Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Northwest Herald: Survey asks Lakewood residents' opinions about consolidating with Crystal Lake
The renewed discussion partially was spurred by Lakewood and its fewer than 4,000 residents calling on Crystal Lake, a city with more than 40,000 residents, to help solve flooding problems in the village.
Lakewood asked Crystal Lake to pump out 470,000 gallons of Lakewood wastewater after extreme flooding in July. Lakewood paid Crystal Lake $8,560 for the assist, but it was far more efficient than emergency tankers that were called in before the deal, Lakewood Village President Paul Serwatka said.
Serwatka said some residents asked at a recent meeting to join Crystal Lake. Still, there are others in Lakewood who don’t want to explore the idea of consolidation, he said.
BND: Given a choice, who picks a failing school for their child?
So you thought Illinois lawmakers made a deal on the school funding formula? Well, think again.
The Republican votes needed to pass the school funding bill and get checks mailed to the school districts were earned through compromise. A major part of that compromise was a $75 million experiment in helping bring private school scholarships to more youngsters trapped in failing public school districts.
Up to $75 million in state tax credits will be offered per year for five years to those who donate to private school scholarship funds. Those scholarships are then targeted to the neediest students, giving their parents an alternative to public schools.
Sun-Times: County job supplements pol’s $161-an-hour township gig
The last time we heard much about John O’Sullivan, the south suburban political operator was bitterly bidding goodbye to his job at Cook County’s forest preserves.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle made clear she had no more use for the former state representative and Worth Township Democratic committeeman known as “Johnny O.”
In her characteristically understated manner, Preckwinkle said in 2011 that she had “let go” of O’Sullivan because he was “not a good fit” for his $85,704.32-a-year job as a forest preserve regional superintendent.
NBC Chicago: Greater Number of Students Leaving Illinois for College
The state of Illinois is among the states leading the nation in the number of college freshmen pursuing higher education in other states, according to a state agency.
The State Journal-Register in Springfield reports the Illinois Board of Higher Education says between 2000 and 2014, the number of freshmen who left the state to attend college rose by about 64 percent.
Reuters: New Chicago debt structure wins initial approval
A proposal by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to lower borrowing costs through a new debt structure aimed at insulating investors from the city’s financial problems won approval on Thursday from the city council’s finance committee.
A chronic structural budget deficit and a huge unfunded pension liability that totaled $35.76 billion at the end of 2016 have lowered the city’s general obligation (GO) credit ratings and raised its borrowing costs.
AP: Researchers to study opioid crisis in Southern Illinois
Two medical universities are teaming up to study how the opioid epidemic is affecting southern Illinois.
Southern Illinois School of Medicine and the University of Chicago have received a $1.1 million federal grant to study the impact of the drugs in Illinois’ 16 southernmost counties.