Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Madigan the meddler should allow an independent #MeToo investigation
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan vowed to end the culture of sexual harassment and bullying in state government and politics. “We don’t tolerate inappropriate behavior. We just don’t tolerate it,” he said in February.
How goes the fight? Madigan, the state’s most powerful Democrat, acts like he’s got the situation under control — which is exactly the problem. With Boss Madigan in charge of his party’s #MeToo anti-harassment movement, the results are destined to please him.
Crain's Chicago Business: Madigan and Cullerton: You can't block redistricting reform forever
The word “gerrymander” came into existence after the governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, in 1812 egregiously redrew political boundaries to favor his own party. The “Gerry” part came from his name. “Mander” derived from the word “salamander”—a slimy amphibian known for living in the mucky bottoms of streams. It was not meant as a compliment.
The fight against gerrymandering of Illinois’ electoral districts made great progress this year. Two-thirds of Illinois’ state senators said they would vote to end it if given the chance, and the measure in the state House had 28 co-sponsors. It was looking as if the votes were there to carry the measure in both houses. And if redistricting reform made it to our fall ballots, opinion polls indicate it would have passed.
Woulda, shoulda, coulda.
Chicago Tribune: Officials say CPS special education policy violated federal law, suggest 3 years of monitoring
The Illinois State Board of Education will consider appointing an independent monitor to supervise a broad range of changes to Chicago Public Schools’ special education system after concluding a district overhaul violated a swath of federal law and regulations.
The monitor would have immense authority over the district’s special education practices for at least three school years, and the state would oversee CPS special education budgets and staffing decisions for the coming academic term.
Northwest Herald: Metra approves fare pilot programs involving Harvard, McHenry, Woodstock stations
The Metra Board of Directors has agreed to test a new day pass, consolidation of Metra’s outer zones and reassignment of certain stations to a closer zone as part of an effort to attract riders and simplify its fare structure. The ideas were among recommendations that emerged from a fare policy study that began in 2016.
Crain's Chicago Business: Meet the new head of Chicago labor
He’s a lawyer by trade, not a truck driver or a steelworker. Colleagues call him a true progressive in the Bernie Sanders style. He’ll likely put a little more distance between his organization and City Hall than his predecessor did, yet may need to ally with the mayor of Chicago more than ever as conservatives plot to weaken organized labor in Springfield and Washington.
He is Bob Reiter, the new president of the Chicago Federation of Labor. Just installed after predecessor Jorge Ramirez split for a lucrative gig in the private sector, Reiter must rebuild a labor movement that still is surprisingly powerful in Chicago, but not what it was. That will require him to herd the cats of his diverse membership and try to get them on the same organizing and political page.
Daily Herald: Why higher pay for mayor, trustees is on the table in Libertyville
Given the time spent studying reams of information, attending meetings and connecting with residents, the compensation for the mayor and trustees in Libertyville is well below minimum wage.
And they haven’t had a raise since 1996.
Belleville News-Democrat: Overtime allowed several East St. Louis police officers to earn more than $100K in 2017
Overtime pay allowed an East St. Louis police sergeant to earn almost $200,000 last year, and 10 other officers each earned more than $100,000 thanks to overtime.
City officials say large amounts of overtime were dished out during the tenure of a previous chief of police, but the practice has now been reined in.
The Southern: Bryant voices opposition to SIU split; Stuart calls for IBHE study of campus funding change
State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, is reiterating her opposition to a package of bills that seek to change Southern Illinois University’s organizational structure.
HB 1292, 1294 and 5860 were introduced by State Reps. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea; Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville; Monica Bristow, D-Godfrey; and LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis after an attempt to rework SIU’s funding formula failed to pass the Board of Trustees in April.