Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: 'They do not care. They have this culture that "Everything is free"'
More than a decade ago, the Tribune reported that Cook County’s hospitals and clinics often failed to bill or collect for medical services because doctors didn’t bill or clerks didn’t complete the paperwork, or, or, or …
Whatever the excuse, the health system lost untold millions because staffers couldn’t be bothered to ask patients to pay for their care. Most of the patients treated at Cook County were low-income, uninsured, and couldn’t pay anyway, the staff’s reasoning went. So why waste time with billing — taxpayers would pony up the money.
Chicago Tribune: Carson's to cut 3,500 employees in Illinois as it closes all stores
More than 3,500 Carson’s employees in Illinois will lose their jobs this summer as the department store chain shuts down.
The company’s 35 stores in Illinois, plus two distribution centers, will shutter by Aug. 31, though some may close sooner depending on how much merchandise remains, spokeswoman Christine Hojnacki said in an email Thursday.
Chicago Tribune: Amid heated debate, city approves plan for Obama Presidential Center
After more than seven hours of emotional and passionate testimony from hundreds of residents, community activists and elected officials, the Chicago Plan Commission voted overwhelmingly to approve the Obama Presidential Center on Thursday afternoon.
The decision was a major hurdle for the Obama Foundation, but it is just the beginning of a long process before any construction takes place.
Daily Herald: RTA: State fee costing millions, could lead to more fare hikes
With two weeks remaining in the spring legislative session, Illinois lawmakers have yet to resolve key issues affecting transit riders’ pocketbooks, leaving agencies on tenterhooks.
A deal reached in the General Assembly in July 2017 gave the state a budget for the first time in two years but it shorted Metra, Pace and the CTA by millions of dollars, the RTA estimates.
Chicago Tribune: Northwest Side affordable housing project fails to get state tax credits
A controversial Northwest Side affordable housing plan failed again this week to qualify for state tax credits, imperiling a project that has sparked a heated debate over whether opponents are trying to keep minority residents out of the Jefferson Park neighborhood.
The 75-unit building planned for a busy intersection near the Jefferson Park Blue Line station was not included on the Illinois Housing Development Authority’s agenda, meaning it won’t be considered in this round of credits for affordable housing. The building’s would-be developer expressed surprise at the state’s justification for the decision.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township highway commissioner demands predecessor pay back department
Andrew Gasser wants payback.
In a nine-page letter sent May 8 to his predecessor, the Algonquin Township highway commissioner is demanding that Bob and Anna May Miller return thousands of dollars and equipment Gasser has alleged was misspent or missing.
Decatur Herald & Review: Decatur agreement would spend up to $750,000 on road work for new Love's Travel Stop
A new Love’s Travel Stop & Country Store could be built off Illinois 121 near Interstate 72 if the Decatur City Council approves an agreement with the Oklahoma-based chain on Monday.
In exchange, the city would use up to $750,000 collected from the local motor fuel tax to reconstruct County Fair Drive, which would be connected to the truck stop, according to documents provided to the council by city staff.
Belleville News-Democrat: East St. Louis cop who made nearly $200K last year is put on leave amid investigation
A 21-year-veteran of the East St. Louis Police Department has been placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation, according to police Chief Jerry Simon.
Per the police union contract, Sgt. Mario Fennoy will be paid his regular wages pending the outcome of the investigation. Last year, his base salary was $69,381, but with overtime, he was paid nearly $200,000.