Top Illinois Stories
Pritzker downplays special session powers while COVID-19 orders continue, dismisses calls for public oversight hearings – Center Square
“I just want to point out that just because you call a special session, in an environment like this where COVID is rampant, does not mean that members will actually show up and especially because the members have apparently chosen not to,” Pritzker said.
View Comments (5) | Add Comment
CUB embroiled in legal mud wrestling over ComEd corruption – Crain’s*
“Millions of dollars funneled into CUB from ComEd have neutered CUB, turning it from a statutorily mandated utility watchdog into ComEd’s lapdog, failing to so much as growl in response to defendants’ rampant bribery scheme and the corrupt regulations and exploitation of Illinois citizens arising therefrom,” according to a brief filed today in Cook County Circuit Court by attorneys handling the litigation in state court. “The public’s trust in this state’s utility operations has been rightfully shaken and CUB’s intentions must be evaluated with scrutiny.”
Leave a Reply
More Highlighted Illinois Stories
Illinois reports $285 million in September sport bets – Wilton Bulletin
Sports betting has generated about $3 million in tax revenue for Illinois in its first three full months. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office has suggested it could eventually generate more than $100 million in revenues.
Leave a Reply
Illinois Democratic Party not ready to yank the chair from under Madigan – Chicago Sun-Times*
Five members of the committee — including a congresswoman and a newly elected countywide official — are openly calling for Madigan to step down. Four others — including the Cook County clerk — see no need for new leadership. What the other 27 are thinking is a mystery, since they didn’t respond to the Sun-Times’ requests for comment.
Leave a Reply
Column: New faces, same makeup on Illinois Supreme Court – Champaign News-Gazette
Jim Dey: "As a general rule, the turnover won’t make a lot of difference in terms of the court’s work. It rules on cases and controversies, most of which are very important to the litigants but of little interest to the public. Where the high court will make news over the next two years is in redistricting, not legislative redistricting but redistricting of judicial districts by highly partisan Democratic legislators."
Leave a Reply
Restaurants And Bars Top List Of COVID-19 Exposure Locations In Sangamon County – NPR Illinois
The new data sheds more light on the debate over closing indoor service at bars and restaurants, but also comes with limitations.
Leave a Reply
Editorial: No to JB’s lack of transparency – Herald & Review (Decatur)
There's trouble when the attitude evolves from authoritative to authoritarian. Pritzker led wisely at the first strike of COVID-19. But much has been learned in the eight months since. The key balance that needs to be struck is one between the economy and public health. If we're going to side with the governor, he needs to pull back the curtain on his decision making. When cities acknowledge they don't have the personnel or the inclination to follow the governor's orders, all government bodies are left open to doubt. Pritzker needs to re-think his strategies.
Leave a Reply
Pension anchor is dragging down Illinois’ economy – Crain’s*
Eight months into an unprecedented public health crisis and accompanying economic downturn, much of the nation has slowly but surely been adding jobs and lowering unemployment. Yet Illinois just last week saw the largest increase in the number of unemployment claims of any state in the nation. Illinois' employment picture deteriorated as other states saw their labor markets improve.
Leave a Reply
Commentary: Illinois’s Proposed ‘Fair Tax’ Gets Its Just Deserts – National Review
"Many of the state’s most vital programs already have been cut close to the bone because of the pension crisis. Inflation-adjusted spending on the state’s pension systems grew 501 percent from fiscal year 2000 to 2020...Higher taxes were accompanied by disinvestment in public safety, public-health programs, higher-education spending, and services for the poor and disadvantaged."
Leave a Reply
Column: Pritzker unloads on COVID critics – State Journal-Register* (Springfield)
There was a lot of frustration on display there and he didn’t ease up when he concluded with the idea that hospitals will get filled up and the sick and dying will have nowhere to go. “I promise you, while you’ve failed to take responsibility for your city and your county, that day is coming closer and it will be on you,” he said.
