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More than 3 million Illinoisans rely on Medicaid for healthcare.
The Real Caucus shares similar contract goals as the current leadership, such as more teacher preparation time and improved facilities, but they want to repair the union’s strained relationship with CPS and the city. “We do believe money needs to be spent on political campaigns, but what that looks like, nobody knows because we don’t know the finances,” candidate Alison Eichorn said.
Tristan Sites, a Lincoln resident who identified himself as one of the organizers of the Springfield rally, said the protest was not simply about Donald Trump. “We have no kings in this country,” Sites said. “This isn’t about Trump as a person anymore. This is about the fact that Trump and his people are currently trying to systematically destroy the government that makes us allowed to be free in this country.”
State Rep. Brad Halbrook has filed a companion bill in Illinois. Illinois House Bill 1500 hasn’t been assigned to committee yet, Halbrook said. But, with Indiana taking action, he hopes his bill will move forward. “It’s time for Illinois lawmakers to follow Indiana’s lead and take action,” Halbrook said. “With Indiana moving forward, Illinois risks falling behind on an issue that deserves immediate attention.”
Only seven of the state’s 26 prisons offer any higher education programming, and at the facilities that do have courses available, just a fraction of inmates can take part. But legislation reintroduced in the General Assembly this session could expand access by restoring state financial aid for incarcerated students. That funding could prompt more universities to bring their classes into prisons.
“The only time that anybody should ever look at revenue is as a last resort, when you really can’t do what you need to do when you live within your means,” he said.
A bill filed in the Illinois General Assembly would eliminate Illinois’ constitutional protection that requires when taxes are hiked, they be hiked on everyone so everyone can hold state lawmakers accountable. Voters already rejected the idea in 2020.
“There are now dozens of current and retired cops facing lawsuits generated by (former State’s Attorney Kimberly) Foxx’s alliance with the police lawsuit industry. Will the council stand up to settlements on these cases? If the past is prologue, don’t bet on it.”
The Peoria congressman believes sanctuary cities like Chicago and states like Illinois that don’t let police cooperate with immigration authorities are violating the law. He supports the lawsuits filed here.
The coalition filed an amicus brief arguing that the executive order is unconstitutional, weakens national security, and discriminates against transgender individuals who serve honorably in the military—including those in the National Guard across the country. The brief backs a request for a preliminary injunction from current and prospective transgender service members seeking to halt the ban’s implementation.
Illinoisans in 33 counties have become so frustrated that they feel their only way out is to separate. Illinois’ leaders ignore these residents at their own peril. But ignore is precisely what’s happened, and that’s opened the door for Indiana Republicans to woo Illinois’ disenfranchised counties.
The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board cited Wirepoints’ research into the IRS’ “Safe Harbor” issue and how it could impact Illinois’ Tier 2 pensions. Like Wirepoints, the board says lawmakers need to learn far more about the IRS rules before passing any legislation.
“The City Council’s Finance Committee last week recommended approval of bonds to help finance the conversion of the Humboldt Park United Methodist Church and its 12 associated residential units into a 22-unit housing development. The cost for these 22 units? Close to $20 million. Now we’re approaching the $1 million-per-unit range. … half the building permits for new Chicago homes from 2022 to 2024 were located in just four wards.”
The State’s Attorney’s Office, which now has a new leader, says they prefer alternative approaches that move away from the peace circle model utilized by county’s Restorative Justice Community Courts and instead toward gun education and a path toward Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards.
“It (DOGE) is the new cool thing,” state Rep. John Cabello said. “Sometimes we don’t have those good ideas; we need to borrow them.” The Illinois DOGE would be established under the existing office of the auditor general – a constitutional officer, Frank Mautino, appointed by the legislature, tasked with reviewing the use of state funds – and four unpaid directors appointed by the two Democratic and two Republican leaders of the General Assembly, making it a bipartisan group, Cabello said.
“We have seen what happens when school systems collapse due to financial mismanagement and the prioritization of adult wants over student outcomes. Examples such as Detroit and San Francisco offer stark warnings: deep cuts, shattered public trust and fewer opportunities for students. CPS cannot afford that path.”
The ages of the victims range from 18 to 54.
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