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Chicago Tribune: Rauner reveals who paid for airplane on his statewide tour
In mid-April, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner launched a two-day campaign-style tour of the state that he insisted was not a re-election kickoff even though it was paid for by his political fund.
Rauner gave speeches similar to those he gives during his official governmental visits around the state, contending Democrats in the legislature were blocking his efforts to move Illinois forward and get a budget deal.
Chicago Sun-Times: Why is Daley’s photo still missing from wall of mayors?
Richard M. Daley was Chicago’s longest-serving mayor. His 22 years on the job surpassed the longevity record set by his father, former Mayor Richard J. Daley, who served for 21 years.
Why, then, is Daley’s photo still missing from the wall of mayors in the reception area in the mayor’s office on the fifth floor of City Hall six years after he left office?
Chicago Sun-Times: Judge’s campaign stunt raises extra alarms
But maybe the oddest and most public spectacle involving a judge took place earlier in the week outside the county’s branch courthouse in Markham.
A decommissioned, red fire truck pulled up right in front of the Markham courthouse steps on Monday morning.
Chicago Tribune: Teachers launch GoFundMe campaigns to help pay for classroom expenses
Fond of summer book clubs when he was a child, teacher Blake Macdonald wanted his seventh graders at Kanoon Magnet School in Little Village to develop a love for reading outside of school.
“Not every 13-year-old in the city of Chicago loves to read. I hope I can change that perspective a little bit,” he said.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County State's Attorney's Office launches program to fast-track addicts to treatment
The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and other McHenry County agencies are launching a program to fast-track heroin and other drug addicts to treatment.
“A Way Out – McHenry County” is set to launch Monday. The program will provide easier access to treatment as well as a certain amount of amnesty to drug and alcohol addicts who want help.
Quad City: Illinois pols won't balance state budget; can you?
As we enter a third year without a state budget, I turn to readers to close a gap of about $9 billion between state expenditures of $72 billion (hard numbers difficult to nail down, as no budget) and annual revenues of about $63 billion.
There are of course two ways to do this: cut expenditures and/or increase revenues. Nearby I lay out a necessarily compressed and incomplete set of prominent, quite real budget options. Can you select among the options to come up with $9 billion in actions that would close the budget gap?
I am hoping many readers will at least try. The layout will undoubtedly prompt questions, which I would try to answer, if you emailed me. There is, unfortunately, neither time nor technical expertise on my part to make this exercise interactive.