Leave a Reply
Rising COVID-19 rates statewide prompt reopening delays, setbacks among Illinois’ largest school districts – Chalkbeat Chicago
Among Illinois’ 10 largest school districts, eight have paused plans to reopen school buildings or reverted to virtual learning amid a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Leave a Reply
Commentary: Gov. Pritzker, let the legislature work with you on COVID-19 surge, tanking economy – Chicago Tribune*
State Sen. Don DeWitte and State Rep. Dan Ugaste: "Illinois can be a leader in its response to the pandemic, but only if Gov. Pritzker embraces a decision-making process that brings together diverse ideas and disparate viewpoints. Instead, his continued refusal to allow legislators in the process has proved to have catastrophic impacts."
Leave a Reply
Sangamon Co. judge dismisses restraining order sought by cannabis license winners – Capitol News IL
In the court’s 17-page opinion, Judge Adam Giganti wrote the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate how Pritzker’s administration giving losing firms a second chance would cause irreparable harm, and that “the public interest favors allowing (IDFPR’s) administrative process, including its announced supplemental process, to proceed.”
Leave a Reply
‘Pessimistic’ budget projections has Pritzker looking for business ‘tax adjustments’ – Center Square
“The Governor will work with the legislature to identify corporate and business tax loopholes that can be closed and tax adjustments that can be made that will minimize the impact to lower- and middle-class families while ensuring that Illinois can meet its financial responsibilities,” the report said.
Leave a Reply
Secretary of State shutting down in-person services at Illinois’ driver facilities again – Center Square
Commercial Driver License facilities will remain open for written and road exams. “Commercial truck drivers provide essential services by ensuring goods can be transported safely and efficiently throughout the state and country during this pandemic,” Jesse White said.
Leave a Reply
Frustrated restaurant owners say Illinois health officials can’t prove they’re the problem while losses continue amid COVID-19 restrictions – Center Square
“For border counties, I would think that the economic effects would be even stronger,” University of Illinois Springfield Professor Kenneth Kriz said. “People have alternatives. They can go across state boundaries and participate in activities they couldn't otherwise here.”
Leave a Reply
Wait Times Keep Getting Longer For FOID Cards In Illinois – CBS2 (Chicago)
By law the process should take 30 days. But ISP said the average wait time has ballooned to 122. “No one would wait 160 days for the Comcast guy to come to your house,” one applicant said.
Leave a Reply
Pritzker Extends Illinois Eviction Moratorium for Additional 30 Days – NBC5 (Chicago)
At his daily coronavirus news briefing, the governor explained the extension will only cover renters who have earned no more than $90,000 in annual income - or $198,000 for joint filers - during the calendar year.
Leave a Reply
Identity theft crimes surge in Illinois and across nation, along with persistent unemployment benefits fraud complaints – ABC7 (Chicago)
"We know from the data that Illinois is being targeted especially Chicago, Illinois ranks 13th in the nation as states, as far as identity theft," said Bryan Lewis, CEO of Intellicheck.
Leave a Reply
Closure of indoor dining could have big economic impact – ABC20 (Springfield)
Restaurants make up 10-15% of Springfield’s sales tax revenue, so this closure could end up hurting the city budget, but City Budget Director Bill McCarty said he’s also worried it will hurt the city’s character. “Our local businesses, that’s the heart and soul of our community. That’s what makes us unique, so it’s heartbreaking any time we see one of those depart."
Leave a Reply
96 Illinois Counties Now at ‘Warning Level’ for Coronavirus, Health Officials Say – NBC5 (Chicago)
"Although the reasons for counties reaching a warning level varies, some of the common factors for an increase in cases and outbreaks are associated with university and college parties as well as college sports teams, large gatherings and events, bars and clubs, weddings and funerals, family gatherings, long-term care facilities, correctional centers, schools, and cases among the community at large, especially people in their 20s," the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a statement.
Leave a Reply
Independent analysis shows decline in Illinois’ COVID-19 case fatality rate – Center Square
“As a public, we’re running scared because all we hear is this massive increase of cases,” Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said. “You’ll never hear the governor talk about how the fatality rate has collapsed, and that’s an important thing for people to know.”
Leave a Reply
Indiana Restaurants Still Operating At Full Capacity Despite COVID-19 Surge – CBS2 (Chicago)
"We get a lot of phone calls from people in Illinois asking if our dining room is open,” said restaurant owner Sam Yfantis said. “We probably get more than a dozen phone calls a day...We want them to come in and enjoy their meal. We’re taking as many precautions as we can."
