Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Peoria Journal-Star: Democrats overreach this time with counterproductive pro-union law
We’re fine with the right to bargain collectively, but a bill up for vote this week in the Legislature would have criminalized the acts of local government officials when they don’t share those union sympathies and favor giving workers the freedom to choose: Lock up the mayor and City Council? Really?
The Collective Bargaining Freedom Act was passed by the Illinois House and Senate last summer, followed by the governor’s veto, but it snuck up on us this week, brought to our attention by the Illinois Policy Institute and the Wall Street Journal’s opinion page. It’s moot now, with the House failing to override Wednesday — by one vote — as the Senate had Tuesday, though it could return with changes. It still merits commentary for what it signals regarding the sorry state of contemporary politics.
Chicago Tribune: Rauner loses round in fight over teaching cursive in schools
Among the losses state lawmakers dealt Gov. Bruce Rauner Wednesday was one over a signature issue: Whether the state should require schools to teach cursive writing.
Rauner vetoed a bill to enact such a requirement, and the Illinois House voted to override him on Wednesday. The Senate would have to follow suit when it returns next month for the proposal to become law.
Chicago Sun-Times: House overrides veto of bill requiring monthly reports on state’s debt
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is one step closer to gaining the ability to get a closer look at the state’s giant pile of unpaid bills on a monthly basis — a move the Democrat achieved with unanimous support on Wednesday in an Illinois House veto override.
The Illinois Senate plans to take up the override in November.
Associated Press: House considers insurance portal audit
A resolution headed to the Illinois House floor Wednesday would require an audit of a $94 million online insurance portal and the performance of the only company that responded to the contract request.
The State Government Administration Committee unanimously voted for a review by the auditor general of the 10-year contract with Atlanta-based Morneau Shepell after an Associated Press report in June.
Chicago Tribune: Parents of dead, dying children blast Public Health director for newborn testing failure
Speaking publicly for the first time about his department’s decadelong failure to begin screening babies for a deadly disease, Illinois Public Health Director Nirav Shah told state lawmakers on Wednesday, “It’s unacceptable and shameful that it’s taken this long.”
With parents of dead or dying children seated behind him at the state Capitol, Shah took a lashing from Rep. Mary Flowers, who called a hearing in response to the Tribune’s special report “Doomed by Delay.” The report exposed bureaucratic missteps that robbed those families of the chance to save their children from Krabbe disease, a devastating neurological illness that can only be treated if caught in the first days of life.
Chicago Sun-Times: CPS board approves budget, bonds and $2.5M on Claypool’s consultants
Chicago’s Board of Education approved an amended operating budget on Wednesday that sends $38 million more to the city’s charter schools, up to $1.1 billion in bonds and millions more for consultants, including several closely linked to CEO Forrest Claypool.
But in a highly unusual vote for the appointed school board, the measure approving an additional $2.5 million for the consultants, including at least three who’ve worked for Claypool in the past and gave to his political campaigns, didn’t pass unanimously.
Chicago Sun-Times: Parents protest CPS special education policies before board meeting
Parents from across the city gathered outside Chicago Public Schools headquarters in the Loop Wednesday, calling for improved special education services.
The protest was in response to a recent WBEZ-FM report exposing a “secret manual” for special education policies that concerned parents say cause significant delays in — and even prevention of — services. Several parents and educators shared stories of their struggle to obtain the necessary services for special education students.
Chicago Tribune: Preckwinkle, Dart tensions resurface at budget hearing
Tensions between Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Sheriff Tom Dart bubbled up Wednesday, with clashes over a jail guard contract, forest preserve police and county jail staffing levels.
The bickering resurfaced at a four-hour budget hearing as commissioners look for ways to cut $200 million from Preckwinkle’s proposed $5.4 billion budget following the high-profile repeal of a controversial pop tax.
NBC 5 Chicago: Cook County Budget Cuts Could Lead to Closure of Suburban Courthouse
With Cook County’s controversial sweetened beverage tax defeated, Board President Toni Preckwinkle has called for major cutbacks. Those cutbacks could include some potentially drastic changes, including the closure of an entire courthouse.
While it’s still in the proposal stage, the Bridgeview courthouse – one of five across Chicago’s suburbs – is the one at the center of discussions of a possible closure.
WBEZ: Some Cook County Judges Often Deny Public Defenders When Defendants Post Bond
Peter McCray sat in a Cook County courtroom in June after being charged with illegal possession of a prescription painkiller — a felony. He faced up to three years in prison.
He knew he had to pay $1,000 to get out of jail until his case was resolved. But what he didn’t know is that some Cook County judges often deny access to a free court-appointed lawyer, known as a public defender, once bond is posted. McCray got one of those judges.
Chicago Tribune: Judge allows Palatine school workers to resume strike
School nurses, aides and other Palatine School District 15 employees temporarily prevented from striking returned to the picket line Wednesday after a judge lifted a restraining order, union officials said.
The 168 employees had been deemed vital to the health and safety of the district’s special needs students and were thus ordered to return to work. Another 286 fellow members of the Education Support Personnel Association remained on strike.
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County may hire of Chicago law firm in lawsuit with chief judge
The County Board by state law controls the purse strings when it comes to funding county government offices and functions.
However, County Board Chairman Frank Haney said the board’s duty to adopt a balanced budget and allocate funds may be challenged by 17th Judicial Circuit Court Chief Judge Joe McGraw in a lawsuit, a lawsuit previously thought to be all but dismissed. As a result, Haney is expected to recommend Thursday to the County Board that they hire Robbins Schwartz, a Chicago-based law firm, at a cost of $225 per hour.
Bloomington Pantagraph: District 87 tax rate may drop 2 cents
Based on an assumed 2 percent growth in Bloomington District 87’s property tax base, the district’s overall tax rate would drop about 2 cents in the 2017 tax year to $5.12 per $100 equalized assessed valuation.
That means the owner of a $150,000 house would see their tax bill decrease by about $10 — from $2,570 to $2,560 — assuming the assessed value of their house did not change.