Citizens Continue to Exit High-Tax U.S. States – RealClear

If you’re still wondering why raising the cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction was important enough to Democrats to sacrifice their stated principles and resort to brazen gimmicks in order to fit it into the reconciliation bill, look no further than the latest release of the IRS’s tax migration data, covering tax years 2018-2019.

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Editorial: The remap turf war is ridiculous. When will Chicago’s aldermen put voters before themselves? – Chicago Tribune*

“Ideally, redistricting should be guided by shifts in population and demographics…In practice, however, remaps routinely devolve into secretive backroom affairs in which people with clout gerrymander their way toward, well, even more clout. What should be a civic exercise that empowers citizens becomes a selfish feeding frenzy that further empowers the powerful.”

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‘Who Is Making These Ridiculous Decisions’: Chicago Public Schools Blasted For Eliminating Boys And Girls Separate Restrooms – Daily Wire

CPS released a video featuring Camie Pratt, the district’s Chief Title IX Officer and Deb Spraggins, the district’s Deputy Chief Title IX Officer, as they stated, in part, “We will be providing all schools with updated signage that makes our bathrooms more inclusive. It will identify the fixtures available in each restroom and make it clear that all restrooms are open for use by anyone who feels comfortable.”

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Oral arguments to begin Tuesday in redistricting cases – Capitol News IL

On Monday, Nov. 29, attorneys for MALDEF and the Republican leaders told the court that they believed the judges could decide the case on the information already on file; NAACP plaintiffs said they only needed a brief hearing for oral arguments. On Thursday, though, attorneys for Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch said they believed a full in-person hearing was needed, and the judges allowed that request.

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Consumer watchdog group opposes ComEd rate hike – Center Square

The Illinois Commerce Commission approved a $46 million rate hike for what the company said was needed to cover various reliability investments and effort to make the transition to renewable energy. This comes on the heels of the approval of Nicor’s third increase in four years to the tune of $240 million.

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Editorial: Water improvements in infrastructure bill important to all of us – Daily Herald*

“Since the 1980s, the suburbs have been tapping into Lake Michigan as the primary source of water. But Lake Michigan is not immune to the ravages of climate change. And we’ve been ignorant in the past to the dangers posed by lead water pipes. We’re far behind in ameliorating that issue. Enter the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act…The $1.2 trillion plan — the largest such plan in a century — will provide Illinois with $3.1 billion in funding for improving our water supply and getting it to those who need it.”

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Illinois authorities recover millions worth of stolen goods connected to organized retail theft – WGNTV (Chicago)

Investigators with Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force, with support from Chicago law enforcement, executed search warrants at eight storage units in two locations. The found four semi-trailers of merchandise, including apparel, beauty products, furniture, food items and electronics from multiple nationwide retailers.
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In fight over Chicago’s vaccine mandate, Illinois labor board grants hearing on police union complaints of city overreach – Chicago Tribune*

Police union leaders argued that the city’s vaccine policies involve “wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment and is a mandatory subject of bargaining.” They also argued that Mayor Lori Lightfoot implemented her rules “without first bargaining the impact of the decision to impasse or agreement.”
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