Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Pritzker orders tougher restrictions for Chicago starting Friday: No indoor bar or dining service, crowds capped at 25
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday ordered new restrictions for the city of Chicago that will prohibit indoor dining and bar service and limit gatherings to 25 as of Friday.
The city has seen sustained increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and its COVID-19 test positivity rate, a combination of factors that triggers a rollback of reopening under the governor’s plan.
Daily Herald: Geneva restaurant can serve meals indoors while fighting governor's order
Diners will be able to eat inside FoxFire Restaurant in Geneva while the business fights Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s ban on indoor dining.
Kane County Judge Kevin T. Busch on Monday issued an order prohibiting state and county authorities from enforcing Pritzker’s ban. Busch’s order is temporary and specific to FoxFire.
The Center Square: Report explores Illinois political parties’ money advantage over individuals, businesses
On Oct. 19, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan gave a state political party he controls $3.5 million.
It came from the Chicago Democrat’s uncontested political campaign that had seen donations, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time, reported just days prior. Once in the hands of the political committee, those millions would be funneled to competitive state Democratic races in amounts far exceeding what those candidates could accept from their neighbors and it’s entirely legal.
Crain's Chicago Business: Awash in local governments, Illinois sinks under the weight of them all
Better Government Association: Meet the Cook County judge defense attorneys least want to appear before
For more than a year, Antwaun McLaren kept a spotless record while serving probation for a cocaine possession conviction, regularly checking in with his Cook County probation officer and passing urine tests to make sure that he remained drug free.
But unable to find work, the 23-year-old father of two, including a newborn son, had his cellphone service cut off after falling behind on his bill. When he missed his probation officer’s calls, McLaren found himself back in court, standing before Judge Diane Gordon Cannon in early 2018 for violating probation.
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Lori Lightfoot defends plan to start issuing speed camera tickets for cars going 6 mph over the limit as ‘safety’ issue. City data shows a more complicated picture.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended her plan to begin issuing speed camera tickets for cars going 6 mph over the limit, declaring on Monday “it’s clearly a public safety issue” while pushing back against criticism that the proposal is a cash grab that will hurt lower-income Chicago motorists.
Lightfoot also said the city has seen “exponentially” more “speed-related accidents and deaths” this year, which she used to support her argument for implementing new speed camera standards that will catch more drivers.
Belleville News-Democrat: TIF districts in East St. Louis could be among the oldest in the state, if extended
The two governing boards for East St. Louis School District 189 are split as to whether to support the renewal of two Tax Increment Financing districts in the city.
The East St. Louis 189 school board approved a resolution to support the city’s intent to lobby the state for TIF districts 1 and 3A to be extended for another 12 years on Thursday. On Monday, though, the district’s state-appointed financial oversight panel voted to table its vote until the city could provide more information.
Northwest Herald: McHenry County Board chairman, state's attorney backing Algonquin Township abolition petition
McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks and State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally are gathering signatures in an effort to put a question on the April 2021 ballot that could abolish Algonquin Township, according to a Tuesday news release said.
This is the latest effort locally to target townships in local government consolidation attempts.
Chicago Sun-Times: City stickers: naming rights, commemorative versions among money-making suggestions from aldermen
If companies like Guaranteed Rate and United Airlines are willing to spend millions for the naming rights to sports stadiums, why not ask driving-related businesses if they’d be willing to pay for the right to put their name on Chicago city stickers?
Northwest Side Ald. Anthony Napolitano (41st) posed that question to City Clerk Anna Valencia Tuesday as the clerk took her turn on the hot seat at City Council budget hearings.