WATCH: Debate over non-citizen health subsidies continues as budget deadline looms | Illinois
(The Center Square) – With less than one month before the budget deadline, the debate over subsidizing non-citizen health care continues, especially as Gov. J.B. Pritzker winds down one program. In his proposed budget released in February, Pritzker cuts the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults program, which had taxpayers subsidizing the health care for non-citizens […]
Proposal would deduct from IL paychecks to create new state agency | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A small business advocate says a paid leave proposal in the Illinois Senate would be a direct tax on workers and employers. State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, proposed creating the Division of Paid Family and Medical Leave within the Illinois Department of Labor with Senate Bill 2413. Noah Finley is the […]
Illinois quick hits: Former governor passes away; public off-highway vehicle park opens | Illinois
George Ryan passes away Funeral arrangements are pending for former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, who passed away Friday at the age of 91. Ryan served as the 39th governor of Illinois from 1999 to 2003. Ryan captured national headlines when he imposed a moratorium on executions in Illinois in 2000. Following his time in office, […]
WATCH: Illinois senators pass measure allowing farmers to cull crop-damaging deer | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois farmers may soon be able to act when deer damage their crops. The Illinois Senate has approved legislation that would allow agricultural landowners to obtain permits to destroy deer responsible for crop damage. State Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 710. “We need to give […]
Political leaders discuss transit dollars, governance at Illinois Capitol | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Elected officials around the state are keeping a close eye on public transit negotiations at the Illinois Capitol. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson both lobbied for more funding while visiting Springfield Wednesday. “My team, working with the Chicago Transit Authority, has been very clear about […]
WATCH: State legislators oppose Chicago mayor’s desire for more taxpayer dollars | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A number of Illinois legislators are making it clear that they oppose spending more state taxpayer dollars on Chicago unless city officials improve their failing financial practices. As Mayor Brandon Johnson visits Springfield this week, Chicago is facing a budget deficit of more than $1 billion dollars. Johnson’s chief of staff, Cristina […]
Chicago mayor may find resistance to revenue push at Illinois Capitol | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is likely to face some resistance from elected officials when he leads a delegation to Springfield on Tuesday. Chicago faces a more than $1 billion budget deficit and the mayor is likely to ask for state taxpayers to pay more to bail out the city. The mayor […]
Illinois bill helps homeowners fight back against squatters | Illinois
(The Center Square) – With instances of squatting sharply on the rise across the state, an Illinois lawmaker is sponsoring a bill that would give more protections to home owners from squatters. State Rep. La Shawn Ford, D-Chicago, introduced a bill that would give law enforcement the power to remove trespassers from properties where the […]
Mistrials hamper Illinois corruption cases with no end in sight to federal investigations | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Although a mistrial was declared in the bribery case against state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago, another Illinois corruption trial may be around the corner. Jurors deadlocked on all three counts against Jones, leading U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood to declare a mistrial at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse […]
What’s at stake for Illinois colleges with DEI policies under discussion | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Trump administration’s campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives is a topic of discussion on Illinois college campuses. Dozens of institutions are under investigation for alleged racial discrimination related to DEI programs and some may lose federal funding. The Illinois Board of Higher Education recently announced it was pausing all […]