Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Taxpayers pay millions in bonuses to outgoing lottery firm's staff
Illinois taxpayers have funded about $2 million in “retention” bonuses for employees of a private firm managing the lottery despite the firm performing so poorly Illinois is working to replace it.
A Tribune investigation has found the state approved paying bonuses as part of a complicated deal it struck in 2015 with the firm, Northstar Lottery Group. Northstar agreed to end its 10-year deal early if the state met a host of conditions, including paying Northstar “disentanglement” fees, which included the bonuses.
News-Gazette: Ruling paves way for new ruling
The “fair share” dues issue just won’t go away.
The stage is just about set for an epic legal battle over the legal authority of labor unions to compel nonmembers to pay what are called “fair share” dues.
The issue was thought dead in March 2016 after a California-based legal challenge was rejected by the federal courts, a result prompted in part by the death of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But it was revived by Democrat Hillary Clinton’s defeat last November, a stunning setback for union supporters that cleared the way for new President Donald Trump to nominate a conservative justice to replace Scalia instead of a liberal appointed by a Democratic president.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan calls Rauner's Thompson Center comments 'disingenuous'
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan pushed back Tuesday on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s recent assertion that Democrats who control the General Assembly are holding up the sale of the state’s Thompson Center in Chicago, calling the claim “disingenuous.”
In a letter to the governor distributed to reporters by the speaker’s staff, Madigan said he had “publicly acknowledged a desire to work” on Rauner’s proposed sale of the Loop office building. The governor on Monday accused the speaker of blocking the plan.
Chicago Sun-Times: Mendoza, Munger and Rauner locked in endless campaign
It’s been nearly five months since Democrat Susana Mendoza defeated the governor’s hand-picked candidate Leslie Munger in the state comptroller’s race – but it’s almost as if the campaign never ended.
Mendoza again lashed out Tuesday at Gov. Bruce Rauner, criticizing his “inability” to propose a budget, while dubbing him “the worst governor that’s ever served this state.”
State Journal-Register: Mendoza pays community care providers some of what they're owed
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Tuesday her office will make $94 million in overdue payments to providers of home care services to seniors, including $3.5 million to Springfield-based Community Care Systems Inc.
The money covers Medicaid payments owed to the 192 vendors who provide the services in Illinois and should bring all of the providers up to date in Medicaid payments, Mendoza’s office said.
Crain's Chicago Business: Everyone is suddenly an outsider in Illinois' election races
“Party elites should not dictate the outcome of elections,” says a new fundraising email. “Voters should have the final say on who represents our party.”
Is it an email from Bernie Sanders, gearing up for the next round? Donald Trump back on the campaign trail? Maybe Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, preparing for another race against Rahm Emanuel?
Chicago Tribune: Democrats to unveil 'comeback agenda' as counter to Rauner's 'turnaround agenda'
A group of House and Senate Democrats on Wednesday are scheduled to unveil what they’re calling the “Illinois comeback agenda,” a five-point plan to try to counter Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s “turnaround agenda.”
Rauner has made parts of his economic plan prerequisites for a full budget deal, which hasn’t yet been struck during his first term. While the governor’s plan has continued to morph, key pillars include a property tax freeze, changes to the state’s workers’ compensation system and term limits on elected officials.
Chicago Sun-Times: Standard & Poor’s predicts reversal of Rauner pension veto
Gov. Bruce Rauner created “another roadblock” for Chicago by vetoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to save two of four city employee pension funds, but it’s likely to be reversed in time to “prevent insolvency,” a major credit rating agency said Tuesday.
Standard & Poor’s said it expects the bill that locked in employee concessions and authorized a five-year ramp to required funding levels for the Municipal Employees and Laborers pension funds to be re-introduced and “receive sufficient votes to override a potential governor’s veto.”
Chicago Tribune: Who's to blame for high property taxes? Look in the mirror
Most Illinois politicians will tell you “high property taxes” is the most common complaint they hear from constituents. In many communities, rising property taxes far outpace annual increases in the cost of living. It’s a system that is flagrantly predatory, often shoving fixed-income homeowners out of their paid-for homes because they can’t afford the costs and the debt that government keeps accruing.
But if you find yourself among the frustrated, I’ve got some tough love for you: Raise your right index finger and pivot that digit toward yourself. Yes, taxpayer. You are part of the problem.
State Journal-Register: No quick fixes for struggling Illinois coal industry
City Water, Light and Power of Springfield is one of only three power plants in Illinois that still burn Illinois coal.
Even if an executive order signed Tuesday by President Donald Trump withstands anticipated legal challenges, little is expected to change in the short term for an industry that has watched production and jobs steadily decline as a result of stricter clean-air rules, fuel switching by utilities and competition from cheaper natural gas. Illinois coal production fell for the second year in a row in 2016, to 43.3 million tons.
State Journal-Register: Manar, McCann push bill to stop privatization of prison jobs
In the wake of Rauner administration plans to lay off unionized nurses at state prisons, two Springfield-area senators have introduced legislation to restrict privatization of prison jobs.
Sens. Andy Manar, D-Bunker Hill, and Sam McCann, R-Plainview, want to prevent the Department of Corrections from outsourcing additional medical and mental health services to private contractors.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Paul Vallas and CSU Board Chairman Discuss Struggling School’s Future
Following a closed-door meeting Monday that lasted nearly six hours, Chicago State University’s board of trustees announced the delay of a decision on who would lead the beleaguered state university.
On April 7, the board will name a new interim president to replace current interim President Cecil B. Lucy, who will return to his position as interim finance and administration chief.
