Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel earmarks $5M in city funding to speed CTA bus service on busiest routes
CTA bus ridership has declined by 21 percent since 2012 as riders frustrated by the snail’s pace of bus service switch to ride-hailing.
That’s why mass transit advocates were so disappointed when the CTA chose to improve its rail system with revenue generated by a new ride-hailing fee: 15-cents-a-ride this year and another nickel in 2019.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township trustees reject road district's request to transfer money for legal fees
The Algonquin Township Board unanimously rejected Highway Commissioner Andrew Gasser’s request to transfer $8,000 into his $150,000 legal fund to allow the road district to pay a $40,000 lawsuit settlement without going over budget.
Trustees berated the road commissioner for agreeing to settlement terms one official characterized as “dubious.”
Daily Herald: Would Vernon Hills company leave town over rejection of $1.37 million tax deal?
Though praised as a good corporate neighbor, American Hotel Register Co. representatives failed to persuade Vernon Hills trustees to hand over $1.37 million in sales taxes for interior building upgrades the company believes will help it attract millennial workers.
Tight economic times in the village and an aversion to what would be a precedent-setting agreement were cited as reasons to deny the request, although some trustees said they remain willing to negotiate with the firm.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria County to vote on sales-tax hike to fix roads
After two years, maybe Peoria County residents haven’t changed their minds about hiking the county sales tax for road work.
Then again, in two years, the county’s untouched roads haven’t gotten any better.