Get the latest news from around Illinois.
WBEZ: New State Scholarships Save Families Money, Steady Private Schools
Every day, hundreds of kids walk through the doors of St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic school on Chicago’s Southwest Side. They march up the stairs and into classrooms, where they start their day with morning prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. It’s been like that for decades.
But this year, for the first time, 30 St. Mary’s students are getting taxpayer help to pay for their parochial school education. They’re among more than 5,600 students statewide to receive one of Illinois’ first “tax credit scholarships.” Tens of thousands of students applied this year for the controversial new program, which is funded by Illinoisans who “donate” the taxes they owe to authorized scholarship groups.
Chicago Sun-Times: Thousands of hotel workers begin strike in downtown Chicago
Hotel workers lined up outside downtown hotels before dawn early Friday to strike for improved benefits.
Thousands are expected to stop work today to push for year-round health care. Negotiations on a new union contract had been ongoing for weeks but apparently had broken down.
Crain's Chicago Business: Why should local taxpayers give Amazon one more dime?
Amazon is closing in on a home for its second headquarters, often called HQ2, and Chicago is a top contender. But a closer look at the stream of corporate welfare that has already made its way into the tech giant’s coffers raises a critical question: Why should a company flirting with a $1 trillion market capitalization get another penny from Illinois taxpayers?
To date, Amazon has received a staggering $84 million in subsidies from Illinois taxpayers. Now Amazon is poised to get a sweetheart deal for HQ2 worth $2 billion if it chooses Chicago, and a Cook County circuit court judge ruled that the city does not have to disclose the details of its bid—one that taxpayers would ultimately be footing the bill for.
Crain's Chicago Business: Is Chicago biz ready for the post-Emanuel storm?
For Chicago business, the good times may be about to end at City Hall. Bigly.
The combination of a populist wave that could capture a majority of the City Council and Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s surprise decision not to seek a third term could halt a nearly-three-decade stretch under which mayors and docile aldermen occasionally made business groan with measures like a higher minimum wage and mandatory sick leave, but more often were a willing partner in trying to lure new growth and expansion.
Daily Herald: Blackberry Township asking voters, again for more money for road work
For the fifth time this century, the Blackberry Township Road District is asking voters for more money.
But this time, it is not asking for as much.
Daily Herald: Des Plaines District 62 approves 5-year contract with teachers
Des Plaines Elementary School District 62 has agreed to a new contract with its teachers union that will increase the starting salary for certified staff by about $6,400.
School board members on Wednesday approved the five-year contract with the Des Plaines Education Association for the 2018 through 2023 school years. the teachers union ratified the pact Aug. 24.
Daily Herald: Advocates renew push for higher minimum wage in Arlington Heights
Advocates for a higher minimum wage have renewed their push to get the Arlington Heights village board to “opt in” on Cook County’s higher $11-an-hour rate, though the village’s mayor said Tuesday he considers it a settled issue.
A few proponents holding signs attended a village board meeting Tuesday to urge Mayor Tom Hayes and trustees to reverse their May 1, 2017, decision to opt out of county ordinances raising the minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2020 and mandating businesses offer up to five days of paid sick leave a year.
Rockford Register-Star: Winnebago County ponders tax increase
Winnebago County may raise property taxes as county officials look to close a $4.2 million budget shortfall.
It would be the first time the County Board has captured the full property tax levy increase allowed by law in eight years.