A state appeals panel has determined one of Gov. JB Pritzker’s 2020 executive orders can shield nursing homes from lawsuits bringing “ordinary negligence” claim from incidents occurring during the time the order was in effect.
The group of about 10 children from the Grand Crossing police station was told to return to the school Tuesday or wait for a call from the school, said Zach Goldstein, a volunteer with the Police Station Response Team, a group of several hundred people that have been helping immigrants at police stations. “The staff said they weren’t prepared to accept English-language learners,” said Goldstein.
During one call from November 2018, former Chief of Staff Tim Mapes appeared to refer to now-Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch as “a pretty good team player.” Welch later chaired a special legislative committee formed to respond to federal allegations against Mapes’s former boss, Michael Madigan.
“Also of note here is that the White Sox’s lease runs only through 2029, which is not all that far off in terms of stadium development discussions. So if the White Sox are going to try to leverage these threats and extract some public money (either for a renovation, a new nearby stadium, or a new stadium in the suburbs), realistically, they have only a few years to do it.”
Gov. JB Pritzker believes Senate Bill 76 had an overly broad definition of advanced reactors which he believes could open the door to more large-scale nuclear reactors. “We have more nuclear reactors in the state than any other state in the country already,” Pritzker sai.
There’s been an increase in carjackings nationwide, but Chicago is reporting more incidents than any other city in the U.S. The city is seeing triple the number of carjackings from a decade ago, with 1,655 reported carjackings in 2022.
Among respondents, 74% think Dallas and 72% think Boston are safe to live in or visit. Only 26% say Detroit, and 27% Chicago, are safe.
Sources close to CPD say the department de-emphasizes solving these types of crimes to devote more resources to more serious crimes.
Non-home rule local governments in Illinois will not be able to pursue public-private partnerships after Gov. JB Pritzker struck the provision from a larger P3 bill that lawmakers passed in the spring.
No decision has been made or appears imminent. But among the possibilities are moving to a new stadium in the city or suburbs, or even relocating to Nashville, a subject of recurring gossip on and off for years.
State Rep. Brad Halbrook pushed back: “The first question I have is, what is the content of the continuing education material? Who will develop it? Will it be written by the AMA or another reputable science-based organization? Why didn’t we see the content of the training before voting on it. History tells us every time we vote on these mandates before we see the curriculum, all we get in return is a woke ideological indoctrination for our teachers, children, and now our medical professionals. It never ends well.
In 2015, Illinois quit collecting property taxes from disabled veterans. To make up for lost revenue, taxing districts raised rates on other taxpayers. But in some cases, local taxing districts — like cities, schools, libraries and fire departments — lose out on property tax dollars because they reach a state limit. As an example, Carrie Hruby, O’Fallon District 90’s superintendent, said the elementary and middle school district missed out on $2.5 million in revenue last year because the district had nearly 1,500 exempt parcels of land.
Illinois’ FY24 budget includes an increase in funding for the Monetary Award Program to an all-time high, which ensures awards for all eligible applicants. The state is also investing in higher education infrastructure, with campuses across Illinois seeing almost $2.8 billion dedicated to public universities and community colleges.
Of the 170 U.S. cities studied, Chicago ranks 19th for the most expensive commute for drivers and ninth for the longest round-trip commute. Chicago commuters lose over $8,000 in wages each year thanks to time spent in traffic, and the total yearly commuting cost is $8,319.68 for Chicagoans driving to and from work.
“Until recently, cities like London, New York, San Francisco and Chicago seemed to be on the up…Yet reality was undermining the great ‘urban renaissance’ even before the pandemic. Office occupancy has actually been declining since 2000. By 2019, the construction of new office space had dropped to one third of the rate of 1985 and half that of 2000.”
When asked about school choice supporters running in school board elections, the president of the Chicago Teachers Union said, “Yes, we are concerned about the encroachment of fascists in Chicago. We are concerned about the marginalization of public education through the eyes of those who’ve never intended for Black people to be educated. So we’re going to fight tooth and nail to make sure that type of fascism and racism does not exist on our Board of Education.”
But for nearly a year, CPS worked behind closed doors with the Chicago Housing Authority and city departments to negotiate a land-swap deal that would allow the district to build the school – later projected to cost $150 million — on a portion of public housing land, the former Harold Ickes Homes, according to public records. In return for a long-term lease on the public housing land, CPS agreed to buy nearby land for the CHA. CPS bought the land for $10.3 million, even though one appraiser on the deal estimated the land value at just $7.7 million, records show.
“With states and municipalities across the country currently weighing measures to redress the injustice of slavery, it is only a matter of time before progressives make a pitch to resurrect a reparations plan in Chicago. Brandon Johnson’s election as mayor in April has rejuvenated the stalled movement… The fundamental problem with any reparations bill is Chicago simply cannot afford it.”
“…(W)hile Johnson has been quick to focus on building bridges, his first 100 days have not been marked by the robust legislative and executive order checklist mayors past have ticked through in an attempt to prove their ambition. Slow to fill out his cabinet as well, Johnson has thus far appointed just four new department leaders.”
The city’s “bubble ordinance” concerning disorderly conduct is supposed to protect patients from harassment or unwanted solicitation from protesters at medical facilities. But after witnessing protesters’ escalating behavior in recent weeks, Conway now wants to establish a quiet zone for the area.
City officials have opened 10 new shelters since Johnson took office in May, he said, and many migrants are on a “pathway to independent living.” But as buses of people continue to arrive from the southern border, the mayor wouldn’t say when or how the city will be able to get on top of the humanitarian crisis. “We’re moving as fast as we possibly can,” he said.
Of course, there’s a trade-off when the city discourages pursuits to save money and reduce the possibility of injury to third parties. That trade-off is that armed, violent people are not apprehended, and they continue to commit crimes.
The measure did receive pushback from Republican lawmakers during the spring legislative session as state Sen. Jil Tracy had concerns about the safety of shutting off these cameras for those seeking abortions. “Under this law, a minor girl from Missouri could be brought to Illinois by her abuser to undergo an abortion, and that license plate data couldn’t be used to bring him to justice,” Tracy said.
Take a look at how the district is faring and what students can expect as they return to classrooms. Here’s a hint: poor proficiency, fewer students and increased spending.
Finally, a Chicago Democratic alderman that‘s willing to talk in a direct, no-nonsense way about the city’s major problems, notably crime, education and the city’s increasing embrace of Socialism. Ald. Ray Lopez doesn’t shy away from the violence and education metrics that plague most parts of the city.
“In a rural area, it might be better to put kids on buses and transport them to the districts next door,” said Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools President Mark Klaisner. “I never imagined that we would have these kinds of conversations.”
Among them, two Chicago Public Schools students were gunned down this weekend. “Like, this is crazy. He was 14. His book bag was packed for school. He was so excited to go to Hyde Park,” one victim’s aunt said.
Jim Nowlan: “The biggest challenges for Illinois are lack of entrepreneurship and capital, as well as failure to look ahead. Our research universities are late to the commercialization game, and the residue of an old manufacturing culture that prized safe, careerlong jobs may affect young people’s willingness to fail in pursuit of success.”
According to Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, his office will “file petitions to detain offenders who are arrested after Sept. 18, 2023…Judges will decide whether someone is detained or not detained awaiting trial. If a judge rules for detention, those individuals arrested after the effective date will no longer be able to access cash to gain release.”
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