-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
http://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/2014-11-30/illinois-gets-raw-deal-feds.html
The issue is whether utilities in Illinois must buy electricity from the clean coal FutureGen facility to be built in Morgan County. via Illinois Supreme Court to consider FutureGen case : State.
By: Mark Glennon* Was the “Welcome Home Illinois” Loan Program a noble effort to help first time home buyers or a vote buying scheme premised on bad policy? Here are the facts. Decide for yourself. Governor Quinn announced the program in April 2014. It provided $7,500 to first time buyers to help cover the down payment, secured by a second mortgage on the home, and was administered by the IHDA — the Illinois Housing Development Authority. About $80 million was disbursed under the program to over 10,000 home buyers, according to the Tribune. Credit requirements were relaxed compared to conventional
Monmouth is a town of about 9,500 in northwestern Illinois. It has already slashed its general fund by about half over the last decade, and is looking at a property tax increase of nearly 10% for the second year in a row, all while its pension situation worsens further. Comment: It’s most recent CAFR shows its police and fire pensions are just 50% and 39% funded, and those numbers have declined rapidly over the last ten years. http://www.reviewatlas.com/article/20141129/NEWS/141129777/1994/NEWS/?Start=1
http://chicagosuntimes.com/news/travelers-experiencing-major-security-delays-at-midway-airport/
Gamblers in the city of Springfield bet more than $96 million at video gaming terminals from September 2012 to September 2014. The city’s share of $26.7 million in net terminal income — the regulatory term for gambling losses — was a little more than $1.3 million. http://www.sj-r.com/article/20141129/NEWS/141129486/10511/NEWS
After getting a preliminary settlement in a class-action concussion lawsuit against the NCAA, Chicago attorney Joe Siprut is taking the fight over lax concussion management to the Illinois High School Association. Concussion lawsuit filed against Illinois High School Association
Wells Fargo & Co was sued on Friday by Cook County, which accused the largest U.S. mortgage lender of targeting black, Hispanic and female borrowers with predatory and discriminatory lending in the Chicago area. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/29/us-wellsfargo-chicago-lawsuit-idUSKCN0JC24020141129
Emanuel called a special City Council meeting for Monday to pass the minimum wage ordinance, impacting businesses within city limits. http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/politics/Emanuel-Calls-Special-Council-Meeting-for-Minimum-Wage-Vote-284166741.html
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