-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The average annual commuting cost in Chicago is $8,033, an average of $32 a day. Those who drive spend an average of 35 minutes just to get to the city, according to the analysis.
“State laws in Illinois, Texas, and California mandate that governments prove the connection between the charges they impose and the services they provide—but in reality, these laws have spawned an industry that writes elaborate user-fee studies showing, for instance, that waste-pickup charges should account for millions of dollars of city administrative overhead…These studies have less to do with actual costs than with letting governments charge whatever the citizen will bear.”
In seven states, all but one out west, the average price of a gallon of gasoline is at least $5 a gallon. Illinois is the non-west outlier, with the average price on Monday at $5 a gallon (rounding up from $4.996).
A republication of our Wirepoints column.
“In pursuit of the admirable goal of supporting 988 — the new way to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — a budget provision imposes a $5 million cut to the state’s already underfunded 911 system. Such funding approaches place 911 and 988 into toxic competition for resources, setting a problematic precedent when both systems require greater investment to save lives.”
“But the new map is a symptom of deeper dysfunction: It reveals city government’s severe allergy to democracy and the broken structure of its legislative branch. This is clear when we compare ourselves to other big cities.”
“These is no shortage of oversight in Chicago, but there is a shortage of ethics among Windy City aldermen.”
According to the study, the 60-mile stretch of Illinois 3 between Godfrey and Waterloo is gaining recognition as a premiere heavy industry and warehousing corridor with distinct advantages over other areas around the country, such as the percentage of the direct jobs in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing that greatly eclipse the regional and national averages for jobs in those sectors.
Said Kent Redfield, a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois Springfield, “You’ve got a whole bunch of new territory, a whole bunch of new population. It’s much, much harder to run in those situations.”
Another law creates the Health Insurance Coverage Premium Misalignment Study Act. It directs the Department of Insurance to oversee a study to explore rate setting approaches to investigate a misalignment of premiums in Illinois’ individual health insurance market.
The Biometric Information Privacy Act of Illinois sets strict limits on the collection and distribution of personal biometric data, like fingerprints and iris and face scans. The Illinois law is considered among the nation’s strongest, because it limits how much data is collected, requires consumers’ consent and empowers them to sue the companies directly, a right typically limited to the states themselves. While it applies only to Illinois residents, the Clearview case, brought in 2020 by the American Civil Liberties Union, shows that effective statutes can help bring
Jim Dey: “Operating through political cutouts and press statements subject to multiple interpretations, Madigan embraced his image as a mystery man who eschewed the use of email and cellphones…It’s a different story now that investigators have pierced Madigan’s veil of secrecy, putting his private words in public court filings.”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said a special Census could clear up any issues and get the proper formula for federal tax dollars to the state. But, he said the indication is the state continues to lose population and he blames Democratic policies.
More checks from privacy lawsuits are likely on the horizon. Google Photos and Shutterfly incurred similar class action lawsuits in Illinois, and have entered approval stages of multimillion-dollar settlements within the past year. I
“If 50% of their annual budget has seen an increase of 20% over the past year, which is a significant increase, that is going to present serious financial strain and put hospitals in a position to make difficult decisions.”
Resolutions from the Illinois General Assembly last year urged Pritzker to sign a pact with 17 other states that would pledge targets for sales of electric zero-emission large vehicles. The pact, a memorandum of understanding, sets a goal to get 30% of new truck and bus sales to zero emission by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
In the wake of a deadly school shooting in his state, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is pointing his finger at Chicago to argue the case for why he opposes stricter gun laws. At a May 25 press conference, the governor said, “I hate to say this, there are more people that are shot every weekend in Chicago than there are in schools in Texas,” Abbott said. “So, if you’re looking for a real solution, Chicago teaches that what you’re talking about is not a real solution.”
But Illinois
“Chicago and most smaller cities in this state have been gut-punched by violent crime. Police officers and replacement recruits are in short supply here and in areas throughout the country. Violence interruption and prevention needs to show tangible results, not only for the present, but for the future.”
Funding for the reparations program was approved by the City Council at a level of $1 million a year for 10 years — with the expectation that the revenue would be generated by the new tax on legal cannabis sales. But tax revenue from the city’s only cannabis dispensary is falling far short of the $1 million annual level so far.
The increase is the result of an interconnected system of companies, government agencies and the energy market. “Wholesale electricity prices are strongly correlated to natural gas prices and global and national trends have been pushing prices up,” said Anthony Starr, the director of the Illinois Power Agency.
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