Illinois Quick Hits: Gas prices rise again | Illinois
(The Center Square) – AAA says the average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Illinois has jumped 14 cents in one day. The organization’s daily gas prices website listed the average per-gallon price at $4.67 on Thursday, up from $4.53 the day before. The Illinois average one year ago was $3.41. Iowa and Missouri remain […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-East St. Louis librarian sentenced for fraud, theft | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The former director of the East St. Louis public library has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $102,249 in restitution after she pleaded guilty to embezzling money from the library and from the Illinois Department of Human Services. Kenyada T. Harris, 42, pleaded guilty in March […]
Congressional progressives introduce $25 federal minimum wage plan | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Progressive lawmakers in Washington D.C. introduced legislationTuesday that would increase he federal minimum wage to $25 per hour. The proposal – put forward by of Illinois members of Congress – could have severe impacts on businesses across the country, according to critics. U.S. Reps. Delia Ramirez, D-IL, Chuy Garcia, D-IL, and […]
Deferred maintenance blamed in I-64 bridge hole | Illinois
(The Center Square) – State transportation officials say repairs are underway after a large hole developed on an Interstate 64 bridge, while a government watchdog argues the incident reflects broader issues with infrastructure funding and maintenance. According to Paul Wappel, a public information officer with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the agency first became aware of […]
Return on investment questioned as Chicago Red Line construction begins | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Taxpayers are facing a hefty price tag as construction begins on a long-anticipated Chicago Transit Authority project on Chicago’s Far South Side. At a groundbreaking ceremony for the CTA Red Line extension Friday, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said he and then-Sen. Barack Obama put an earmark in a bill 18 […]
Illinois Rep faces investigation over sexual harassment | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A state representative embattled with allegations of sexual harassment returned to Springfield this week after being stripped of all committee assignments and ousted from the Democratic caucus. After a long week of legislative session, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Westchester, held a press conference to discuss the ‘megaprojects’ bill thaty passed […]
Pritzker: ‘Need for speed’ for megaprojects bill with tax breaks | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says there is a need for speed when it comes to the Chicago Bears and megaprojects legislation that provides tax breaks for the National Football League team. The governor spoke at Northwestern University in Evanston on Friday and was asked about the team wanting changes to House Bill […]
Illinois Millionaires Tax doesn’t get support | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A proposed millionaires tax was shot down late Wednesday in the Illinois House of Representatives. Democrat leadership said they weren’t able to get enough votes together, but they aren’t giving up. Proposed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 21 would have raised the tax rate on income earned more than $1 million […]
AG candidate seeks to reform SAFE-T Act | Illinois
(The Center Square) – An Illinois attorney general candidate launched a new initiative to reform the SAFE-T Act on Tuesday. The law enacted a number of criminal justice reforms across Illinois in 2021, and brought about the elimination of cash bail. Republican Illinois Attorney General candidate Bob Fioretti announced the creation of a new Illinois […]
042226 POOR STATE (copy) | Illinois
Illinoisans ‘ought be concerned’ report ranks IL 45th for economic outlook 042226 POOR STATE IRN JIM TALAMONTI POOR STATE VERSION 1 (without wrap) A tax and fiscal policy task force director says Illinois residents ought to be concerned about the state’s low rankings in a new report. The American Legislative Exchange Council’s Rich States Poor […]