Leave a Reply
Column: Do anti-Madigan Dems have stomach, means for a fight? – Champaign News-Gazette
Jim Dey: "Madigan rules through the use of a carrot and stick. Cooperate with him, and he’ll take care of you. Don’t cooperate with him and — well, he’ll take care of you. He needs 60 votes to be re-elected speaker in January, and has 72 House Democrats."
Leave a Reply
Despite fiscal peril, experts say Illinois no closer to pension reform – Center Square
Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski said the math is getting closer to where it would make sense to address one of the state’s largest costs, but the relationship between Illinois’ political class and public-sector unions largely precludes the possibility.
Leave a Reply
Bipartisan demand for leaders to call hearings over Pritzker’s handling of pandemic response – Center Square
State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, and state Rep. LaShawn Ford, D-Chicago, said eight months into the pandemic, it’s beyond time to hold hearings. “To us, it is long past time that legislators, as well as the millions of Illinois residents, get the answers we deserve,” the co-signed letter said.
Leave a Reply
COVID-19 to cost University of Illinois campuses $270M this year, budget projects – Chicago Sun-Times*
The university system plans to use $121.3 million in reserve funds to address some of the COVID-19 costs.
Leave a Reply
Top Chicago Area Stories
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Federation of Labor announce agreement to avoid hundreds of city worker layoffs as part of 2021 budget – Yahoo News
See our commentary on this linked here.
Leave a Reply
More Highlighted Chicago Area Stories
East Side Activists Bring Fight Against General Iron To Mayor Lightfoot’s Block: ‘We Need To Breathe Just Like Everybody Else’ – Block Club Chicago
Greg Miller, a 14-year-old freshman at George Washington High School, co-organized Saturday’s rally of more than 100 people. “[Lightfoot] is supposed to be a leader and stand up for what’s right, not go against us...Lori doesn’t care because it’s not affecting her.”
Leave a Reply
Residents prepare for stay-at-home advisories in Chicago, suburban Cook County – WGNTV (Chicago)
“No one knows what’s really going to happen, you just kind of have to prepare yourself for the worst,” shopper Ramon Ponce said.
Leave a Reply
New Business Owners ‘Make it Work’ During Pandemic – WTTW (Chicago)
Applications for business licenses are up despite the pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as of Nov. 7, there were 80,820 business applications nationwide, an increase of 30.6% over the previous year. In Illinois, the number was 2,017, an increase of 30.9% over 2019.
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot doubles down on property tax hike in private meeting, tells aldermen not to record her – Chicago Tribune*
Early in the meeting, Lightfoot told City Council members, “I don’t consent to being recorded,” according to five aldermen who were on the call. It’s a sign of a lack of trust and indicates how fraught some of her conversations with aldermen have become.
Leave a Reply
Here Are the Restrictions Effective Monday as Chicago Braces for Stay-at-Home Advisory – NBC5 (Chicago)
It will be in effect for 30 days. The latest restrictions also come after the Illinois Department of Public Health urged residents to stay in their homes and only leave for "essential activities."
Leave a Reply
Chicago Businesses Struggle as COVID-19 Shutdown Appears Imminent – WTTW (Chicago)
Said Chicago Department of Business and Consumer Protection Commissioner Rosa Escareño, "When the federal money came here to Chicago, we know that traditionally, businesses that had banking relationships with the small business administration who pushed out the money, those were first in line. Those are not the businesses in [Black and Latino] neighborhoods."
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot: City workers protected from layoffs in 2021 – WGNTV (Chicago)
The mayor issued the joint statement with Chicago Federation of Labor President Bob Reiter: “This will ensure Chicago’s public workers, the backbone of our neighborhoods, maintain their jobs and health insurance while also protecting the critical services Chicagoans rely on during these unprecedented times. We are committed to continue working together to identify places where we can partner on savings.”
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot’s budget threat to Black Caucus makes her ‘no different than Daley or Rahm,’ alderman says – Chicago Sun-Times*
A Lightfoot ally, who asked not to be named, predicted Friday the mayor is at least five votes shy of the 26 votes she needs for the property tax increase. To avoid an embarrassing defeat, the alderman said, Lightfoot might delay the final Council vote, now scheduled for Nov. 24. “If her budget goes down, she’s toast. She might as well pack up her s--t and go,” the alderman said.
