Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. believes the gaming venue will be a significant boon for the city’s ailing public pension system; He said at a November 2022 city council meeting that police and firefighter pension funding resided at 32.24% and 23.05%, respectively. “We are going to be putting 90%, this year, of the money that we receive from the casino, directly toward extra pension payments. We anticipate that to be about $5 million. We believe, that within the next 12 to 15 years, that we could actually be fully funded.”

“In essence, court watchers note, the Illinois Supreme Court has two choices. Justices can decide on the case, making an affirmative statement on the state law, sending a clear message to the U.S. Supreme Court. Otherwise, the Illinois high court could wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a decision, allowing the assault weapons ban to continue to be in effect in the meantime.”

The Rochester Police Department does not have body cameras. But by January 1, 2025, they will have to. That’s because it’s a requirement for all law enforcement agencies laid out in the SAFE-T Act. The state originally left it up to law enforcement to pay for the cameras, but after plenty of feedback from departments, the state created the grant program.

Legislative advocacy by racing stakeholders in Illinois has resulted in lawmakers approving the transfer of $5.1 million in budget surplus funds to the Horse Racing Fund for Standardbred and Thoroughbred purse support.

Jim Dey: “Predictions about the future are just that, as COGFA’s multiple scenarios confirm. Events and the circumstances they create determine what matter…But the current speculation about ‘tax reform,’ ‘revenue enhancements’ and budget shortfalls should put Illinoisans on alert.”

The task force will identify where historical sites are located, connections they may have to one another, and will paint a picture to recognize the history of the Underground Railroad in Illinois.

“‘… Taxpayers deserve accountability. If you cannot justify your existence to those who fund you, you should turn off the lights, turn in your keys and save the taxpayers their money,’ said Democratic state Sen. Julie Morrison. Of all the naive or intellectually dishonest quotes ever uttered by feckless politicians, that one has to rank near the top.”

Socially disadvantaged farmers were promised another million dollars in grant money in the most recent budget, but they still are waiting on the $2.5 million in ARPA funds they were promised in past years.

The African Descent-Citizens Reparations Commission is tasked with reporting to the General Assembly on reparations for African-American descendants of slavery; educating the public; recommending how to preserve African American neighborhoods; and ensuring proportional representation in all state contracts. As for funding sources for reparations, said state Rep. Sonya Harper, “We’re going to find money to fund reparations the same way that we do to fund everything else.”

HB 3479 would create the Uniform Money Transmission Modernization Act and Digital Assets Regulation Act, where the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Secretary would issue annual licenses and overall regulate digital asset business activity in the state.

“I voted ‘no’ on the bill because of the impact the spending cuts would have on my constituents…(T)he most sustainable solution is the elimination of the debt ceiling altogether. For the century the debt limit has existed, it has been used as a weapon of political brinkmanship while doing nothing to address mounting debt.”

The yearlong suspension of the state’s 1% tax on groceries ends July 1.

Gov. JB Pritzker has deferred to legislators on whether they want to keep the program — in part as a negotiating chip with Republicans in an effort to get GOP votes on a budget. But he has said the program should be modified to allow a federal as well as state income tax deduction for donations, which is currently not allowed. That would share its costs between federal and state taxpayers.

And metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million with the worst foreclosure rates in May 2023, included Cleveland, OH, were: Jacksonville, FL (one in every 1,699 housing units); Baltimore, MD (one in every 1,908 housing units); Chicago, IL (one in every 1,991 housing units); and Orlando, FL (one in every 2,049 housing units).

The order resolves a 2021 lawsuit brought by the state alleging that Dynegy’s disposal of coal ash led to groundwater pollution surrounding the power plant and created a public nuisance. Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said the order not only penalizes Dynegy but should ensure the future safety of the Middle Fork.