Chicago Tribune: 11 Chicago suburbs make list of 100 richest towns
There’s no shortage of wealthy residents in Chicago’s suburbs, according to a recent analysis of the richest towns in the U.S.
A Bloomberg analysis published last week ranks the 100 richest places in the U.S. and 11 area towns made the list.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel to unveil municipal ID plan, but details still to come
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will introduce an ordinance Wednesday outlining plans for his long-discussed municipal ID card for those living in Chicago illegally, though many questions remain about how the program will work.
The mayor’s office announced the ID measure in a news release Tuesday, saying the ordinance will “pave the way” for the creation of the ID and that the city “will not retain copies of applicants’ personal information.” That’s in response to concerns from immigrant supporters that President Donald Trump’s administration could subpoena records on file with the city and use them to track down and deport people who are here without legal permission.
Chicago Sun-Times: Inspector general hits Emanuel on affordable housing fees
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration “did not appropriately account” for more than $4.5 million in fees collected from developers to build affordable housing, but is refusing to replenish the fund, the city’s inspector general concluded Tuesday.
Inspector General Joe Ferguson audited $89.9 million in fees collected from developers from 2013 to 2015 in exchange for either building bigger projects or to avoid building affordable housing units on site.
Chicago Tribune: Bike law enforcement in Chicago: Uneven and unfair
No neighborhood is immune from bicyclists who flout the law. There’s the irksome scofflaw who prefers to ride on the sidewalk, selfishly oblivious to pedestrians worried about getting clipped by a passing pedal. There are the red-light runners, who zip through intersections as if they’ve been given papal dispensation. Cyclists who ride on the wrong side of the road, bikers who treat pedestrians in a crosswalk like pylons in an obstacle course, the list goes on.
We have no quarrel with tough enforcement of city bike laws. There are just too many bicyclists on city streets these days — and too many cyclist injuries and deaths — for cyclists to view the rules of the road as optional. But clamping down on violators has to happen equitably. Police have to be as tough on scofflaws on the North Side as they are on the South and West sides.
Chicago Tribune: City Council hears push to bolster drug safety at pharmacies
Warning that pharmacies are putting “profits over people,” a drugstore pharmacist urged Chicago aldermen on Tuesday to approve a city proposal designed to improve customer safety by easing pressure on pharmacists to speed through prescription orders and limiting their work hours.
Jeremy Aguila, of Chicago, who works at a CVS store in Skokie, joined a top Teamsters official in support of the proposal brought before the City Council Finance Committee by Chairman Ald. Edward Burke, 14th. The ordinance was inspired by a 2016 Tribune investigation that found 52 percent of 255 pharmacies tested in the Chicago region and nearby states failed to warn customers about prescription drug interactions that could be harmful or fatal.
Chicago Sun-Times: Ald. Reilly offers to soften ban on downtown street musicians
Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) on Tuesday opened the door to silencing street musicians on Michigan Avenue and State Street, only during certain hours to avoid what could be an embarrassing political defeat.
Last month, Reilly put off a vote on his proposal to ban street musicians altogether from downtown Chicago’s two marquee streets in hopes of hammering out a compromise acceptable to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Rockford Registar-Star: Rock Valley College Board approves 15 percent tuition increase
The Rock Valley College Board of Trustees approved a 15 percent tuition increase at tonight’s meeting.
The vote was 4-1 with Trustee Katherine Kelley voting no.
Peoria Journal-Star: Budget cuts force closing of Jefferson entrance to Peoria County Courthouse
Beginning the morning of Monday, April 3, people coming to the Peoria County Courthouse might have to come a bit earlier than normal, because one of the two entrances will be closed permanently.
Sheriff Michael McCoy said Monday the inability to replace people lost to early retirement as well as the opening of an additional courtroom in the building have stretched his staff too thin to maintain two screening points. That means the Jefferson Avenue entrance will be closed to incoming traffic. People can still exit the building there but can come in only through the Main Street entrance.
State Journal-Register: Some aldermen want assurance fund transfer is just once
Some Springfield aldermen lobbied Tuesday for a time limit on a measure that would allow the city council to use money earmarked to pay for street and sidewalk repairs for other purposes.
The measure was part of plan approved during budget discussions to transfer $750,000 from dedicated infrastructure funds to the city’s general coffers and avoid spending down more of the city’s reserves.
Belleville News-Democrat: O’Fallon school district can easily make more cuts
Moms, do you want to pay more for diapers?
How about kicking over more money to the county the next time you have to buy a new refrigerator?
St. Clair County government officials are hoping your answer to those questions is “yes” and that voters will support two sales tax referendums on April 4. If approved, these two tax increases will cost taxpayers $44 million annually.
Belleville News-Democrat: Former water district manager pleads guilty to wire fraud
The former water district manager has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in an investigation of misappropriation of funds at the Pontoon Beach Water District.
Brian Buske, 44, of Alton, was hired by the water district in 2007 and promoted to supervisor in 2014. As district supervisor, he handled daily operations and financial transactions, including bank deposits.
Belleville News-Democrat: We don’t need 97 volunteers to collect dead bodies
Volunteers are great, helping make strong communities stronger, but those who volunteer to handle dead bodies?
Well, that is a breed apart. The fact that St. Clair County has 97 of them, well?
The Southern: John A . Logan College Board approves measure to sell bonds
In a unanimous vote, with two absences, the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees voted to allow the college to sell bonds to make up for a lack of state funding.
There was little to no discussion of the issuance of the $5.4 million bonds, save Trustee Ray Hancock making a simple comment.