employees working.
Chicago Tribune: Budget impasse spurs question: Should unpaid dentists be allowed to bail on state contracts?
Dentists should be allowed to back out of their contracts to care for state employees if Illinois doesn’t pay them for six months, says a plan advanced by lawmakers Wednesday.
The move represents another attempt to deal with the consequences of the state’s long budget stalemate. Dentists and other health care providers who treat state workers often have gone without payment for months when Illinois’ unpaid bills keep piling up.
Fox Illinois: Governor Rauner Visits Illinois City Damaged By Tornadoes
Governor Bruce Rauner was in Naplate Wednesday morning surveying the damage from the tornado.
He was joined by the director of IEMA, saying the damage could have been much worse, but thankfully it wasn’t.
NBC 5 Chicago: Rauner Cancels Meeting with Chance the Rapper Following Tornadoes
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s scheduled meeting with Chicago musician Chance the Rapper was postponed Wednesday after deadly tornadoes tore through Illinois Tuesday night.
“Due to the Tornado in southern Illinois, @GovRauner canceled our meeting this morning,” Chance tweeted. “My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”
Chicago Tribune: Metra's deep pockets: Yours
Quick survey: Raise your hand if you received a $28,000 pay increase last year.
Raise it high.
We’re waiting. Glancing at our watches. Anyone? No?
At least one person in the Chicago area should have his hand up. Donald Orseno, CEO of Metra, received a $28,000 pay raise in December, retroactive to October, bringing his salary to $317,500 from $289,000.
Chicago Tribune: Irvin, Guzman lead in Aurora mayoral primary
Richard Irvin and Rick Guzman are expected to face each other in the April 4 race for mayor of Aurora, after coming out on top in a four-way primary Tuesday, according to unofficial vote totals.
Irvin, 57, an Aurora alderman at large, finished on top of the Tuesday primary with 32.3 percent of the vote, and Guzman, Aurora assistant chief of staff, finished second with 28.8 percent. They both outdistanced State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, who had 24.9 percent of the vote, and Alderman Michael Saville, 6th Ward, who had 13.9 percent, according to preliminary totals from the Aurora Election Commission and the DuPage Board of Elections.
Chicago Tribune: Ty Fahner to step down as Civic Committee head; ex-Obama appointee is successor
After five years at the helm of the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Civic Committee, Ty Fahner is stepping down from his role as president.
Replacing him will be Kelly R. Welsh, fresh off a stint in Washington as general counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce. He was selected by Civic Committee leadership and will take over April 1.
Chicago Sun-Times: CPS urged to come clean about South Side high school closings
The chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus on Wednesday urged the Chicago Public Schools to come clean about how many South Side high schools it intends to close to make way for a $75 million high school in Englewood.
One day after Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the new school would be built in Englewood, Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) demanded to know the political price South Side residents would have to pay to get it.
WBEZ: How A “Win-Win” For A Chicago Alternative School Firm Dashed Dreams For Others
Camelot Education broke into Chicago by making deals with a handful of South and West side pastors to open alternative schools in their facilities.
Camelot calls this a win-win for the company and the pastors, who benefited financially from their ties to Camelot.
Chicago Tribune: Federal prosecutors seek 9 years for SUPES owner caught up in CPS scandal
Gary Solomon, a key conspirator in the federal bribery scandal that brought down former Chicago Public Schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett, was “the mastermind of the corrupt arrangement” and should be sentenced to nine years in prison, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
“His numerous acts of corruption, deceit, and obstruction were not the result of a momentary lapse in judgment,” prosecutors said in their sentencing memorandum. “They were not isolated acts constituting aberrant behavior. Instead, they were part of a pattern of corruption that he engaged in over an extended period of time.”
Chicago Tribune: Foxx agrees to release of inmates unable to post bonds of up to $1,000 cash
In another sign of growing political momentum for bail reform, Cook County prosecutors will no longer oppose the release of some detainees held on nonviolent offenses simply because they cannot afford to pay cash bonds of up to $1,000 at a time.
The change was announced Wednesday by State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, who has been in office for three months. It was quickly praised by a top aide to Sheriff Tom Dart, who has focused on the issue over the last two years as part of an effort to reduce the county jail’s population.
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘7 Most Endangered’ historic places include Obama library site
Jackson Park, Chicago Park District home of the future Barack Obama Presidential Library.
South Shore Cultural Center and Park, future home of a PGA-caliber golf course designed by Tiger Woods.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Chicago Facility Linked to Manganese Meets Air-Monitor Deadline
Air monitors have been installed at an industrial site bordering a densely populated neighborhood on Chicago’s Far Southeast Side where regulators need more data to evaluate potential health risks from exposure to airborne manganese dust.
S.H. Bell Company said Wednesday it had met the Environmental Protection Agency’s March 1 deadline for installing five air monitors at its South Avenue O Terminal in Chicago, along the Calumet River just south of the Chicago Skyway bridge.
Belleville News-Democrat: O’Fallon school board cuts some teachers from 2017-18 budget; sports safe
Logan Bradford said his teachers and a social worker at school saved his life.
The 18-year-old struggled with a drug addiction that got him in trouble with the law, and he was having suicidal thoughts. Logan said O’Fallon Township High School was the only place where people’s opinions of him didn’t change during that time.