“Crappy” Illinois schools – WTAX (Springfield)

The Illinois State Board of Education says the Wirepoints report is misleading, with data cherry-picked from the state’s poorest districts. But State Rep. Dan Caulkins said it’s right there in black and white. “Are we succeeding? Are we educating children in this state? Are our kids – the bright kids – staying here working?”

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‘Equitable restrooms’ bill advances in House – Capitol News IL

A bill that would allow restaurants, hotels and other public places to designate “all-gender multiple-occupancy” restrooms passed out of a House committee Wednesday, sending it to the full House for consideration. House Bill 1286, sponsored by Rep. Katie Stuart, is similar to one that passed through the House in 2021 but died in the Senate.

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It’s back: Lawmakers take another run at graduated income tax – Crain’s*

State Capitol in Springfield Illinois

Under legislation filed by state Sen. Rob Martwick, a Northwest Side Democrat, tax rates on low-income single filers would be cut to as low as 4%, well under the state’s current 4.95% flat rate and the 4.75% rate the governor proposed. The tax rate wouldn’t even hit the 4.75% mark until a person’s annual income tops $100,000. At the opposite end, rates would max out at 6.95% on annual income above $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for couples

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Guest Column: “Fixing” the Police – John Kass News

Garry McCarthy: “Alderman Jason Ervin put it best at the police budget hearing in October when he told Superintendent David Brown, ‘… I’m not asking you to be a social worker. I am not asking you to be a mental health counselor. I’m not asking you to be a basketball coach. …I’m asking you to be the police. That is what our residents are asking for.'”

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Illinois Republicans hope ICC, IPA can help address high energy bills, capacity concerns – WAND (Decatur)

“As we work to transition to a cleaner energy economy, we need to make sure that we still have the energy needed to make sure the light switches turn on and that grandma can stay in her home with power in the winter,” state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer said. “In the summer, she needs to stay cool in that home and not have to leave because the overwhelming price of energy.”

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Researchers: City-wide vaccine mandates did nothing to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Chicago, elsewhere – Center Square

The researchers evaluated Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C. “Many firms lost businesses because of this,” researchers Vitor Melo said. “The idea at the time was that the benefits would outweigh the cost…but then what I find in the research is that there is not much of a benefit at all.”

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Opinion: Nine Chicago mayoral candidates; not one talking about financial reforms – Crain’s*

Illinois Policy Institute’s Bryce Hill: “Chicago’s financial problems run deep. The city is facing a financial crisis in the form of failing pension funds and perennially projected budget deficits. The lack of emphasis on these issues during the mayoral race is a dangerous indication the candidates do not prioritize the city’s financial failings that drive or aggravate the attention-grabbing issues.”

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Never mind last year’s 41% crime spike in Chicago. It’s up again another 55% this year. – Wirepoints

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s reelection campaign claimed in a recent TV ad that “on crime, she’s got a plan”, and that “she’s put more police on the streets.” But there’s actually 1,400 fewer cops actually assigned to district patrol duty than at her term’s start.

And as the latest evidence shows, crime’s not down. It’s up. Way up. Any useful plan has to first stop the bleeding in the short-term – and then address long-term violence prevention.

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