Latest News from Prairie State Wire

Illinois DOC asks for bids on inmate care despite ongoing Wexford deal

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 22, 2017

The Illinois Department of Corrections (DOC) issued a request for proposal (RFP) in January for comprehensive medical and mental health services for approximately 50,000 inmates even though the state has a current such contract with Wexford Health.

Illinois employment rate takes another slight hit in July

By Russell Boniface | Aug 22, 2017

Total unemployment in Illinois increased slightly in July, keeping the state's employment rate below the national average, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

Two new ads push Rauner school plan as what 'our kids deserve'

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 19, 2017

Two ads pushing for Gov. Bruce Rauner's school funding plan have been added to the ammunition against approving a plan that provides extra benefits to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to the detriment of all other public schools, Citizens for Rauner said in a press release announcing the ads.

High school sports group focuses on playing smart, safe with new website

By Aaron Crider | Aug 18, 2017

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has developed the "Play Smart. Play Hard." website in an ongoing effort to ensure the safety of high school athletes, the organization said on its website.

Policy institute says there's more for almost every school under Rauner's funding plan

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 17, 2017

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has vindicated Gov. Bruce Rauner’s changes to the state's public school funding bill, Ted Dabrowski of the Illinois Policy Institute contended recently.

GOP turns to Tribune, News-Democrat to help with school funding fight

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 17, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party recently cited the editorial opinions of downstate and Chicago daily newspapers in its call for Democrats to compromise on the state's K-12 funding bill.

GOP accuses House Democrats of forcing sham school funding vote

By Hoang Tran | Aug 17, 2017

The Democratic House Majority is wasting time on charades rather because it lacks the courage to vote on the state's school funding bill, Republican House members charged on Wednesday.

Rauner pleads for compromise on school funding bill

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 17, 2017

A day after the Senate voted to override his amendatory veto of the state's K-12 funding bill, Gov. called on "the four legislative leaders" -- Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) -- to meet and find a middle ground on the measure.

Rauner calls Charlottesville violence 'act of domestic terrorism'

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 16, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner condemned the violence that left one person dead and several injured at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday.

Illinois government consolidation acts good but not enough, Rauner says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 16, 2017

Illinois municipal governments will have an easier time of consolidating thanks to two bills recently signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Illinois Policy Institute readies pointed analysis of Rauner's school funding veto benefits

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 16, 2017

The Illinois Policy Institute is preparing a report to offer a “more robust” analysis of how 97 percent of Illinois' public school districts would receive more state funding under Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, the state's K-12 funding measure.

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Rauner looks to House to send more money to most state schools

By Brent Zell | Aug 15, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner must rely on the Illinois House to trust the math of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) after the Senate on Sunday seemingly ignored an analysis showing that 97.5 percent of public schools would get more money under Rauner's amendments to Senate Bill 1.

Stanford analyst: Illinois school funding changes won't improve student performance

By W.J. Kennedy | Aug 15, 2017

The evidence-based school funding formula Illinois will adopt once the Legislature and Gov. Bruce Rauner finally agree on the particulars in Senate Bill 1 brings with it only one guarantee: Taxpayers will pay billions more for an input-driven formula that has no proven track record of success, one analyst said recently.