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“While every effort should be undertaken by government to create a route out of poverty for those in need, there are ample reasons Chicago’s Universal Basic Income pilot is flawed, the most obvious of which is UBI discourages recipients from entering the workforce. “
Bettors now will be allowed to place wagers in person at state-licensed sportsbooks on the outcome of games played by in-state college teams — but not on individual athlete performance or in-game action.
Now the city is taking a victory lap over an arbitrator’s recent ruling that several unions, including the one representing firefighters, must adhere to Lightfoot’s vaccination policy.
The FBI asked for documents related to outreach to the church by city officials, as well as city use of the church to administer vaccines, and visits to the church made by city officials surrounding the February vaccination event.
“We will roll out soon a complete set of new mitigation,” said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. “I don’t want to get ahead of that. We are still working through the fine points.” One point Mayor Lightfoot wants to make: closures are not in the vocabulary.
Of 10 recent thefts – some of them violent – in the city’s prime shopping districts, there have only been two people arrested. Both of them were minors, and because of that, they are only represented with generic silhouettes rather than mug shots in police news releases about charges.
The second incident cited in PDE’s claim was Downers Grove South High School’s “Students of Color Field Trip Opportunity” in Illinois. Qualified students would travel to Jefferson Middle School to learn about the education career path from a person of color’s experience, according to a screenshot of the flyer obtained by PDE.
The health department is recommending non-vaccinated residents to not gather indoors with others outside of your household. Additionally, businesses are urged to require patrons to be fully vaccinated for entry or to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours.
The law, which goes into effect in 2024, also creates the Youth Health and Safety Advisory Working Group to identify laws and policies that affect parenting and pregnant youth under the age of 18. The group will focus on reproductive safety for pregnant and parenting youth, as well as preventing human trafficking.
An annual ranking of personal and economic freedoms found Illinois ranked 37th overall, but last place in the nation for lawsuit freedom. The rankings are formed by an index of 230 policy variables such as tax rates and right-to-work laws.
Illinoisans are penalized for their holiday travel by gasoline taxes that on Dec. 17 made a gallon between 48 cents and 33 cents more expensive than in bordering states.
The Cook County Department of Public Health announced new recommendations Dec. 17 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 as winter weather and holiday gatherings drive more people indoors and together. “Last year is when the vaccines first were administered in our state. We were hoping to be in a completely different place,” Dr. Ngozi Ezike said.
Among those provisions that could be voided by union bosses if Amendment 1 passes: Illinois Compiled Statutes Section 21B-15, which prohibits anyone from being licensed to teach who has committed a sex offense; and Section 21B-75, which allows the State Superintendent of Education to suspend or revoke a teaching license for things such as abuse or neglect of a child, incompetency or unprofessional conduct.
Nearly 60% of older renters in the city spending more than 30% of their income on rent alone. But until state leaders take aim at reducing Illinois’ property taxes — which are the second-highest in the nation — struggling seniors will continue to see their rent bills climb as property owners pass on tax costs to tenants.
On Jan. 1, 2022 the state’s minimum wage increases to $12 per hour. The rate will continue to increase on Jan. 1 each year until it hits $15 per hour on Jan. 1, 2025.
A reprint of our Wirepoints column.
“It’s well past time we started framing vaccinations not as a personal choice, but as a civic duty…. The early signals strongly suggest boosters offer better protection against omicron than the standard dosage does.”
Applications would be restricted to residents of Illinois who commit to working as law enforcement officers in the state for a minimum of four years following graduation. The bill’s stated aims are to “encourage students to serve local communities” and “increase diversity” within police ranks.
Jim Dey: “GOP state chairman Don Tracy issued a feverish statement in which he said ‘it looks like Governor J.B. Pritzker isn’t just content with badly leading a failing state, he’s also interested in President Joe Biden’s job….Newsflash to team Pritzker, our economy lags behind all our neighbors, violent crime is destroying communities, rampant inflation is busting the budgets of already overtaxed Illinoisans, and public corruption still defines our political system.'”
The site features a 2.3 million-square-foot corporate office and 273 acres, including 100 acres of undeveloped land.
The offering would only deliver barely noticeable savings to its 4.1 million customers. The company has seen its bottom line skyrocket such that one watchdog contends it could be banking as much as $1 billion annually as a result of one 2011 law passed during a nine-year span when its bribery-tainted Springfield lobbying efforts were running at full bore.
To kick off the program, the Cook County Land Bank Authority will give away 10 parcels to the first 10 applicants approved. Those 10 applicants must be community groups or neighbors who live on the same block as the parcel they wish to acquire.
Illinois gained 19,500 jobs in November, but that growth of 0.3% was slower than prior months and continued to lag the national recovery pace. So far in 2021, Illinois’ job growth has averaged 21,764 jobs per month, so November fell below that rate.
Researchers also note Illinois’ strong year of pension returns in 2021 – driven by economies reopening, growing vaccine accessibility and declining interest rates – gives no indication that return rates will continue to outperform assumed rates of return in the future. In fact, financial experts forecast lower yields on investments during the next decade, leading many to predict pension plans will underperform assumed rates of return in the coming years.
Statewide chronic absenteeism rose to 21.2% in 2021, up almost 5 percentage points from 2019, when it stood at 16.5%. “(I)t’s a sign that something isn’t working,” said Hedy Chang, of nonprofit Attendance Works. “We know that when kids show up to school more, they’re more likely to read on grade level in third grade. They’re more likely to do well academically in middle school and they’re more likely to graduate from high school.”
In September, the district was short 500 drivers and 3,300 kids were left without a bus for school. With a day left before winter break, that number has dropped to 429 drivers, and still 2,817 students needs their guardians to get them to school. The fix the district is sticking with for now is compensating parents who can drive their kids; Payouts total $12.7 million.
“What about Kim Foxx? She is not a real prosecutor but a de-prosecutor…Smollett is only the tip of the iceberg of Foxx’s incompetence. During her first three years in office, Foxx dropped almost 30 percent of felony charges against criminal defendants, including murders and shootings. If Foxx can’t manage an obvious conviction against a two-bit charlatan like Jussie Smollett, how can she deal effectively with truly violent offenders? “
“I Think This Situation Absolutely Requires A Really Futile And Stupid Gesture.” – Otter in Animal House
Wirepoints’ Ted Dabrowski was Mary Ann Ahern’s guest on NBC5 Chicago discussing reports that Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin could run for Illinois Governor, potentially with the backing of Illinois billionaire Ken Griffin.
Since Dec. 6, police have responded to 11 robberies or carjackings in Lincoln Park. As armed robberies and carjackings on the North Side rise, so too are spikes in liquor stores and restaurant burglaries. Police say the offenders are working in two or three-person crews.
Right now, only 9 percent of the state’s ICU beds are available.
Among other school closing described, Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School and Francis Parker school and Latin School all canceled classes Friday due to a number of staff and students testing positive.
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