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Chicago Tribune: With Pritzker win, pot legalization is now in legislators' hands, but not all are on board
Advocates of legal marijuana in Illinois rejoiced when J.B. Pritzker was elected governor Tuesday — and they’re already saying residents could be smoking joints lawfully by the end of next year.
But for all that the pot lobby staked on Pritzker winning the key to the governor’s mansion, he can’t legalize recreational marijuana on his own. That requires an act of the Illinois legislature, and passage of such a bill is not assured because some state lawmakers, particularly Republicans and those from Downstate, remain opposed and are warning against rushing a measure through.
Crain's Chicago Business: Pritzker tips hand a bit on first budget
J.B. Pritzker is dropping some hints about what’s likely to be in his first state budget, but the governor-elect still isn’t committing to much definite except giving full details in his February speech.
In a phone interview, Pritzker said the spending plan will be balanced and indicated he wants it passed on time by late spring. “Passing a budget is going to be a top priority,” he said.
Crain's Chicago Business: A quarter-million Chicago homeowners couldn't afford to sell if they wanted to
More than a decade after the housing crash, when many cities’ housing markets are years into another boom, a new report shows how far behind real estate values in Chicago lag.
Among the nation’s 10 largest metro areas, the Chicago region had the largest percentage of homeowners who were “seriously underwater” on their mortgages at the end of the third quarter, meaning they owe at least 25 percent more on the mortgage than the home is worth.
Rockford Register-Star: Proposed Illinois law aims to funnel help to crime-plagued neighborhoods
Neighborhoods besieged by high rates of violent crime and that are home to large numbers of ex-offenders could get more access to job training, health care and other social services under a bill winding its way through the Illinois General Assembly.
The proposal, known as the Safe Act of 2018, would benefit Rockford and other communities with high per-capita crime rates. The bill passed the state Senate with bipartisan support in the spring, and proponents hope for House passage during this month’s veto session.
Chicago Tribune: Toni Preckwinkle fired her chief of staff this fall. But an adviser warned her months earlier about his treatment of women.
A day after she announced that she had fired her chief of staff for “inappropriate behavior,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was asked twice if she knew about any harassment allegations involving her top aide before mid-September.
And twice Preckwinkle responded “no,” portraying her disciplinary action as swift and decisive.
Northwest Herald: Lake in the Hills Sanitary District Board to recoup only $45K from $100K deposit for land purchase
A settlement agreement that would see the Lake in the Hills Sanitary District recover only $45,000 from a $100,000 deposit from a failed land acquisition was unanimously approved by the district board Thursday.
In June 2017, the district entered into a sales contract with the seller, Ronald Rosati, and Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate to buy about 13.88 acres of land in Kane County.
Daily Herald: Elgin projects flat property tax levy for 2019
The city of Elgin plans to keep its property tax levies flat next year, a move made possible by budget cuts and revenue diversification implemented this year, City Manager Rick Kozal said.
The proposed 2019 budget is $267.4 million, a 3 percent increase from this year’s budget, with a $121.4 million general fund that pays for day-to-day operations, budget documents show.
Belleville News-Democrat: After saving almost $1 million on busing, schools see Belleville districts as example
Superintendents from O’Fallon to Red Bud have been paying attention to Belleville schools’ method to overhaul a costly service.
By cutting ties with a bus company and driving students to and from school themselves, Belleville District 118 cut over $500,000 from its budget. And Belleville District 201 saved more than $450,000.