Leave a Reply
Bullied, badgered, publicly scorned: Suburban school boards feel the heat — and the hate — as they weigh COVID-19 school closings – Chicago Tribune*
Said Ben Schwarm, deputy director of the Illinois Association of School Boards, "School board members are in a tough spot, and while it’s understandable that parents and teachers are voicing their opinions and having rallies, things can become really uneasy as the tensions escalate, especially with the whole social media aspect. I think in the coming year, we’re going to see a lot of school board member turnover, and a fair amount of superintendents leaving, too."
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot cancels 350 layoffs tied to her ‘pandemic’ budget – Chicago Sun-Times*
Buoyed by higher than expected marijuana revenues, Mayor Lori Lightfoot Saturday canceled plans to lay off 350 city employees to help secure the 26 City Council votes she needs to pass her “pandemic budget.” Revenues generated by the sale of recreational and medical marijuana have “gone through the roof”— topping $100 million statewide for the first time in October and $800 million in the first 10 months.
Leave a Reply
What We Learned From 11 Days Of Virtual Chicago Budget Hearings – WBEZ (Chicago)
There’s still the question of whether Congress will act before the end of the year to pass a second stimulus package for state and local governments — something Lightfoot has repeatedly called for. And with no veto session planned for the state legislature in Springfield, the door is also closed on a laundry list of potential revenue ideas from the more progressive side of the City Council.
Leave a Reply
Mag Mile SSA Would Help Repair Downtown’s ‘Tarnished’ Reputation After Looting, Advocates Say — But Will It Happen? – Block Club Chicago
Typically, the city requires a lengthy application process to establish a new SSA that can span two years. But the planning department waived certain requirements, including gathering support signatures from at least 20 percent of affected property owners, to accommodate the expedited timeline.
Leave a Reply
Why is Northwestern flunking 2020? – Crain’s
The myriad crises of 2020 are upending the world of higher education, but few institutions have been more thoroughly unsettled by this year's upheaval than Northwestern University, whose sterling reputation—and that of its president, Morton Schapiro—have been tarnished by protests on campus, layoffs, a tuition flip-flop and the lingering perception that the institution and its leaders are out of touch with the cultural crosscurrents roiling the campus community.
Leave a Reply
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defends joining crowd celebrating Biden-Harris win as COVID-19 cases surge – Chicago Tribune*
“I will tell you in that big crowd a week ago, everybody was wearing masks,” the mayor told MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle. “Yes, there are times when we actually do need to have ... relief and come together, and I felt like that was one of those times. That crowd was gathered whether I was there or not, but this has been a super hard year on everyone. Everyone feels traumatized.”
Leave a Reply
Chicago Becomes First Major U.S. City to Reissue COVID Lockdown As Cases Spike 36 Percent – Newsweek
Lightfoot also said over Twitter that the city would increase its coronavirus response team and deploy approximately 2,000 city workers, including up to 550 contact tracers, and hundreds of community-based organizations to reach at least half of Chicago's households.
Leave a Reply
Some Schools Continue In-Person Learning, Despite Health Recommendations – WBEZ (Chicago)
Dr. Larry Kociolek, assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University, said while transmission between students and student to teacher is rare, the data is incomplete. “If we had data to support whether or not we should be in school, there would be universal recommendations."
Leave a Reply
The push for reparations: How Evanston is trying to get it done – WGNTV (Chicago)
“What could ever be enough for the damages we’ve had? But we certainly should pursue some sort of redress and in doing that the healing begins for the entire community,” said 5th Ward Ald. Robin Rue Simmons.
Leave a Reply
Despite Eviction Moratorium, Chicagoans Fear Housing Loss – Block Club Chicago
According to the Aspen Institute, one in three Illinois households is at risk of eviction by the end of the year—and some landlords are finding ways to advance the agenda by pestering their tenants with threats and other illegal measures.
Leave a Reply
Stay-at-home advisory now issued for suburban Cook County – WGNTV (Chicago)
The advisory is scheduled to go into effect for both suburban Cook County and Chicago on Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 a.m., and will last at least 30 days.
