Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: When Amazon calls Chicago, how will the conversation go?
One day this year, we expect, Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s phone will ring. On the line will be an executive from Amazon — perhaps CEO Jeff Bezos — who will deliver either phenomenal news or a devastating disappointment.
Crain's Chicago Business: Suburban mayors are fighting state aid cuts
Here’s proof it’s not Democratic blue or Republican red, but fiscal green that really counts at the village hall: A bipartisan coalition of mayors from throughout suburban Chicago have kicked off a drive to prevent further cuts in state aid to their municipalities.
A particular target: Gov. Bruce Rauner, whose fiscal 2019 budget proposes to extend for a second year a 10 percent, $100 million cut in state income-tax sharing that was included in this year’s budget.
Associated Press: Illinois coroner to poor: Pay $1000 or county keeps remains
A coroner in western Illinois is facing sharp criticism for how he handles poor people who can’t afford to bury their loved ones: He has them sign over their rights to the deceased, leaving them without the death certificate, then cremates the body and keeps the ashes until the family pays $1,000.
If they cannot come up with the money, the ashes are eventually buried, along with others, in an unmarked grave. If the family needs the death certificate to access bank accounts or life insurance, the coroner first arranges for the county to recoup its costs from any proceeds.
Fox Illinois: Illinois bill could withhold income taxes if students owe lunch money
There’s a bill making its way through the capitol to make sure every student can avoid lunch shaming.
But it may come at a price to parents as they will either be paying their debt or possibly lose their income taxes.
WBEZ: Dirty School Gets New CPS Treatment: Chaos
Chicago Public Schools officials last week promised to quickly deal with schools across the city that had failed cleanliness inspections. But teachers at one South Side school say a first effort only made things worse.
Two dozen staffers from CPS and Aramark, the cleaning contractor, showed up at Burke Elementary on Saturday to clean without warning, teachers told WBEZ. The principal immediately sent an email to staff asking them to come to protect their materials if they were available.
Chicago Tribune: Glenview directs $400,000 to fight against Amtrak Hiawatha project
The Glenview Board of Trustees voted Tuesday to allocate $400,000 to opposition efforts against a planned project on the Amtrak Hiawatha line.
The money will go toward communications, research, lobbying, potential litigation and a contingency fund, according to a staff report.
Daily Southtown: After years trying to develop blighted property, Harvey has nothing to show — except an FBI probe and a lawsuit
A weather-beaten brick warehouse across Dixie Highway from the Harvey Police Department is all that’s left of the specialty manufacturing and packaging company that once operated there.
The worn-out building, which sits recessed from the street on a desolate 14-acre lot of cracked concrete and gravel, is central to a lawsuit recently brought against the city by a frozen foods manufacturer.
Elgin Courier-News: Kane County court services employee strike ends with no new planned negotiations after first week
The first strike week for Kane County probation officers and youth counselors ended with no new negotiation sessions planned, officials said.
The 16th Judicial Circuit Court employees, members of Teamsters Local 330, started contract negotiations with Kane County Court Services in November 2017 but reached a stalemate April 20, Local 330 President Dominic Romanazzi said.
Northwest Herald: Bob Anderson wants to cut McHenry Township salaries by more than half
Bob Anderson wants to cut the pay of his colleagues by more than half.
“Somehow, somewhere the taxpayers were not paying attention,” the McHenry Township trustee said. “How do we let elected officials get employee-type salaries? Some executives don’t reach those numbers. They’re overpaid for their positions.”
Northwest Herald: McHenry County municipalities consider lower fees for residential growth
As residential construction largely remains stagnant, some McHenry County municipalities are looking to reduce fees associated with building houses to attract developers.
McHenry County recently announced a plan to reduce several zoning fees after approving a 10 percent reduction in school impact fees last month.
Daily Herald: Deal to redevelop AT&T campus could include a number of tax incentives
Hoffman Estates officials Monday will consider an agreement for the proposed redevelopment of the former AT&T campus that outlines a number of tax incentives the village is willing to consider without promising any.
Though the proposed 18-month agreement doesn’t convey any rights to New Jersey-based Somerset Development, it acknowledges the village’s understanding that some level of incentive may be necessary to redevelop the 1.6-million-square-foot buildings on the 150-acre site, Village Manager Jim Norris said.
Peoria Journal-Star: Pekin City Council bridges budget impasse
After three meetings with no budget agreements and a contentious budget proposal by the Pekin city manager involving multiple employee layoffs, the Pekin City Council played phone tag Thursday night and came up with a proposal of its own to bridge a budget impasse for the next fiscal year.
The council voted 6-1 to approve a balanced general fund budget amendment Friday morning. Councilman Mark Luft was the lone “no” vote. Mayor John McCabe and Councilmen John Abel, Michael Garrison, Jim Schramm, Michael Ritchason and Lloyd Orrick voted yes.
Peoria Journal-Star: Stark County Board would cut clerk’s salary and freeze it and three others
The Stark County clerk and recorder’s salary would be cut by 12 percent when a new person takes over that office Dec. 1 under County Board recommendations made public on Thursday.
On legal advice, the board reconvened as a finance committee of the whole that night to finalize and vote in open session on salary recommendations that had previously been discussed only in an April 24 closed meeting that did not comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Decatur Herald & Review: $2 million Scovill Zoo train extension moves forward; no timeline on completion
Plans to extend the Z.O.& O Express Train track at Scovill Zoo have taken another step forward after the Decatur Park District said it recently sent work for the project out to bid.
When finished, the extended track will stretch along the lakefront and connect the zoo with its neighbor, the Children’s Museum of Illinois. The work bids are due back to the district on May 30, said Ryan Raleigh, director of operations for the park district.
Belleville News-Democrat: Four-year nursing degree from SWIC? Might make sense.
Illinois senators are for a second time considering whether the state’s community colleges should offer four-year nursing degrees. The idea gained sponsors from both parties.
They want to help curb a nursing shortage, but there are other issues that make compelling arguments for this shift.