Bill amending prohibitive liquor licensing law goes to governor’s desk
Bill amending prohibitive liquor licensing law goes to governor’s desk
The measure would relax statewide restrictions on liquor licensure and encourage local control.
Illinois General Assembly passes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers
Illinois General Assembly passes bill mandating $40,000 minimum salary for teachers
A bill that would raise the minimum salary for teachers to $40,000 now awaits Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature.
Budget gimmicks explained: Why the new Illinois spending plan is not balanced
Budget gimmicks explained: Why the new Illinois spending plan is not balanced
Lawmakers claiming to have passed a balanced budget are relying on a number of common, but deceptive, budget maneuvers.
Belleville school districts are ripe for consolidation
Belleville school districts are ripe for consolidation
Illinois has more units of local government than any other state in the country, many of which are duplicative and overlapping. In Belleville, where the majority of the city’s school districts cover fewer students than the state average, consolidation efforts could boost efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars.
Illinois school districts spend taxpayer money on Springfield lobbying
Illinois school districts spend taxpayer money on Springfield lobbying
Residents are seeing property tax dollars flow toward lobbying for policies that increase homeowners’ property tax bills.
Jeff Doornbos
Jeff Doornbos
“Looking at it from a small business perspective we are just trying to serve the community like the other businesses in the city of Chicago. And at the same time, we’re trying to make sure that we’re abiding by all the rules and regulations put forth by the city. “We would love to see the...
Illinois lawmakers team up with rental car companies seeking to squeeze out competitors
Illinois lawmakers team up with rental car companies seeking to squeeze out competitors
Lawmakers in Springfield are joining forces with Hertz and Enterprise in efforts to punish companies offering innovative alternatives to conventional car rental options.
Amid heavy ticketing, challenge to Chicago food truck regulations heads to Illinois Supreme Court
Amid heavy ticketing, challenge to Chicago food truck regulations heads to Illinois Supreme Court
Chicago’s regulatory roadblocks have derailed opportunity for the city’s food truck entrepreneurs. As a challenge to those restrictions reaches Illinois’ high court, the outcome of the case could be felt statewide.
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s unbalanced budget
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s unbalanced budget
Illinois General Assembly passes state budget out of balance by as much as $1.5B
Illinois General Assembly passes state budget out of balance by as much as $1.5B
Lawmakers voted to approve the 1,245-page budget less than 24 hours after it was revealed to the public.
Obscure government official’s side gig a cause for concern
Obscure government official’s side gig a cause for concern
Andrew Hamilton is clearly a man of many hats. But some of those hats should raise eyebrows.
Trump considering commuting Blagojevich sentence
Trump considering commuting Blagojevich sentence
The former Illinois governor is halfway through his 14-year sentence for corruption-related charges.
Illinois lawmakers pass bill legalizing industrial hemp
Illinois lawmakers pass bill legalizing industrial hemp
While state law currently allows for the cultivation of hemp to be overseen by some government bodies, the Industrial Hemp Act would make legal the commercial production of hemp.
House passes Madigan’s progressive tax resolution
House passes Madigan’s progressive tax resolution
A majority of House lawmakers sided with the speaker over tapped-out taxpayers.