Leave a Reply
Now-closed McCormick Place COVID-19 hospital cost taxpayers $15M to staff, run – Chicago Sun-Times*
The temporary hospital at McCormick Place has since been dismantled, and state officials say there are no plans to rebuild the facility even though the number of COVID-19 cases is surging in Illinois. Said Rebecca Clark, a spokeswoman for Illinois’ emergency management agency, “(T)he McCormick Place equipment has been prepositioned throughout the state to help hospitals and other congregate-care settings enhance surge capacities.”
Leave a Reply
Sheriff Asks For Help Limiting COVID-19 Spread At Cook County Jail – WBEZ (Chicago)
“The one thing we can adamantly tell you without any hesitation whatsoever is the majority of the people who are positive at any given moment inside the jail are people who came into the jail positive,” Dart said. “There isn’t this wild spread going on in the jail.”
Leave a Reply
Arbitrator rules against Chicago Public Schools in labor dispute over clerks, but district will still require them to work mostly in person, saying COVID-19 measures in place – Chicago Tribune*
While arbitrator Jeanne Charles noted her final ruling “makes no finding with respect to the Board’s ability to reopen schools," she found that CPS violated its contract with CTU by requiring employees to work in potentially unsafe conditions. “The only way to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 infection and death is for school clerks, school clerk assistants, and technology coordinators to work remotely."
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot Links Protections for Immigrants To Budget Vote – WTTW (Chicago)
Ald. Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th Ward) — who has been pushing for changes to the city’s sanctuary city ordinance for five years — said a member of the mayor’s office staff told him it was included in the budget bill “because there isn’t much good to vote for in this budget.”
Leave a Reply
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has delivered a warning to Chicago aldermen who might vote against her budget: sources – Chicago Tribune*
Wednesday, Lightfoot met virtually with members of the City Council Black Caucus, where she made waves by telling them that aldermen who don’t support her budget won’t have their wards prioritized, according to six aldermen who were in the meetings. “Don’t come to me for s--- for the next three years” if you don’t support the budget, two aldermen recalled her saying.
Leave a Reply
Landlords struggle to pay their own bills as tenants can’t make rent – WGNTV (Chicago)
“Tenants have not been paying; They have not paid the money, taxes are going up on us, on me. Water bills that the tenant does not pay, it goes on me,” Chicago Heights landlord Kevin Savage said. “I have to be able to pay all that in order to keep my house.”
Leave a Reply
State restrictions on restaurants the target of small protest outside Lake County Health Department – Lake County News-Sun*
Organizer Tom Pizur, doesn’t own a restaurant and doesn’t work in the restaurant industry. "I’m just a customer that doesn’t want to feel like a criminal...The restaurants hold these communities together, not just in Lake and McHenry county, but all over the state. These restaurants have spent a lot of money, a lot of time trying to meet the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) regulations."
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot needs to compromise to get pandemic budget passed, powerful ally says – Chicago Sun-Times*
"Over the years, the City Council’s final budget vote has been a test of the mayor’s political muscle. Former mayors Richard M. Daley and Rahm Emanuel won many unanimous votes, thanks to the relationships of trust they worked hard to build with individual aldermen. Lightfoot has a strained relationship with the Council, stemming in part from her Day One executive order stripping aldermen of control over licensing and permitting in their wards."
Leave a Reply
Reopening questions: Six issues Chicago preschool teachers are weighing as the first to return – Chalkbeat Chicago
Chicago officials said they have spent $2 million on 86,000 containers of sanitizing wipes and $3.5 million on 50,000 portable hand-sanitizer stations for high-traffic areas. But until you’ve been in a preschool classroom, teachers say, it’s hard to estimate how many wipes and sanitation supplies get used — from wiping off toys between uses, to wiping down tables, to cleaning up after snacks and lunches. “There are lots of fluids in the pre-K classroom,” said Terra Calamari.
Leave a Reply
BMO Harris launches $5 billion program to help Black and Latino businesses and communities, with ‘significant’ investment in Chicago – Chicago Tribune*
The program includes commitments of $3 billion for community reinvestment, $500 million for mortgage loans in low- and moderate- income communities and $500 million for commercial lending.
Leave a Reply
Wirepoints Commentary and Research
Illinois’ COVID-19 data: Daily update for November 16, 2020 – Wirepoints
Daily COVID-19 data update for November 16, 2020.
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot Caves On Paltry Union Layoffs, Illustrating Multiple Vices In Chicago Finance – Wirepoints
Stay stoned, Chicago. The tax hikes will be painless.
