Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Stairway to Heaven’ longer than Senate debate before historic tax vote
After just seven minutes of debate, Senate Democrats took the first major step Wednesday in advancing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s goal of revamping how the state taxes income — seeking the biggest change in the state income tax since it was enacted a half century ago.
The Illinois Senate passed its version of a graduated income tax package on strictly partisan lines — and its fate now lies within the Illinois House, where changes are anticipated.
Chicago Sun-Times: Full, 300-page pot legalization bill could be introduced in Illinois within days
With only five weeks left until the end of the legislative session, Democratic lawmakers are preparing to release their entire highly-anticipated bill to legalize marijuana for adult use.
With lawmakers preparing to return Tuesday from their two-week spring break, state Rep. Kelly Cassidy said the full details of the 300-page legislation could be introduced in the coming days. A shell of the legalization bill was introduced in the Senate in January and later passed the Senate Executive Committee in April before any details had been filed.
Rockford Register-Star: Advocates push for $1-per-pack tax increase on cigarettes
Anti-smoking advocates with the American Cancer Society want Illinois lawmakers to hike the tax on a pack of cigarettes by $1.
It is a proposal backed by Democratic senators who pushed to raise the age to purchase tobacco products to 21, and comes as legislators are seeking sources of revenue in the final weeks of the legislative session.
State Journal-Register: State workers seek to recoup ‘fair share’ union fees in proposed class-action lawsuit
Continuing a fight against public employee unions initially spearheaded by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, nine state workers who say they have opted out of union membership are asking to be repaid for past “fair share” fees in a proposed class-action lawsuit.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday argues that more than 2,700 state employees are entitled to money they paid to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 from May 1, 2017 — the furthest back they can demand the money under a state statute of limitations — through June 28, 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to make public employees pay union dues. Attorneys for the plaintiffs say they’re seeking close to $2 million from the union.
Champaign News-Gazette: Legislators: 'We don't need no stinkin' watchdog'
News is, by definition, the unusual.
If a dog bites a man, it’s doesn’t amount to much in terms of interest — unless, of course, it’s a heck of a bite.
Chicago Tribune: Educators plan to strike Thursday at 4 charter schools in Chicago
Unionized educators planned to halt classes and hit picket lines at four Chicago schools Thursday morning, as part of a coordinated strike that marks the latest phase in a citywide wave of labor unrest at taxpayer-funded campuses.
Workers affiliated with the Chicago Teachers Union called a strike as of 5 p.m. Wednesday, though negotiating teams expected to huddle as late as midnight in an effort to keep the South and West Side charter schools open the following morning.
Chicago Tribune: City Colleges of Chicago staff members latest campus workers to strike after contract talks break down
Hundreds of staff members at City Colleges of Chicago went on strike Wednesday, following through on their pledge to walk off the job amid prolonged and unsuccessful contract negotiations with the administration.
Full- and part-time clerical and technical workers formed picket lines at the seven City Colleges campuses Wednesday morning, then staged a short march and rally outside the district office in the Loop.
Chicago Tribune: Farmers inundate Illinois with applications to grow hemp, aiming to begin planting crop this spring
A previously illegal crop should soon be growing in Illinois, judging by farmers’ desire to plant it.
Farmers flooded Illinois regulators with requests to grow hemp as soon as the license application process began, officials said Wednesday.
Crain's Chicago Business: Developer pitches TIF-free plan for South Loop mega-project
Linking Metra, CTA and Amtrak rail lines, the transit center would be the centerpiece of One Central, a 34-acre project that Landmark Development plans to build over train tracks just west of the football stadium. Landmark unveiled preliminary plans for the project in March but offered no specifics then on how it would pay for the transit center or the public infrastructure needed to support the project.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County property tax bills to be sent out Friday
Property tax bills for McHenry County residents are set to be mailed out Friday, according to County Treasurer Glenda Miller.
The first payment installment is due by June 3 and the second payment installment is due Sept. 3.
Daily Herald: Spat between Lauzen, McMahon may delay Kane County employee raises
Kane County corrections officers and coroner’s staff members may have to wait at least another month for raises if county board Chairman Chris Lauzen’s latest beef with State’s Attorney Joe McMahon takes a turn for the worse.
The county board’s executive committee gave tentative approval to three pending union contracts Wednesday for workers in the county clerk’s office, health department and workforce development unit. Union contracts for employees at the county jail and coroner’s offices also came up for discussion.