Chicago to state lawmakers: ‘Seize the opportunity’ for gas tax hike
Chicago to state lawmakers: ‘Seize the opportunity’ for gas tax hike
Outgoing Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is looking to make inroads on an increase in Illinois’ gas tax.
By Vincent Caruso
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.
By Vincent Caruso
Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk
Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk
The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find tax relief through cost savings.
By Vincent Caruso
Geneseo hikes property taxes by 10 percent to pay for pensions
Geneseo hikes property taxes by 10 percent to pay for pensions
The city of Geneseo hiked its property tax levy by nearly 10 percent to pay for police pensions.
By Janelle Cammenga
FBI raids office of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke
FBI raids office of powerful Chicago Ald. Ed Burke
Burke has served on the Chicago City Council for nearly 50 years, and has long been the subject of ethical complaints from government watchdogs.
By Austin Berg
Coalition kicks cronies in Springfield showdown over car-sharing
Coalition kicks cronies in Springfield showdown over car-sharing
The car-sharing victory is real business friendliness. And that means Illinoisans – whether or not they ever rent their car through an app – have cause for a little celebration.
By Austin Berg
Illinois keeps 18 as legal age to buy smokes
Illinois keeps 18 as legal age to buy smokes
After narrowly clearing the Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill to make 21 the legal age to buy tobacco.
Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman
Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman
State lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that allows one former firefighter serving as a Chicago alderman to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. The pension boost will also apply to future aldermen with a history of fire department work.
By Vincent Caruso
Norridge hikes property taxes by more than 35 percent to pay for pensions
Norridge hikes property taxes by more than 35 percent to pay for pensions
Pressured by police pension costs, Norridge trustees voted to hike the village’s property tax levy by more than 35 percent.
By Vincent Caruso
House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman
House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman
Illinois House members voted to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that would allow a former firefighter serving as a Chicago aldermen to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. While just one alderman now qualifies, the bill could extend the perk to more in the future.
By Vincent Caruso
Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate
After unanimous approval from the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate has remained conspicuously silent on a bill meant to address one man’s dominance of a little-known network of government authorities.
By Austin Berg
CTBA pension plan: Unsound, unfair and unaffordable
CTBA pension plan: Unsound, unfair and unaffordable
A pension plan pushed by one Illinois think tank fails to reform the state’s broken pension system and risks repeating costly mistakes. Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker shouldn’t be fooled and should instead endorse meaningful, lasting reform.
By Adam Schuster
Restaurant group demands protection from food truck competition in Chicago
Restaurant group demands protection from food truck competition in Chicago
A trade organization is seeking to insulate the restaurant industry from competition in an Illinois Supreme Court battle over Chicago’s food truck regulations.