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“I do not believe we are politically biased,” NPR’s president said. “We are a nonbiased organization.”
“To give unilateral authority to one entity — I don’t see that as an effective, democratic tool… That particular … version of the ordinance was incredibly shortsighted,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said May 21.
Ald. Shawn Gregory said the strict rules of the Home ARP grant disqualifies some outreach programs who serve women and children.
Among them, the gas tax (currently 45 cents per gallon) will increase to 48.3 cents per gallon July 1st. Tax on diesel fuel will rise from 54 to 55 cents per gallon.
Starting July 1, the city’s minimum wage will be $16.60.
Officials say several immigrants were called to the location for what they believed would be routine check-ins. But when they arrived—some with attorneys—they were reportedly separated from their legal counsel, placed in a van, and taken away.
Senate Bill 1797 requires digital asset businesses to register with the state and to provide disclosures to consumers.
“The problem is we haven’t had any planning since 1997,” said state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer.
Senate Bill 1181 explicitly adds news media as an entity protected under the state’s Citizen Participation Act, which prohibits “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” or SLAPPs. It was spurred by a recent state Supreme Court ruling that allowed a defamation suit filed by a former government employee against the Chicago Sun-Times to progress.
The ban was a request of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association as part of a deal during budget negotiations last spring. State lawmakers capped a monthly sales tax deduction claimed by retailers at $1,000 to generate $101 million to fill a budget hole. In exchange, lawmakers passed the ban on swipe fees.
Just five months into the year, Chicago taxpayers have spent at least $165 million to resolve more than two and a half dozen lawsuits, exceeding its budget to resolve lawsuits alleging police misconduct by more than 100 percent, city records show.
Industry analysts warn the Illinois model could become a blueprint for other states with legal sports betting that are budget-strapped. New Jersey, North Carolina, and Louisiana are reportedly considering similar levies, and Maryland and Ohio have already floated additional tax hikes on sportsbooks. The controversial tax may accelerate the push for legal iGaming, seen as a more lucrative and sustainable source of state revenue.
The Center for Poverty Solutions at the Illinois Policy Institute released a report revealing the state is spending just $148 million on apprenticeship and workforce training programs – or immersive training programs for specific occupations – compared to $2.6 billion allocated to traditional higher education in the current fiscal year. That’s a 17-to-1 funding gap, despite increasing demand for alternative paths into the workforce.
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas’s postponement request came in the wake of a 2023 decision by the United States Supreme Court that called into question the way property tax collection enforcement has been conducted in several states. The state legislation also provides that during the delay no additional interest will be charged on delinquent bills subject to the sale.
State Rep. Bill Hauter said he was disappointed in the budget approval process this year, and said Republican lawmakers felt “frozen out.” Democrats revealed the details of the budget 48 hours before the deadline. “There’s very little time for us to even look at the budget, figure out where the money is going, and really do the transparent accountability that the people of Illinois should demand,” Hauter said.
The Edgar County Watchdogs Inc. sued the Village of Dolton and the former mayor for failing to produce financial records after the administration allegedly disregarded Freedom of Information Act requests earlier this year. “The massive public exposure given to the defendant that has brought Illinois corruption into the national public spotlight needs to be addressed immediately to save further harm to the state’s reputation,” the complaint reportedly read.
The amusement tax is largely felt by people attending concerts at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, although the village is expanding the definition of ticketed events covered by the tax to other venues.
CPS is suggesting delaying two parts of the CTU contract if it does not get $300 million in additional revenue from the city or state. At most, it would save about $70 million by delaying hiring some additional staff, such as librarians and nurses, and not setting aside as much money as specified in the contract agreement to relieve overcrowded classrooms.
Additionally, the bill includes recognizing and reporting online harassment and cyber-bullying with respect to the recommendation of an age-appropriate unit of internet safety instruction. This includes making and distributing false representations of people created by AI, such as sexually explicit images and videos.
Law enforcement leaders like Kenny Winslow, the Executive Director of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said many of the smallest departments didn’t have the resources to participate before.
Chicago police officers arrested at least three people for allegedly possessing firearms at the lakefront between noon and 10 p.m., according to CPD and court records. Officers conducted bag checks during a “teen trend” event at the beach.
Authorities in a Metro East community are investigating reports of a swastika appearing on a grassy lot.
Many City Council members remain skeptical of Accessory Dwelling Units legalization, wary of any move that would limit their ability to guide new development in their wards. That’s one reason why a proposal to legalize the units citywide has been sitting on the shelf for more than a year.
Illinois is one of the top states for international college students. Of the 1.1 million international college students studying in the U.S. during the 2023-24 school year, about 5.5 percent were studying in Illinois. That’s about 62,000 students.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a $55.2 billion budget but sent nothing to Gov. JB Pritzker on public transit before its legislative session ended this weekend, pushing Chicago-area transit agencies closer to the fiscal cliff.
Ted joined Dan and Amy to push back hard against the whitewashing of Madigan’s legacy. They discussed the state’s new 2026 budget and why it’s a bad deal for Illinoisans and talked about how disastrous it would be if Illinois-style governance was exported nationwide.
“You all know my position. The ultra rich continue to get away with not having to put more skin in the game. So we do have to have substantive conversations around revenue streams that challenges the rich in this state to step up in a way that does not continue to place the burden on working people,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said.
Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center was actually slated to close in 2017 after years of financial losses, but was saved by legislation in Illinois establishing a zero-emission credit program to support the plant into 2027. The agreement deal takes effect in June of 2027, when the state’s taxpayer funded zero-emission credit program expires. With the arrival of Meta, Clinton’s clean energy output will expand by 30 megawatts, preserve 1,100 local jobs and bring in $13.5 million in annual tax revenue, according to the companies.
“You made your bed. Now you will lie in it,” Gov. JB Pritzker responded to Musk on X.
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