Illinois quick hits: Record hotel tax revenues reported; grocer sentenced for SNAP, WIC fraud | Illinois
Record hotel tax revenues reported Illinois tourism numbers for 2024 saw an all-time high for hotel tax revenue. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s Office of Tourism announced the state welcomed 113 million domestic and international visitors who spent more than $48 billion. Total hotel tax revenue came in at $367 million, a […]
Former Transportation Secretary urges state taxpayer funding for Chicago transit | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A former U.S. transportation secretary says Downstate Illinois residents should help fund Chicago transit, but a Metro East lawmaker disagrees. The Illinois General Assembly is expected to address a regional transit fiscal cliff of at least $760 million during the fall veto session scheduled in October. Former Illinois Congressman and U.S. […]
Trump plans to clean up Democrat-run cities over local objections | National
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump plans to clean up major U.S. cities that he says are plagued by crime. Democrats see his plans to use military troops as a political power grab. Trump has long decried the crime and conditions inside large U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C. […]
WATCH: Trump says ‘dangerous’ Chicago next after addressing crime in D.C. | Illinois
(The Center Square) – President Donald Trump says Chicago is next on his list of cities to focus on cleaning up crime. In December, after Trump was elected to a second non-consecutive term, Danielle Carter-Walters used public comments at a Chicago City Council meeting to call for the Trump administration to come to Chicago and […]
Illinois quick hits: Pritzker signs abortion bills; Operation Purple Heart returns medals | Illinois
Pritzker signs abortion bills Two bills Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted Friday impact access to abortion procedures. House Bill 3637 shields health care providers from discipline for providing abortion services that are lawful in Illinois. House Bill 3709 requires colleges and universities to offer contraception and medication abortion if they have an on-campus pharmacy or student […]
WATCH: Illinois’ FY23 financial audit released amid criticism of tardy reports | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois taxpayers can now look at how the state spent their money in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023, but they’re still waiting for the report for the fiscal year that ended over a year ago. The fiscal year 2023 annual comprehensive financial report for Illinois was released earlier […]
Illinois trucker warns foreign firms faking logs, dodging rules, risking safety | Illinois
(The Center Square) – After a recent deadly crash in Florida and a crash in Illinois involving semi-trucks, an Illinois trucking company owner is sounding the alarm about industry troubles, warning that electronic logging devices are being manipulated by foreign carriers and lax enforcement is putting lives at risk. Zach Meiborg, of Meiborg Brothers Trucking […]
Governor defends mental health mandate, rejects parental consent plan | Illinois
(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, who represents the 15th Congressional district in southeastern Illinois, is reintroducing legislation to “strengthen parental rights” following the state’s new law mandating mental health screenings for public school students. The Parents Opt-In Protection Act would require written parental consent before schools conduct mental health or sensitive-topic surveys, […]
Soaring utility bills, solar federal tax credit cuts dominate Illinois energy debate | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Energy prices and clean energy policy took center stage during a senate energy and public utilities committee hearing as lawmakers sparred over rising summer energy bills and the future of Illinois’ energy mix. State Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, and Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Chris Miller, R-Oakland, published a video Friday blasting […]
WATCH: IL state reps challenge IEMA-OHS responses to local agencies | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security officials are promising to be more responsive to local emergency management agencies after state lawmakers raised concerns. IEMA-OHS has proposed rule changes involving accreditation and other issues which affect local emergency services disaster agencies. During a Joint Committee on Administrative Rules hearing on […]