Chicago Public Schools teachers and administrators aren’t shying away from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s claim the city’s schools are “owed” $1 billion from the state. But they dramatically scaled back their immediate demands during a rare joint CPS and Chicago Teachers Union lobbying trip to the state Capitol on Wednesday.
Stories by Amanda Vinicky
Civic Federation Calls for Caution in State Budget, Praises Illinois’ Recent Financial Progress
“Illinois cannot simply hope that its remaining fiscal challenges will disappear on their own,” the Civic Federation says in a new report. “They will not until they are addressed head on.”
Illinois Lawmakers Consider Bill That Would Pay Student Teachers $10K but Actual Funding Unlikely
The juxtaposition of a popular program with how to pay for it highlights the tensions Illinois lawmakers face with weeks left before the end-of-month deadline to pass a new state budget.
Bill Creating New State Agency Focused on Early Childhood Programs Headed to Pritzker’s Desk
Illinois is preparing to dedicate an entire state agency to matters affecting children in their earliest years. Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced in October his intent to move disparate services under the umbrella of a new state agency: the Department of Early Childhood.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Uses Springfield Trip to Boost His Case for $1 Billion Bump in CPS Funding
In meetings with state lawmakers and the governor, Mayor Brandon Johnson made his case for additional support for the city, including about $1.1 billion more in funding for Chicago Public Schools.
Illinois Lawmakers Seek More Oversight for State’s Hemp Industry
Popular shops, bakeries and wellness brands that sell delta-8 THC and other hemp derivatives that have proliferated without the weight of government oversight are now actively seeking state intervention.
Chicago Bears’ Plan to Use Taxpayer Funds on New Lakefront Stadium a ‘Non-Starter’ for Pritzker
The Bears would pitch in $2 billion, plus use a $300 million loan from the NFL; billions more in taxpayer money would be used to finance the other half of the stadium as well as to make infrastructure improvements and add park and public space to the area.
Illinois Doctors Would Have Easier Access to Patients’ End-of-Life Wishes Under Bill Advancing in Springfield
Currently, doctors say it can sometimes be difficult for medical personnel to access those forms, especially if a patient is incapacitated or having an emergency away from their medical home.
Efforts to Add Abortion Protections to the Illinois Constitution Cool as Election-Year Focus Turns to Other States
State legislators would need to vote by May 5 to place a question on the November ballot, and key players indicate there’s no effort to do so despite earlier talk at state government’s highest levels after Roe v. Wade was dismantled by the U.S. Supreme Court almost two years ago.
Pritzker Says CTA Needs ‘Evolution of Leadership’ as Agency Faces Ridership, Financial Concerns
“Changes are going to have to take place, there’s no doubt, at the CTA, and I think that’s going to take some new leadership and additional leadership,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said. The agency has been under scrutiny amid rider frustration, unkempt train cars and safety concerns.
House Sends Bill Restricting Chicago Selective Enrollment School Changes to Senate Despite Rebukes From CTU, CPS Board
An increased moratorium on closing Chicago Public Schools – including charters – easily passed the state House heads to the Senate over the objections of the Chicago Teachers Union and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointees to the city’s school board.
Need a Notary? Now You Can Get One Online as Illinois Launches New E-Notary Service
Important documents — the volumes of paperwork that go along with buying or selling a home, for example, or granting the power of attorney — require notarization. Under a new initiative announced Wednesday by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, the entire process can now be done remotely.
Chicago Gets New Chief Economic Recruiter, Booster
As the new president and CEO of World Business Chicago, Philip Clement is charged with reversing high-profile departures of businesses like Boeing, Caterpillar and Citadel while continuing recruiting momentum.
Protesters Calling for Cease-Fire in Gaza Temporarily Blocked Traffic Near O’Hare Airport
Demonstrators used the traffic shutdown to bring attention to the continuing war in Palestine and push for a cease-fire in Gaza. Traffic flow resumed by about 9:20 a.m.
Chicago, Federal Agencies Ramp Up Security Training Ahead of August’s Democratic National Convention
The Secret Service will be responsible for security at the United Center and McCormick Place and their containment areas. The Chicago Police Department is responsible for everything outside the venues, including management of protests.
State Lawmakers Call for Prisoner Review Board Reform After Fatal Stabbing of 11-Year-Old Chicago Boy
The killing of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins is drawing attention to a small state board responsible for deciding when prisoners can be released on parole.
Chicagoans Should Vote on Using Taxpayer Money for Bears and White Sox Stadiums, Ex-Gov. Quinn Says
Should the former governor succeed, a nonbinding referendum would ask Chicago voters on Nov. 5: “Shall the people of Chicago provide any taxpayer subsidies to the Chicago Bears or the White Sox in order to build a stadium or a real estate development?”
Candidates Can Start Circulating Petitions as Chicago Public Schools Begins Transition to Elected School Board
Tuesday marks the first day board of education candidates can begin to gather the minimum 1,000 signatures they need from neighbors in order to make it on the ballot.
Illinois Driver’s License Facilities Again Running After ‘Nationwide Network Outage’ Thursday Morning
The cause was an outage in the “national network that connects driver’s license facilities,” a network run by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. That outage resulted in the system having to shut down across the country.
At Least 2 State Legislators Lose Their Seats in Primary Election. A Look at the General Assembly Results
At least two sitting members of the Illinois state legislature – including the longest-serving member of the General Assembly – won’t be returning to Springfield next year after losing their primary races Tuesday.
Justice Joy Cunningham Claims Victory in Illinois Supreme Court Primary Race
Justice Joy Cunningham was appointed by the court to fill the seat ahead of Justice Anne Burke’s 2022 retirement. Cunningham’s opponent in Tuesday’s race, Appellate Judge Jesse Reyes, was striving to be the first Latino on the state’s high court.
Pritzker Signs Hybrid CPS Board Bill, Says He Supports Moratorium on Selective Enrollment Closures
Under the new law, voters will elect 10 members in Novembers while Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will appoint 10 members of his choosing, plus the board president. That leaves the board under mayoral control until 2027, when the city would move to a fully-elected school board.
Pritzker Announces $900M Plan to Demolish, Rebuild Stateville and Logan Prisons
An independent report identified Illinois’ Stateville and Logan prisons as outdated and in need of costly repairs.
Illinois’ High Court Reports ‘Breathtaking’ Rise in Appeals Following Elimination of Cash Bail
According to Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis, the spike in appeals is the “biggest challenge” to the judicial branch’s implementation of the pretrial justice system.
Many Illinois Companies Will Soon Be Required to List Pay Scales, Benefits in Job Postings
Illinois has laws to protect against gender discrimination in pay, but it can be difficult for workers to know whether there’s a pay discrepancy. That may be easier to figure out starting next year.
New Bill Would Ban Guns From Illinois Polling Places
State Rep. Bob Morgan said banning guns at polling places is necessary given rising security concerns surrounding elections. Gun rights advocates said the proposal is an answer in search of a problem.
