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Chicago Tribune: Fight over Illinois graduated-rate income tax plan moving to TV, social media
The early battle over whether the state and its voters should adopt a graduated-rate income tax system advanced to another level Thursday with a TV ad from proponents and a new digital ad from opponents — each using familiar political targets: former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Think Big Illinois, a group backed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is pressing for the graduated tax to replace the state’s current flat-rate income tax, was first on the TV airwaves and cable with a half-minute ad defending the change and the potential to raise billions from people with higher incomes.
Daily Herald: New board takes over at Illinois tollway, tightens ethics rules
New Illinois tollway directors tightened bylaws on conflicts of interest and the board’s independence at their first meeting Thursday.
The tollway authority hadn’t held a board meeting since December in the wake of the January ouster of nine directors by lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker after concerns about cronyism in hiring and contracts.
Rockford Register-Star: 4 sports betting bills filed by Illinois state rep
In an effort to kick-start discussions on legal sports betting in Illinois, state Rep. Mike Zalewski has filed four different proposals.
The Riverside Democrat said the proposals will be discussed at a hearing of the House Revenue Committee next week.
State Journal-Register: Local government leaders push for taxes on streaming and satellite services
Local government leaders testified Thursday in favor of legislation that would help them raise money through a variety of sources, including a tax on streaming and satellite services.
Conrad Kiebles, village administrator of suburban Orland Hills, appeared before the House Revenue and Finance Committee in support of House Bill 3359, which would impose a tax on video services delivered through the internet and satellites, much like how local governments already get a piece of residents’ television cable bills.
Chicago Tribune: Lincoln Yards gave Sterling Bay its first big taste of controversy. Now comes the $6 billion challenge.
After watching its Lincoln Yards plan spiral into one of the most hotly debated real estate developments in recent Chicago history, Sterling Bay is on the cusp of creating a new skyline on the city’s North Side.
Just two votes, which are expected to go in favor of the project, remain before the Chicago developer can begin reshaping 55 acres of formerly industrial land along Lincoln Park and Bucktown.
Chicago Tribune: Ald. Willie Cochran pleads guilty — finally — to federal fraud charge for misusing campaign funds
South Side Ald. Willie Cochran on Thursday became the latest in a long line of City Council members to bear an ignominious but all-too-familiar title:
Convicted felon.
Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel expands universal preschool plan as mayoral clock winds down
An additional 2,800 kids will have access to free preschool in 28 neighborhoods next school year in the second phase of Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s universal pre-kindergarten initiative — though the fate of his prized early childhood education program remains unclear with the clock ticking down on his City Hall reign.
The outgoing mayor is set to announce Friday along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker that more than 100 new full-day classrooms will be provided for 4-year-olds in “high needs” communities, from Austin and Uptown to the East Side and Englewood.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township Board debates allowing voters to abolish road district
Algonquin Township Trustee Rachael Lawrence continued her campaign Wednesday night to get a referendum on the 2020 election ballot to give voters the power to abolish the highway department.
Although the Algonquin Township Board unanimously voted to table Lawrence’s resolution to put the referendum to ballot, officials engaged in a debate that revealed a strong philosophical divide.
Peoria Journal-Star: Judge sides with Peoria firefighters union, recommends restoring two rescue squads
A clerical error could cost the city of Peoria upwards of $500,000 after an administrative law judge recommended nearly a dozen firefighters be reinstated and the two rescue trucks taken off line last year be reinstated.
And while those changes would be substantial, neither Peoria Firefighters Union Local 50 nor City Hall believe the recommendation, handed down in late February, is the final say on the matter. In fact, Peoria City Attorney Don Liest says the reasoning behind the decision was a clerical error — the city never responded to the unfair labor practice accusations from the union that sparked the case because the complaint and other documents were sent to an attorney’s old place of employment.