Get the latest news headlines from around Illinois.
AP: Judge Dismisses Illinois Social Service Providers' Lawsuit
A judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by social service providers who wanted the court to force payment on contracts with the state of Illinois, saying the issue belongs in a higher court.
After brief oral arguments, Cook County Judge Rodolfo Garcia tossed the lawsuit.
Nearly 100 social service providers, called the Pay Now Illinois coalition, sued in May over fallout from the state’s unprecedented budget stalemate. They argued the state breached its service contracts and they were owed roughly $160 million collectively for services, including health care and programs to fight homelessness.
Chicago Tribune: Rauner rejects National Guard as way to quell Chicago violence
As Chicago capped off its deadliest month in almost 20 years, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday ruled out the idea of deploying the National Guard to help combat street violence in the city, saying that to do so would be an “emotional” reaction that “wouldn’t make sense.”
The Republican governor said he had discussed the concept with community leaders, police officers and the National Guard, but that “no thoughtful leader thinks that’s a good idea or would really provide a solution.”
The question arose as the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a priest and community activist, planned a Wednesday evening rally at his South Side church to pressure Rauner to declare a state of emergency in order to tap federal resources to help deal with the violence problem. Chicago has racked up more homicides and shootings this year than New York and Los Angeles combined.
Sun-Times: When dust settles, who will come through for Illinois?
In the last 16 years, Illinois has lost 35 percent of its manufacturing jobs. That’s about 304,000 jobs, more than the population of any city in the state other than Chicago.
That number alone, cited by a business leader this week in a lunchtime speech before the City Club, tell the story of our state’s poor business climate and sputtering economy. It sounds an alarm. It reminds us once again — if anybody still needs reminding — that our elected officials have failed us miserably and time is running short to set things right.
Sun-Times: CTU posts ‘What’s at stake’ primer on contract talks, strike
As strike rumors have been flying around, the Chicago Teachers Union has published a lengthy “What’s at stake” primer of what it has been seeking from the school system and what teachers should do as they prepare for students to report to classes next week.
The post on the CTU’s website compares its most recent contract asks with those offered by Chicago Public Schools, answers logistical questions, and offers members advice on what to say to parents and community members as the union considers striking later in the school year.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois elections board now says info about 90,000 voters hacked
The Illinois State Board of Elections has revised sharply downward the number of voters whose information may have been hacked in a one-month cyberattack that began in June.
After initially saying fewer than 200,000 voters’ information may have been compromised in an attack of possible foreign origin, board officials now say the number is closer to 90,000.
Officials confirmed that about 700 voter records were viewed, and the 700 people will be notified by mail as required by law.
Chicago Tribune: Bill toughening oversight of wine shipping in Illinois signed into law
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law Friday that toughens oversight and enforcement of shipping wine into Illinois and transporting alcohol across state lines.
It’s a win for Illinois alcohol wholesalers who lobbied for the passage of Senate Bill 2989, sponsored by state Sen. James Clayborne, D-East Saint Louis. The bill enhances penalties on those illegally shipping or transporting alcohol into the state. It also raises licensing fees across the board for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, and establishes more of an audit process for booze coming into the state.
But the bill had detractors, too, particularly from residents who purchased hard-to-find wine from out-of-state retailers. An online petition calling on Rauner to veto the bill garnered more than 1,500 supporters. Retailers aren’t permitted to ship into Illinois, though some still do, but wineries are allowed to do so if licensed with the state. Now, retailers who take the risk could face felony charges.
DNAinfo: Chicago Apartments Are Now Nearly As Expensive As Honolulu's
Apartment prices are on the rise again in Chicago, making it the 10th most expensive American city to rent in.
Zumper’s National Rent Report for September, which covers 100 cities nationwide, showed an overall drop nationally for one and two bedroom apartments, but some cities fell more than others — and in Chicago, prices remained steady or climbed.
Now, a median one bedroom apartment in Chicago is only about $10 cheaper ($1,750) than a one bedroom in Honolulu. We hear the weather is decent there, too.
Courier-News: Kane County looks at new option to fund pensions
A consultant pitched the concept of Pension Obligation Bonds — which allows governments to turn pension liabilities into debt — to Kane County officials, but acknowledged the concept has its detractors.
Kane County has $53 million unfunded pension costs owed to the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and is paying 7.5 percent interest annually, said Thomas Gavin, managing director for the Robert W. Baird & Co. office based in Naperville. Pension Obligation Bonds would allow the county to issue bonds for the $53 million and pay off the entire amount to the IMRF, he said.
The county could borrow at about 3.5 percent in the bond market, Gavin said. If the bond proceeds are used to pay off the $53 million, Kane County would save about $15 million in interest. Baird estimates the county would have lower payments over time and could pay off the bond debt in 28 years, he said.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago police union calls for officers not to work overtime on Labor Day weekend
As Chicago police battle surging violence, the union representing rank-and-file officers continues to urge officers not to work overtime shifts over Labor Day weekend.
The request from the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police comes as the city is reeling from 86 homicides in August, the deadliest month in 20 years.
The FOP has been calling for the boycott since late July, and the latest memo sent Wednesday to its 10,000 rank-and-file officers declared Friday through Monday as “FOP Unity Days” and urged officers to spend time with their families.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois' pile of unpaid bills could hit record of $14 billion next summer
The stopgap budget agreement struck by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature is only adding to the state’s financial problems, according to a new report from Moody’s Investors Service, which estimated the state’s backlog of unpaid bills could reach a new high of $14 billion by next summer.
The main problem? Illinois is spending more than it’s taking in following the rollback of a 2011 temporary income tax increase that’s resulted in revenues dropping by several billion dollars the last two years. Indeed, the stopgap agreement put off many tough decisions on cuts or tax hikes until after the November election, with much of state government spending essentially on autopilot in the meantime due to legislative action and various court orders.