Illinois

Illinois 1 of 10 states still under covid emergency powers

By Dylan Sharkey

12/14/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his 37th COVID-19 disaster proclamation. Illinois is one of only 10 states living under an emergency order.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker

Chicago Public Schools students test scores worse than pre-pandemic

By Hannah Schmid

12/12/2022

CPS student proficiency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels and demographic achievement gaps persist in newest release of statewide test data.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Invest in Kids

Leaving 8th graders ‘Home Alone’ could land Illinois parents in jail

By Patrick Andriesen

12/12/2022

Unlike parents in the Chicagoland Christmas classic, Illinoisans could end up under investigation, arrested or even lose custody for leaving their eighth graders unsupervised this holiday. Parents in 30 other states get to decide for themselves.

TAGS: home alone, Illinois

Biden promises nearly $36 billion for national pension bailouts

By Patrick Andriesen

12/12/2022

The Biden administration promised nearly $36 billion to stabilize pension plans for Teamsters nationwide after forecasts predicted the system’s default by 2026. Union members would have seen their retirement benefits slashed by 60% if the system defaulted.

TAGS: Joe Biden, pensions

Pritzker signs SAFE-T Act trailer amendment with 5 reforms

By Patrick Andriesen

12/08/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the fourth trailer amendment to the SAFE-T Act Dec. 6. Experts predict the changes will not stop a constitutional challenge from 62 state’s attorneys.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

Chicago transit employee tried to steal $357K from pension fund

By Patrick Andriesen

12/08/2022

A former CTA clerk was indicted on five counts of wire fraud for allegedly creating and approving 43 fraudulent benefit requests.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, pensions

Amendment 1 narrowly clears voter threshold to become law

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2022

Amendment 1 is now included in the Illinois Constitution after the State Board of Elections certified the Nov. 8 election results.

TAGS: Amendment 1

Springfield’s ‘bad Santas’ can’t kick sin tax habit

By Dylan Sharkey

12/07/2022

Bad habits are tough to break, and Illinois lawmakers can’t ditch their habit of depending on sin taxes to raise revenue.

TAGS: sin taxes

What you need to know about new Illinois laws taking effect in 2023

By Perry Zhao

12/06/2022

New laws signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are set to impact education, public safety, agriculture and labor

Report: Illinois government ethics complaints hit new record in 2022

By Dylan Sharkey

12/06/2022

Illinois’ Executive Inspector General reported a record number of complaints, some alleging financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest.

TAGS: ethics violation, OEIG: Office of the Executive Inspector General

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FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Illinois students could soon benefit from scholarship money to help them find a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition, get special education services or assist with other academic needs. That will happen in Illinois only if Gov. J.B. Pritzker lets the state’s schoolchildren benefit from the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, established...

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