Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: GOP pulls support for Downstate lawmaker over 'zero tolerance policy on harassment' but doesn't elaborate
Illinois House Republicans pulled support from a Downstate lawmaker on Thursday, citing “allegations” about his behavior and claiming a “zero tolerance policy on harassment of any kind,” but declining to provide further details.
Republican state Rep. Jerry Lee Long of Streator said in a telephone interview that he can be a “pretty demanding boss.” He did not answer questions about what might have led House Republican leader Jim Durkin’s organization to pull its support.
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago pension fiasco: $54M lost on deal with Daley nephew, ex-Obama boss
A dozen years ago, five financially strapped city of Chicago pension funds invested $68 million in a shaky real estate deal put together by a former boss of President Barack Obama and a nephew of Mayor Richard M. Daley.
It was a high-risk investment. Allison S. Davis — who once headed a small Chicago law firm that gave Obama his first job out of Harvard Law School — and Daley nephew Robert G. Vanecko even warned in the prospectus that the pension funds could lose their entire investments.
Elgin Courier-News: U46 spent $57,000 to send 33 people to Nashville to examine career pathways program
School District U46 spent more than $57,000 on two trips to Nashville to research a high school career pathways program that has yet to be approved by the school board, a Courier-News review of travel records found.
All told, the district paid to send 33 people on the two trips to learn about career training in high schools that puts teens on a path to employment upon graduation. The school board will make the final decision whether U46 will adopt a career pathways approach, yet none of the school board members were part of the travel groups to Nashville. The travel parties included 30 district employees and three non-employees who serve in advisory roles to the district.
Northwest Herald: Algonquin Township Deputy Road Commissioner Provenzano spends $425 at Nordstrom
On Aug. 28, Ryan Provenzano placed an online order with Nordstrom.
Algonquin Township’s deputy road commissioner bought 18 pairs of Nike socks ($72), three pairs of Levi’s 514 jeans ($178.50) and a $150 pair of Keen Gypsum waterproof hiking boots. With taxes, the bill came to $425.53, according to records obtained by the Northwest Herald.
Daily Herald: Wheeling 'bridge to nowhere' could lead to senior housing complex
Once derided as a “bridge to nowhere,” a $1.7 million span that will connect Wheeling’s roads to undeveloped land along Lake-Cook Road may actually have a destination: a senior living development with independent living, assisted living and memory care units.
The joint venture of Opus Development Company and Allegro Senior Living introduced plans this week to build the 180-unit complex on the southwest corner of Lake-Cook Road and Milwaukee Avenue. Any development on the roughly 17-acre parcel wouldn’t be possible without a bridge spanning a diversionary floodwater channel off Wolf Court, behind the Ram Restaurant and Brewery.
Decatur Herald & Review: After 3 years, city and Decatur police union reach contract deal — except for 1 sticking point
The union that represents Decatur police officers has reached a tentative agreement with the city after more than three years with no labor contract, with the Decatur City Council set to vote on the deal Monday.
But the biggest sticking point — whether new hires must live in city limits for five years — remains unresolved. That issue will be decided by the Illinois Labor Relations Board in arbitration proceedings.
Belleville News-Democrat: County transit district moves into century-old building that’s easier to get to
The district that oversees MetroLink and bus routes in St. Clair County has moved its offices from a location difficult to access by public transit to a building in downtown Belleville.
The St. Clair County Transit District moved its offices from 1004 S. Lincoln Ave. O’Fallon to 27 N. Illinois St., which is more readily accessible by public transit.
The total cost of renovations was $585,000, according to Jim Brede, St. Clair County’s Director of Buildings.
The Southern: Murphysboro teachers' union rep. says negotiations were bumpy from the start
After attempting to get a contract since the end of the last school year, the Murphysboro Education Association voted to approve this week an intent to strike — after years of putting themselves second, the union’s vice president said the teachers would like to be on the receiving end of at least some of the district’s recently-found secure financial footing.
“This should be easy,” said Melinda Pierson, an instructor at General John A. Logan Attendance Center and the union’s vice president. She said with the knowledge that the district was in a better financial place because of changes to the education funding model, teachers were optimistic that this round of contract negotiations would go smoothly.