Leave a Reply
Updated 5-Year Budget Deficit Estimates From Illinois Governor’s Budget Office – Wirepoints
The revised cash-based deficit projection for the current year is $3.9 billion, but with a total bill backlog of $10.2 billion remaining at the end of the year.
Leave a Reply
Political Indoctrination In Illinois Schools Would Be Mandatory Under Pending Rule – Wirepoints
Make no mistake. The pending rule would be another major step in the conversion of education into state-controlled autocracy. It is a direct assault on free society.
Leave a Reply
“Illinois’ collapsing COVID fatality rates show we can have our schools reopen safely and responsibly.” – Ted on AM 560’s Chicago’s Morning Answer
Ted was on with Amy Jacobson and Paul Vallas talking about the collapse in the state's case fatality rates. Illinois' COVID crisis is still centered in retirement homes. Over 40% of all deaths between September and November were linked to Long-Term Care facilities.
Leave a Reply
Flashback to tragicomedy as ‘critical juncture’ again used to describe Illinois financial condition – Quicktake
Say, haven’t we heard that “critical juncture” thing before?
Leave a Reply
More Wirepoints Original Stories
Two ‘news’ front pages from the past week – Quicktake
Regardless of your views on the status of the election or of the candidates, are these appropriate front pages for news sources?
Leave a Reply
Illinois’ COVID fatality rate plummets: Cases skyrocket, deaths down since last peak – Wirepoints
Lost in the attention over Illinois’ massive spike in COVID-19 cases is the collapse in the virus’ case fatality rate, or CFR. The latest COVID data is quickly revealing how less fatal the coronavirus really is, and that has major implications for lockdown policies and, in particular, for school shutdowns.
Leave a Reply
Give Us Better Data And Projections: With COVID-19 Cases Soaring, Officially Reported Information Is Increasingly Useless – Wirepoints
A lesson in how lacking the data and analyses are that health officials have provided to the public on COVID-19.
Leave a Reply
Audio: Wirepoints’ Mark Glennon on the Financial Survival Network discussing the exodus from Chicago and other big cities
Thanks to Kerry Lutz for having Mark Glennon on to discuss the potentially historic flight from big cities to smaller communities.
Leave a Reply
Profiles In Courage? Top Illinois Officeholders Turn On Michael Madigan. – Quicktake
What do Illinois' top politicians know now that they haven’t always known that would cause them to throw House Speaker Michael Madigan under the bus?
You’d think they’d have at least have tried to spin up some pretext.
Leave a Reply
Reforms Instead Of Taxes. Here’s A List For Illinois To Start With. – Wirepoints
Illinoisans know the state faces a massive budget hole., though they rejected the "Fair Tax increase. What do they want instead of higher taxes? We don’t know, but we know what they should want: reforms.
Leave a Reply
“The governor has only himself to blame for the tax hike failure. It was a bipartisan rejection of his plan.” – Ted with Tom Miller on Newsradio WJPF
Ted was on with Tom Miller this week talking about the clear rejection by Illinois voters of Gov. Pritzker's progressive tax hike.
Leave a Reply
— Connecting the dots between our economy, government and people —
ILLINOISANS NEED PENSION REFORM,
NOT TAX HIKES.
Wirepoints Original Stories
Illinois’ COVID-19 data: Daily update for November 16, 2020 – Wirepoints
Daily COVID-19 data update for November 16, 2020.
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot Caves On Paltry Union Layoffs, Illustrating Multiple Vices In Chicago Finance – Wirepoints
Stay stoned, Chicago. The tax hikes will be painless.
Leave a Reply
Updated 5-Year Budget Deficit Estimates From Illinois Governor’s Budget Office – Wirepoints
The revised cash-based deficit projection for the current year is $3.9 billion, but with a total bill backlog of $10.2 billion remaining at the end of the year.
Leave a Reply
WE’RE A NONPROFIT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE.
Top Illinois Stories
Pritzker downplays special session powers while COVID-19 orders continue, dismisses calls for public oversight hearings – Center Square
“I just want to point out that just because you call a special session, in an environment like this where COVID is rampant, does not mean that members will actually show up and especially because the members have apparently chosen not to,” Pritzker said.
