Get the latest news from around Illinois.
State Journal-Register: Prosperity is possible for Illinois
We all know what’s wrong with Illinois.
It’s too expensive to live here. There aren’t enough good jobs. Our government and political system are broken.
You know what else most Illinoisans agree on? How to fix our state.
Wall Street Journal: Illinois’s ‘Privilege Tax’ Proposal Forgets Citizens’ Right to Leave
Proponents here call it the “privilege tax.” In their continuing quest to punish the productive areas of the economy, liberal groups are pushing legislation in blue states that will force finance professionals to pay up—or move out.
The Illinois bill would put a 20% levy on fees earned by investment advisers. It passed the state Senate in a 32-24 vote Tuesday, and backers are hoping to get it through the House before the legislative session ends May 31.
Chicago Tribune: DCFS report shows litany of failures in death of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby
A new report describes a litany of failures by state child welfare investigators who opened at least 10 investigations into abuse and neglect in the home of 17-month-old Semaj Crosby before her death in April.
As investigators for the Department of Children and Family Services walked through the filthy, bug-infested house in Joliet Township month after month, they failed to learn the names or identities of many of the adults caring for children there, according to the 22-page DCFS report.
Chicago Tribune: Joliet DCFS investigators competed for $100 gift cards given for closing most cases
As state child welfare investigators probed allegations of abuse in the Joliet Township home where 17-month-old Semaj Crosby would later be found dead, their supervisor was launching a contest that awarded $100 gift cards to the two workers who closed the most cases in a month, according to agency interviews and internal emails examined by the Tribune.
The 3rd place winner would get a $50 gift card.
Chicago Tribune: Rauner pushes for property tax freeze as time winds down in Springfield
In the final scheduled days of the spring session, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is returning to familiar themes of his political life — bashing legislative Democrats and pushing to freeze property taxes.
The General Assembly is scheduled to finish on Wednesday amid doubtful prospects for an end to Illinois’ historic budget stalemate, again leaving schools, universities and social services providers uncertain about what they can expect in the coming year.
Chicago Sun-Times: Gov says Madigan pressured Senate Dems; speaker lays crisis on Rauner
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Friday pushed for a four-year property tax freeze while seeking to drive a wedge between Democratic members and Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan as they mull a budget-and-tax package.
Also on Friday, Madigan released a letter to the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, dubbing the state’s budgetary mess “Governor Rauner’s impasse,” while listing ways in which he said House Democrats have tried to enact reform measures.
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘Fed up’ voters call lawmakers ‘dirt bags’ as budget crisis drags on
Minutes after state Sen. Toi Hutchinson helped to pass a controversial revenue bill that was met with major Republican resistance, she was inundated with harsh words on her Facebook page.
“No more takes [sic] you dirt bags stop screwing the taxpayers!!!!!!!!” one Facebook user wrote.
Wirepoints: Illinois House Votes With Senate To Hand Over Public Assets To Bondholders
The march by the municipal bond industry to take dibs on the bones of public assets in Illinois is proceeding. This is an obscene sellout to the municipal bond industry and betrayal of the public interest.
Yesterday, the Illinois House passed SB41, which earlier passed by the Illinois Senate. We wrote several times earlier about this horrid bill when it was in substantially the same form as SB10. It is one of several measures that have been making their way through the legislature to give away secured, first priority claims on tax dollars to bondholders.
State Journal-Register: Senate approves workers’ comp changes
Illinois Democratic senators Friday approved changes to the state’s workers’ compensation laws over the objections of Republicans who said the changes didn’t go far enough.
However, the Senate did not take up a property tax freeze bill that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has now listed as his top priority for signing off on a permanent state budget.
Crain's Chicago Business: Illinois should unwind its Medicaid expansion
We can all agree on the need for a safety net for the most vulnerable among us: seniors, poor children and individuals with disabilities. Sadly, the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare has put services for those least able to help themselves in jeopardy.
To fix this, Illinois should freeze new enrollment in the expansion. This would allow those who enrolled through the expansion to gradually cycle off, allowing Illinois to refocus the program on those who need it most.
DNA Info: 'Termination Of A Race': Black Unemployment At Crisis Levels, Leaders Say
African-American political leaders are pushing for more action on unemployment after a recent report found Illinois had the highest African-American unemployment rate in the nation.
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. was joined by city, county and federal politicians Friday pledging to focus on improving the issues put in stark relief by an analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute.
Chicago Tribune: Airbnb renters in Schaumburg to start paying 8 percent tax
Schaumburg is the latest Illinois community to enter into an agreement with Airbnb that will allow the village to begin receiving taxes from the online vacation rental giant.
Starting Thursday, an 8 percent hotel and motel tax will be added to the cost of Airbnb rentals in the village, according to the home-sharing business and Schaumburg officials.
Northwest Herald: Woodstock School District 200 Board expected to discuss consolidation options Tuesday
The Woodstock School District 200 Board is expected to discuss its final options regarding school and building consolidations Tuesday.
Over the past school year, the Facilities Review Committee has been studying ways for the district to save money and better use its space. Numerous public forums have been held on the controversial matter, where Woodstock residents and district parents expressed concern about the possibility of school closures, enrollment numbers and future growth and the district’s financial state.
Belleville News-Democrat: Statehouse, city council, school district — can Greenwood do it all?
LaToya Greenwood holds two elected offices — state representative and East St. Louis City Councilwoman — and is employed full-time as a School District 189 administrator.
As a newly elected state representative from District 114, Greenwood, a Democrat, makes $67,836. She is expected to fairly consider the interests of more than 100,000 constituents from throughout the metro-east, including Belleville, East St. Louis, O’Fallon and Fairview Heights.