Illinois Municipal League Executive Director Brad Cole said it was time to consider consolidation. “And it doesn’t have to be radical. I think any change, any positive movement, would be worthwhile so it doesn’t have to mean that everything gets eliminated, everything gets consolidated, but some common-sense approach would be good.”

His plans would thwart Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desire to get top dollar for the Chicago seat of state government and its full-block site in the Loop. He has said moving state offices in Chicago would save $17 million a year, and officials in former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration estimated the state could get $200 million for the property.

DuPage County Republican State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi has introduced a Chicago-only bill to end aldermanic prerogative over zoning.

Carol Pope, the current legislative inspector general, said the integrity of the process was compromised because the Legislative Ethics Commission, which is composed of lawmakers, must approve opening a case.

The local and state proclamations issued Thursday aim to boost funding for recovery and rebuilding efforts along more than 30 miles of shoreline in Cook and Lake counties affected by the Jan. 10-11 storm. High winds and heavy rain, snow and ice, caused significant property damage, including to beaches and recreational areas.

The proposal to limit red-light cameras in Illinois is making progress as another bill’s sponsor believes she can garner the votes to ban them entirely.

The report by Cushman & Wakefield said while owners of commercial property indeed are getting sharply higher assessments, they won’t necessarily translate into huge increases in tax bills.

Illinois has the third highest gas tax in the county, according the data from the American Petroleum Institute.

“Purely mathematical measures of mapmaking don’t account for the problem at hand: the power of political leaders to favor some lawmakers and punish others through boundary lines, or the perception of such power.”

The proposal filed Wednesday would require that proceeds from the issuance and renewal of the Firearm Owners Identification card and concealed carry permits go solely toward facilitating the program or other firearm-related activities, akin to the 2016 “lockbox amendment” that altered the state’s guiding charter to protect road funds from being used for other purposes.

In written testimony before the Illinois Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reforms Thursday, a former Illinois Legislative Inspector General explained how the Legislative Ethics Commission, a panel of lawmakers from both parties and both chambers, prevented her from making her findings public.

State Sen. Rachelle Crowe, the Alton Democrat who sponsored the bill, said the exemption on materials, parts, equipment, components and furnishings used on planes in 14 facilities statewide was an industry norm and doing away with it would not only be a shock to the companies that perform such work, but could also push those customers to other states.

College leaders are working with higher education foundations and state and federal legislators for any relief, grants, or extra funding to keep the doors open.

“In fact, our state’s history is one failed task force after another because the simple fact is they are not really about getting anything done, but placating General Assembly members so they can look good at home and then keep quiet for the Speaker and his cronies to continue to run business as usual.”

On the line for a refund to Carle Foundation Hospital are seven local taxing districts, including the city of Urbana, Champaign County, Parkland College, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District, Cunningham Township, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

A union representing Secretary of State Employees picketed outside the capitol Tuesday. Deneen Taylor, representing 98 IT employees in White’s office, said management was failing.

“This technology and the demands are increasing yet the number of employees to hold those positions and make sure everything is up to date and working properly aren’t there and that rests on the Secretary of State and their hiring,” Taylor said. Taylor said members were ready to strike for more money and improved hiring practices.