Leave a Reply
CUB embroiled in legal mud wrestling over ComEd corruption – Crain’s*
“Millions of dollars funneled into CUB from ComEd have neutered CUB, turning it from a statutorily mandated utility watchdog into ComEd’s lapdog, failing to so much as growl in response to defendants’ rampant bribery scheme and the corrupt regulations and exploitation of Illinois citizens arising therefrom,” according to a brief filed today in Cook County Circuit Court by attorneys handling the litigation in state court. “The public’s trust in this state’s utility operations has been rightfully shaken and CUB’s intentions must be evaluated with scrutiny.”
Leave a Reply
Other Illinois News
Illinois reports $285 million in September sport bets – Wilton Bulletin
Sports betting has generated about $3 million in tax revenue for Illinois in its first three full months. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office has suggested it could eventually generate more than $100 million in revenues.
Leave a Reply
Illinois Democratic Party not ready to yank the chair from under Madigan – Chicago Sun-Times*
Five members of the committee — including a congresswoman and a newly elected countywide official — are openly calling for Madigan to step down. Four others — including the Cook County clerk — see no need for new leadership. What the other 27 are thinking is a mystery, since they didn’t respond to the Sun-Times’ requests for comment.
Leave a Reply
Column: New faces, same makeup on Illinois Supreme Court – Champaign News-Gazette
Jim Dey: "As a general rule, the turnover won’t make a lot of difference in terms of the court’s work. It rules on cases and controversies, most of which are very important to the litigants but of little interest to the public. Where the high court will make news over the next two years is in redistricting, not legislative redistricting but redistricting of judicial districts by highly partisan Democratic legislators."
Leave a Reply
Restaurants And Bars Top List Of COVID-19 Exposure Locations In Sangamon County – NPR Illinois
The new data sheds more light on the debate over closing indoor service at bars and restaurants, but also comes with limitations.
Leave a Reply
Editorial: No to JB’s lack of transparency – Herald & Review (Decatur)
There's trouble when the attitude evolves from authoritative to authoritarian. Pritzker led wisely at the first strike of COVID-19. But much has been learned in the eight months since. The key balance that needs to be struck is one between the economy and public health. If we're going to side with the governor, he needs to pull back the curtain on his decision making. When cities acknowledge they don't have the personnel or the inclination to follow the governor's orders, all government bodies are left open to doubt. Pritzker needs to re-think his strategies.
Leave a Reply
Top Chicago Stories
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago Federation of Labor announce agreement to avoid hundreds of city worker layoffs as part of 2021 budget – Yahoo News
See our commentary on this linked here.
Leave a Reply
Other Chicago News
East Side Activists Bring Fight Against General Iron To Mayor Lightfoot’s Block: ‘We Need To Breathe Just Like Everybody Else’ – Block Club Chicago
Greg Miller, a 14-year-old freshman at George Washington High School, co-organized Saturday’s rally of more than 100 people. “[Lightfoot] is supposed to be a leader and stand up for what’s right, not go against us...Lori doesn’t care because it’s not affecting her.”
Leave a Reply
Residents prepare for stay-at-home advisories in Chicago, suburban Cook County – WGNTV (Chicago)
“No one knows what’s really going to happen, you just kind of have to prepare yourself for the worst,” shopper Ramon Ponce said.
Leave a Reply
New Business Owners ‘Make it Work’ During Pandemic – WTTW (Chicago)
Applications for business licenses are up despite the pandemic. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that as of Nov. 7, there were 80,820 business applications nationwide, an increase of 30.6% over the previous year. In Illinois, the number was 2,017, an increase of 30.9% over 2019.
Leave a Reply
Lightfoot doubles down on property tax hike in private meeting, tells aldermen not to record her – Chicago Tribune*
Early in the meeting, Lightfoot told City Council members, “I don’t consent to being recorded,” according to five aldermen who were on the call. It’s a sign of a lack of trust and indicates how fraught some of her conversations with aldermen have become.
Leave a Reply
Here Are the Restrictions Effective Monday as Chicago Braces for Stay-at-Home Advisory – NBC5 (Chicago)
It will be in effect for 30 days. The latest restrictions also come after the Illinois Department of Public Health urged residents to stay in their homes and only leave for "essential activities."
