Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Crain's Chicago Business: Cullerton’s exit shakes up Springfield
Sources suggest state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz is well on her way to filling his seat in the Senate.
Chicago Sun-Times: Civic Federation president questions whether CPS can afford $1.5B cost of new teachers contract
Civic Federation President Laurence Msall said Friday he has “significant concerns” about whether the Chicago Public Schools can afford the five-year, $1.5 billion contract that ended the 11-day teachers strike.
The first-year cost is not the issue. More than half of that $137 million price tag is already built into the CPS budget.
WBEZ: Chicago launches ticket debt forgiveness website, new payment plans
The city of Chicago launched its debt forgiveness program Friday for drivers with outstanding city sticker tickets. It also rolled out more lenient payment plans.
The moves are the latest to make good on Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s campaign promises to end the Chicago’s “addiction to fines and fees,” which have contributed to an explosion of bankruptcies and car seizures.
WTTW: Federal monitor: CPD lagging behind in consent decree compliance
An independent federal monitor overseeing reforms to the Chicago Police Department says CPD is well behind in implementing those reforms.
Federal monitor Maggie Hickey on Friday released the first semiannual report for the CPD’s consent decree, saying that the department is not in compliance with a majority of the reforms, and has missed 38 of 50 agreed-upon deadlines to get into what it calls “preliminary compliance.”
Chicago Tribune: Chicago Teachers Union ratifies new contract, avoiding another walkout after 11-day strike
The Chicago Teachers Union has voted to ratify its tentative contract agreement with Chicago Public Schools, averting the prospect that the city’s longest teachers strike in decades could resume.
With about a fifth of ballots still to be counted late Friday, the union said the measure was passing by an overwhelming margin, with about 80% so far voting yes.
State Journal-Register: During veto session, clock runs out on time change, college athlete pay, more
The adjournment of the fall veto session Thursday night means a number of bills that failed to pass both chambers this week must wait for further action when the General Assembly returns on Jan. 28.
House Bill 3904, allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name and likeness, was one of the most publicized efforts that stalled this week.
Chicago Tribune: CPD fails to meet most deadlines for court-ordered reform, but it’s still early, monitor says
The city of Chicago failed to meet most of its deadlines and obligations for enacting court-ordered police reforms during the first months of the lengthy process of overhauling the Chicago Police Department, according to a court report filed Friday.
The first progress report from former federal prosecutor Maggie Hickey says the city missed 37 of its 50 deadlines during the first six months of implementing a consent decree, a court order calling for changes to training, supervision and the way cops use force, among other areas.