Get the latest news from around Illinois.
WBEZ: How Your Private Illinois Tollway Data Is Shared With Cops And Divorce Lawyers
The trouble began when police officers showed up at Ellen’s house late one night.
Her ex-boyfriend contacted police and requested a wellness check on their young daughter. But police didn’t find anything wrong with the girl, said Ellen.
Daily Herald: Inspector general finds plenty of blame to go around on tollway hiring
Illinois tollway leaders said reforms are ongoing after a troubling report by the agency’s inspector general that pointed out “collective mismanagement” involving political hiring, lapses in drug testing and other irregularities.
The findings by Inspector General Theodor Hengesbach released Thursday come in the wake of the ouster of the tollway board by state lawmakers in January after the Daily Herald reported about cronyism and nepotism involving jobs and contracts.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago police supervisors will receive 10.5% raise over 5 years under new contract agreement with Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the unions representing Chicago police supervisors have reached an agreement on contract terms that will give the department’s sergeants, lieutenants and captains a 10.5% raise over a five-year period, according to the administration.
Other issues, including items related to police discipline and the federal consent decree aimed at overhauling how the city’s historically troubled force operates, will go to arbitration in December.
Chicago Tribune: Proposal for on-site marijuana smoking licenses introduced, but alderman says it was a mistake and will be withdrawn and reviewed
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s City Council floor leader said Thursday he plans to withdraw an ordinance laying out extensive rules and proposed licenses for businesses where people could smoke weed in Chicago once it gets legalized next year because the plan was introduced by mistake.
Ald. Gilbert Villegas, 36th, said the proposal put forth Wednesday was intended as a starting point for discussions about ideas brought to him by marijuana industry executives and chamber of commerce types.
Chicago Sun-Times: Why is Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi belatedly lowering property taxes for some New Trier homes?
In an unprecedented move, first-year Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is seeking to slash the valuation of more than 1,100 mostly high-priced homes in affluent New Trier Township because they are located in a floodplain.
Homeowners in six other north and northwest suburban townships that also were reassessed this year did not receive the same treatment.
Chicago Tribune: Rosemont reviewing proposals for sportsbook tied to Allstate Arena
More than a decade after losing out on Illinois’ 10th casino, Rosemont is hoping to open a sportsbook tied to village-owned Allstate Arena.
Since Gov. J.B. Pritzker in June signed into law a massive gambling expansion package that legalized sports betting at venues including stadiums with more than 17,000 seats, several companies have approached Rosemont about operating legal sports gambling in or near Allstate Arena, village spokesman Gary Mack said.
Northwest Herald: Lawsuit challenges constitutionality of McHenry County township consolidation law
Rockford Register-Star: 3 Winnebago County Board members explore hiring PR help to improve board’s image
Three Winnebago County Board members met with a public relations expert last month to discuss how her agency could help the board combat a public perception that it is mired in dysfunction and unable to effectively govern.
Majority Leader David Boomer, R-4, and board members Paul Arena, R-7, and Dave Fiduccia, R-11, met with KMK Media CEO Pam Maher on Aug. 26 to discuss whether her agency could help the board improve its image and public messaging. Fiduccia set up the meeting, and it was his idea to seek Maher’s advice, Boomer said.