-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Matt Paprocki, of the Illinois Policy Institute: “The stakes are higher this election, with Prtizker eyeing a presidential run. Illinoisans are looking for new policies to actually improve affordability — an area Pritzker hasn’t delivered on — not to elect a placeholder gearing up for a presidential bid.”
Facing a $734 million deficit, CPS is trying to offload almost all of its vacant schools. The local properties are among 20 the district listed for sale with the hope of generating about $8.2 million in revenue and avoiding further maintenance costs.
As an Ambassador for the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), retired chief Tom Weitzel continues to serve, advocate, and educate passionately.
Mayor Brandon Johnson made the tipped minimum wage a key part of his election platform, to cede power back to workers. And while his camp says that 10,000 jobs have been created since the ordinance went into effect in July 2024, the restaurant lobby claims that 5,200 jobs were lost between July 2024 and December 2024. There are also conflicting figures about the number of restaurant closings and openings, as well how much the city has lost in terms of sales tax revenue.
In the letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the coalition of 21 attorneys general argue that the proposed repeal of these longstanding regulations is in direct contradiction with the mandate of the Fair Housing Act — to affirmatively further fair housing through ensuring non-discriminatory marketing practices.
The study models several potential energy futures for Illinois, including a 100 percent electrification scenario that would result in nearly $540 billion in new electric infrastructure investments and an additional $638 billion in incentives – paid by natural gas consumers – to subsidize full electrification. Under this scenario, energy costs for homes and businesses would rise by approximately 14 percent annually for the next 25 years. Full report linked here.
A violent armed robbery crew that has been terrorizing Chicago’s Near West Side neighborhoods over the past three days is now linked to at least eight holdups—and police say the offenders are showing no signs of stopping.
Said McLaughlin, “This budget raises taxes on the things people use every day— gasoline, phones, internet, and even short weekend trips. It’s a classic Illinois move: grow government, grow spending, and hand taxpayers the bill.”
Former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson is currently sitting behind bars with first-degree murder charges, after killing Sonya Massey after she called for help to report a suspected prowler. Grayson said he believed his life was in danger when Massey reached for a pot of boiling water.
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