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And this decision could not only leave tech and online commerce giant Amazon on the hook for an astronomical payout, but could leave Illinoisans cut out of the use of voice-activated smart technology, like Alexa, or similar future tech, Amazon has warned.
The deal to lease the land at 38th Street and California Avenue was signed Oct. 26, according to a copy of the lease agreement — before an environmental assessment of the former industrial site was completed. Local Ald. Julia Ramirez said the deal was reached behind her back and without the community’s knowledge, leaving her “disappointed in the administration’s lack of transparency.”
Ald. Mike Rodriguez, who chairs the Workforce Committee and sponsored the ordinance, called the measure “the most progressive paid leave policy in the United States of America.”
Funding for the rebate program comes from the latest Illinois budget, which includes $12 million for rebates, less than the nearly $20 million allocated in the last funding cycle. Low-income residents are prioritized.
Illinois is ranked 37th for its State Business Tax Climate. The numbers from the Tax Foundation show that Illinois also ranked 43rd in its corporate tax rate, 39th in the sales tax rate and 45th in the property tax rate, all among the worst in the U.S.
The state of Illinois is entering into the world of artificial intelligence with possible regulations of the technology. State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz said lawmakers should not take the same approach with AI as they did with social media. “We’ve seen the tangled web of societal ills that approach [that] was caused due to a lack of regulatory action.”
The charges are related to an earlier lawsuit. Tri-State Disposal Inc., a waste management company in Riverdale, alleged that the mayor gave preferential treatment to a competing recycling business at the expense of Tri-State. Mayor Lawrence Jackson was deposed in the suit but allegedly attempted to conceal his relationship with the recycling company’s owner.
“Hundreds of thousands of people will absolutely not comply,” state Rep. Brad Halbrook said. “It is up to the governor and the legislature to truly decide if they’re prepared to declare war on law-abiding gun owners or not. One thing will be certain. This we will defend: the right to bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Asked whether it’s time for a cease-fire, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said: “I think it is. At least in the context of both sides agreeing. For example, the release of those kidnapped should be part of this — immediate release. That should be the beginning of it. An effort should be made to engage in conversation between the Israelis and Palestinians.”
Said Gov. JB Pritzker, “In order to make Chicago the hub of quantum development, you had to have the universities and laboratories willing to work together. The collaboration between them is vital and working with Purdue in Indiana, and University of Wisconsin in Madison, bringing all of that together and having Chicago as the center of that is vital for our future. That didn’t happen accidentally.” Illinois invested $200 million in 2019.
Gov. JB Pritzker announced last month the launch of Think Big America, a tax-exempt nonprofit that spends money and resources to protect and expand abortion rights throughout the country. The billionaire governor is contributing dollars to initially seed the group, although he declined to specify the amount. And the group won’t be required to disclose its donors.
Northwest Side Ald. Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez was one of only two city officials that declined to take a pay raise in 2024. Originally from Puerto Rico, Sanchez is the chair of the immigration committee on the City Council’s Latino Caucus. She is also a member of the Progressive Caucus.
“There are other places in the country they can go and the federal government ought to be helping to manage the logistics so people can go to places where they survive through the winter,” Gov. JB Pritzker said.
Ald. Emma Mitts said, “I resent the fact that we are taking needed resources out of an already impoverished West Side community to house the migrants. You can’t speak to them because of the language barrier, and [some] are violent criminals, robbing and stealing from the neighborhood,” charged Mitts. “We need some law and order around here.”
Specifically, the monitoring team said the CPD needs to do more to address the challenges surrounding officer wellness, community policing, community engagement and crime-fighting strategies.
Gotion is set to receive $7.5 billion in federal subsidies for its planned project in Manteno, IL. “Hard-working taxpayers should not be on the hook for billions in federal subsidies funneling to companies beholden to malign actors, like the CCP. It is clear that the so-called ‘Inflation Reduction Act’ is being leveraged by foreign adversaries to exploit loopholes to gain generous incentives and dominate key technologies in the United States…,” LaHood said.
According to the Illinois Manufacturing Association, 14% of the state’s economy is made up of manufacturing jobs, totaling 60,000 across the state.
Senate Republican leader John Curran said his caucus is prepared to see the program scaled back for the sake of its survival, noting his GOP colleagues are comfortable with everything that’s in that proposal. “While we would like to see the program made permanent, we realize it’s going to take compromise to get this program extended,” he said.
The Oak Lawn Village Board unanimously approved waiving business licensing fees for the second year. The amnesty was inspired by research showing Gov. JB Pritzker had handed businesses $650 million in tax and fee hikes since taking office.
“The Chicago Transit Authority is providing warming buses during certain hours, but for some strange reason the (Chicago) Tribune reporter said the buses are for single men and women only.”
“It’s not yet clear how much money the feds or state and local governments will give Stellantis to rebuild and expand Belvidere, but it’s likely to be larger than the $536 million deal for Gotion Hi-Tech’s battery-assembly plant in Manteno.”
Among the examples given, state Sen. Chapin Rose couldn’t get real-time information on the deadly Teutopolis crash and ammonia leak. “I was calling a number for a legislative aide or legislative liaison who had apparently been fired and no one was told,” Rose said. “So, in the middle of what was a pretty significant disaster for the people that I represent, there was literally no one to talk to to get actual information.”
“We’re gonna push the federal government, just like we’re gonna push the state of Illinois to do its part. Look, Chicago is leaning in. We have borne the brunt of the responsibility. That’s not an equitable distribution to how government should cooperate,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
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The move comes amid increased urging from some residents for Oak Park village leaders to do more for migrants housed in tents at the 15th District Chicago Police Department station on Madison Street, right at the village’s border with Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and less than a mile from Oak Park Village Hall.
“Now I don’t know what to do about my son and our neighborhood,” said one woman, who said a group of thieves who held up her son at knifepoint. “I want him to have a childhood that’s safe – and we can’t.”
By 53% to 27% — a spread of 26% — Illinois voters are opposed to the Chinese project. Opposition significantly exceeds support in both parties, all age groups, both sexes and in all regions of the state. For independent voters, opponents outnumber supporters 48% to 28% in the statewide poll and 51% to 16% in the Kankakee poll. Voter opposition in Kankakee County is still stronger, with 59% opposed and 29% supportive — a spread of 30% — with 43% “strongly opposed.”
Jim Dey: “Given that math and reading are foundational skills for learning, all the state’s cheerleading adds up to is a boatload of blarney that are the prime ingredients of social disaster.”
“I think it’s absolutely imperative we give voters the opportunity to have their view on this subject heard, especially when we’re talking about spending $255 million this year alone to take care of 20,000 migrants,” Ald. Ray Lopez said. “All of this has been an academic exercise for decades, until it became very real very quickly over the last 13 months.”
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