-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. just down the street from Phillips Academy High School as students were let out for the day.
“In other words, Chicago’s finance team came to market with the bond deal and didn’t like the price that municipal markets were telling them they’d have to pay. Instead, they decided to defer the issuance, betting that they could get a better price in the future. That kind of bet is not generally a good idea.”
Greg Richmond, superintendent of the Chicago Archdiocese, said students with disabilities who attend nonpublic schools have the right to receive federally funded academic support under the Disabilities Education Act; He said the way the law is written means federal funds are distributed by CPS, even if the child is not enrolled in public school. The archdiocese said if funding isn’t restored, they’re prepared to explore all possible remedies, including legal action on behalf of their students.
The bill would allow renters and currently unqualified home owners to use panels designed to be connected to an electrical system through an existing outlet, placed on a balcony, patio, yard or porch, primarily intended to offset energy consumption.
“State government revenues were up $1.571 billion at the end of the third quarter, according to the most recent report from the legislature’s bipartisan, bicameral Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. The almost $1.6 billion in new revenues is an increase of 4.2 percent The state budget was crafted last year with an expectation that revenues would rise just 2.3 percent for the full fiscal year, so that’s pretty darned good news.”
Opponents of House Bill 3320 estimate the Responsibility in Firearms Legislation, or RIFL Act could tack on thousands of dollars in taxes to one firearm purchase, and that would price lower income people out of exercising their Second Amendment rights.
Senate Bill 3495 would update state law to let applicants select “male,” “female,” or “X” when applying for or changing a driver’s license, instruction permit, or state ID. The proposal replaces older statutory language that referenced “non-binary,” aligning Illinois law with federal standards and practices used by other states.
Under current Illinois law, cities are prohibited from requiring officers to issue a specific number of citations within a set time period. The new proposal goes further, preventing police departments from comparing one officer’s citation totals to another when conducting performance reviews.
“Many on the board appeared to rely on the inaccurate claim (about the federal program) that public money will be diverted for private education. But some seemed wary of blindly following the Chicago Teachers Union, which is less popular than ever.”
Vetress Boyce of the city’s Reparations Task Force suggested that reparations could include expanded educational programs in Chicago Public Schools exploring the history of racism in the United States; full tuition coverage for Black college students in Chicago; down-payment assistance for Black home buyers in Chicago to alleviate the impacts of redlining; and high-quality health care for all.
“When the real statues were under siege, when they were being torn down and hidden away under the cover of “safety,” these same people were nowhere to be found. No outrage. No pressure. No backbone. But now? … Now they’re brave enough to put Columbus back on display… as long as he’s standing next to a tray of antipasto.”
After some 27 seconds of continuous gunfire — yes, 27 seconds of continuous gunfire — at least four men enter camera view with firearms. Some of them are seen running into the street and returning fire downrange. They jog off-screen for a moment, then return and briefly mingle in front of the camera, some holding firearms in plain view, one toting a rifle, others more discreet.
Defense lawyer Amy Saharia reminded the 7th Circuit panel that prosecutors’ theory of the “alleged benefits” prosecutors said Madigan enjoyed were “far outside the typical … bribery case. Speaker Madigan did not take cash from ComEd, he did not take Rolex watches, trips to Vegas, all the things you typically see in bribery cases.”
Rep. Mary Beth Canty’s proposal to legalize it passed a House committee last month and she’s currently writing an amendment to address concerns about regulation and liability in hopes of moving it forward.
David Greising, of the Better Government Association: “In 2023, Johnson sought to cut off rancorous public demonstrations at City Council meetings by banishing uninvited visitors to the upstairs gallery, behind plate glass. … Against that backdrop, it’s bittersweet to see Johnson invoking OMA as a clout tool in his unrelenting effort to place (his crony Walter Burnett Jr., a former alderman) in the CEO’s role at the CHA.”
The project is one of seven office-to-residential conversions under construction in Chicago. As of late 2025, the city has the third-largest office-to-residential conversion pipeline in the U.S., according to RentCafe.
The highest effective tax rates were concentrated in the Northeast and Midwest, led by Illinois (1.84 percent), New Jersey (1.58 percent), Vermont (1.4 percent), Connecticut (1.36 percent), and Ohio (1.32 percent).
Economist James Bohn recently documented the breathtaking resultsof that experiment in which Wisconsin — for a century a high-tax, high-regulation state atrophying in a straitjacket of antique progressivism
Summary and audio linked here.
President Trump, Pritzker told a conference of Black activists in New York City, is “going to try to call out ICE and CBP and scare people away from the polls, everybody. He’s going to make it seem like you shouldn’t vote. We need to go with purpose and push them out of the way or at least tell them to get out of the way and go in and vote. And all of us as governors need to protect your right to vote.”
“I’m just wondering, if (the school districts are) 90 percent adequate (funding), and we’ve got probably 25 percent of the schools in the state of Illinois that are at full financial adequacy, why aren’t we seeing property taxes come down?” asked Rep. Blaine Wilhour.
“President Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilization. Let’s be honest: There is something genuinely wrong with this man, and the 25th Amendment must be invoked before it’s too late,” Pritzker declared in a video posted to X this week. He called for removing Trump via the 25th Amendment last year, as well.
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