Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Northwest Herald: School funding reform incomplete without tax relief
Until they pass a plan that allows for property tax relief, state lawmakers haven’t truly reformed how public schools are funded.
If the new school funding formula approved by state legislators and signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner this week works as advertised, some of the state’s children should be helped.
Peoria Joural-Star: State lawmakers have a list of bills awaiting action
With the signing of the school funding reform bill last week, Illinois lawmakers will get a bit of a breather from Springfield.
Their work for the year isn’t done however, with a list of bills vetoed by Gov. Bruce Rauner awaiting possible override votes, not to mention another 80 bills still pending some action by the governor and another high-profile bill still waiting on a decision about when to send it to the governor.
Bloomington Pantagraph: Improved safety is objective of state's new bike law
Replacing the rear reflector on your bicycle with a light, riding your bicycle on a shoulder and (under certain conditions) passing a bicycle in a no-passing zone all will become legal on Jan. 1 under a bill signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
“The new legislation legalizes some common motorist and bicyclist traffic practices,” said Ed Barsotti, chief programs officer for Ride Illinois, the bicycle advocacy group that proposed the changes. “The intent is to make the roads safer while improving car-bicycle interactions.”
Chicago Sun-Times: Years late, with big gaps, CHA nears end of housing 'transformation'
The Chicago Housing Authority says its massive “Plan for Transformation” will be done by year’s end — years late and not exactly what was promised.
Northwest Herald: Record Fox River flooding cost McHenry County government agencies about $3.6 million
Flooding hurt not only residents but also local government agencies, which estimate they spent more than $3.6 million on flood relief and cleanup efforts after the Fox River flooding in July, according to a report.
Many businesses missed out on valuable weeks during the summer boating season, with officials at Blarney Island in Antioch predicting the area lost about $10 million. More than 556 homes were affected by the floodwaters, and the Fox Waterway Agency now is racing to catch up on debris cleanup and sediment removal.
Northwest Herald: Lake in the Hills Sanitary District ends legal battle with McHenry County
McHenry County can move forward with plans to possibly consolidate the Lake in the Hill Sanitary District with the village.
Lake in the Hills Sanitary District officials have agreed to stop trying to annex land across the Kane County border that would block the McHenry County Board from potentially consolidating the district with village government, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
State Journal-Register: Peoria Road TIF enters final approval phase
The proposed tax increment financing district on a section of Peoria Road in Springfield could take effect as early as November, if approved by the city and the state of Illinois.
There are still a series of legal steps required to create the economic-development incentive for a Peoria Road corridor between Converse and Sangamon avenues, including a public hearing later this month, city council approval and approval by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. There also is the question of the effect on property tax revenue for the Springfield School District. TIF districts raise money by diverting increased revenue from property taxes to economic development incentives.