Illinois Democrats push bill to cut into app fees paid to tech giants – NPR (Illinois)

Danielle Coffey of the News Media Alliance restated the necessity of this fee exemption for Illinois newspapers. “What we provide is local news, valuable coverage of what’s going on in communities … and that’s threatened by the dominant platforms. So while our audiences are exponentially growing, because of the information that we’re providing to these communities, the dominant platforms reap all the revenue and the reward.”

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‘Chicago Tonight’ in Your Neighborhood: Harvey – WTTW (Chicago)

In recent years, Harvey has faced financial issues and political infighting, and it’s grappling with poverty, unemployment and crime. But officials and community leaders here say they’re working to turn it around. And residents say even with the challenges the suburb faces, they feel proud of where they come from.

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Lightfoot’s Revised Plan to Go After Gangs’ Profits Gets Skeptical Response During Initial Hearing – WTTW (Chicago)

Had the law been in place in 2020, it could have been used in 258 cases to seize $570,000 in cash and property, according to data compiled by the Chicago Police Department. In 2021, it could have been used in 220 cases to seize $539,000, according to the data. That works out to an average of approximately $2,000 per case, Ald. Maria Hadden said, asking officials to justify the expense for that kind of return.

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Lightfoot’s Nomination Of New COPA Chief Stalls Amid Protest From Aldermen Angered By Report Recommending Discipline For Slain Officer Ella French – CBS2 (Chicago)

Some alderpeople recommended, rather than allowing the mayor to appoint the new full-time head of COPA, the City Council wait until the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, a newly created civilian board tasked with overseeing CPD, is in place later this year to hire a new COPA administrator.

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Task force hears from law enforcement on rising crime rate – Capitol News IL

Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow said his department has been losing officers who get trained in Illinois but later move to work in other states. “I’ve lost three officers to the state of Indiana in the last year, who are going to a state that they think is more supportive. I recently had an officer who’s talking about … accepting a job in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the same reason, because they believe that the state is more police friendly, more supportive of law enforcement.”

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Immigrant couple returns to Mexico to retire after 3 decades of working in Chicago: ‘It’s a dream of many undocumented people.’ – Chicago Tribune

Since immigrating to Chicago, Arellano said he worked toward his goal: to leave his children well-established, build a home in Mexico and save enough money to return to live in his native town and retire. He did it, always with his wife by his side.

Arellano also managed to buy his Chicago home, where he hopes his five children — the youngest 25 and the oldest 33 — continue to host the family gatherings, even if he is

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Board of Review hired law firm to investigate bribery allegations — but when will public see its report? – Chicago Sun-Times*

The Board of Review employee at the center of an FBI investigation allegedly offered to have property assessments lowered for bribes — $2,000 for every commercial property; $1,000 for every residential property. The worker allegedly made arrangements to meet a cooperating witness July 1 to collect $22,000 as part of the scheme

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More projects announced for ‘Rebuild Illinois’ – Center Square

Rebuild Illinois, the multi-year $45 billion construction program that increased fees on driving and doubled the state’s gas tax with increases every year tied to inflation, passed with bipartisan support in 2019. The latest construction project is on the new Houbolt Road Bridge and interchange in Joliet. The construction is part of a $1.2 billion plan to rebuild Interstate 80.

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Doggy Daycare Owner Appalled After Cook County State’s Attorney Declines To Prosecute State Inspector Jose Guillen, Who Was Caught On Camera Groping Her – CBS2 (Chicago)

The Illinois Department of Agriculture inspector, Jose Guillen, was fired after the story first broke last summer. Soon afterward, many other accusers came forward. “What he’s doing is in violation of the law, and that he’s doing it in his official capacity on behalf of the state,” one victim’s attorney said.

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Projects with Madigan ties went to the front of the line for massive Rebuild Illinois initiative – Better Government Association

Records show at least $144 million went to four projects backed by former House Speaker Michael Madigan that avoided the usual review process and benefited people the former speaker has ties to. These included $31 million for a charter school records show asked for only $1.5 million, $9 million for a new Chicago high school building that the Chicago Public Schools hadn’t sought that funding for, and $6 million for a Romeoville airport control tower that a Madigan political ally had wanted for years.

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