Latest News from Prairie State Wire

Illinois vendor debt continues creeping down to $8.5 billion mark

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 31, 2018

Illinois ended the week of Jan. 31 with unpaid vendor debt trickling down to $8,501,341,295.57, continuing a trend of at least seven straight weeks where the state’s debt issue has shown slight signs of improvement.

Ives calls out Springfield on ethics complaints

By Angela Underwood | Jan 31, 2018

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) had something to say Wednesday before Gov. Bruce Rauner's before the State-of-the-State speech.

Ives casts doubt on pension reform proposal

By Angela Underwood | Jan 31, 2018

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) was not pleased with a proposed pension reform plan that includes selling pension obligation bonds presented to her Tuesday at a House Personnel & Pensions Committee hearing.

Analysis: Proposed K-12 budget would hit Kenilworth residents with biggest income tax hikes

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 31, 2018

Residents of Kenilworth, the South Central Loop in Chicago and Glencoe will pay the steepest income tax increases in Illinois if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

IL Rising: The First Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

By LGIS News Service | Jan 31, 2018

The First Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

IL Rising: Is IL About To Get A $7 Billion Tax Hike?

By LGIS News Service | Jan 31, 2018

IL Rising: Is IL About To Get A $7 Billion Tax Hike?

Chicago's Morning Answer - January 30, 2018 - John Bolton

By Hoang Tran | Jan 30, 2018

Chicago's Morning Answer - January 30, 2018 - John Bolton

Chicago's Morning Answer - January 29, 2018 - Michael Daugherty

By LGIS News Service | Jan 29, 2018

Chicago's Morning Answer: Cyber security expert Michael Daugherty

Fact Check: Rauner GOP foes says she shares Obama's view on gun violence.

By LGIS News Service | Jan 29, 2018

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Republican governor candidate Jeanne Ives was asked a question about reducing gun violence.

Fact check: How hands off has Rauner been with his investments?

By LGIS News Service | Jan 29, 2018

Details contained in a lawsuit brought against Gov. Bruce Rauner by a former business associate have called into further question the governor’s insistence that he no longer plays a role in his business investments.

Pritzker, Kennedy, Biss dodging questions about tax hike plans, GOP says

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 29, 2018

The Illinois Republican Party is blasting the three leading Democratic candidates for governor over their refusal to answer if they plan to raise taxes as part of their proposed tax plan.

This week in Illinois history: Feb. 11-18

By Robert Hadley | Jan 29, 2018

The first suffragette convention took place, the first African-American baseball league forms, and the anniversaries of a destructive fire and mass shooting are among this week's milestones in Illinois history.

Ives blames Rauner for stalling property tax reform effort

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 29, 2018

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is blasting Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats over the status of a property tax bill she introduced months ago that stalled and more recently the language of the measure some of her political rivals are claiming as their own.

Rothheimer calls out inspector general for report on harassment complaint

By Angela Underwood | Jan 29, 2018

Denise Rotheimer said Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter’s report on allegations that Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) sexually harassed her is a false narrative filed with victim blaming.

Contribution to Raoul's attorney general bid may pose a conflict

By Robert Hadley | Jan 29, 2018

News that Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), part of a crowded field of Democrats vying for the attorney general seat Lisa Madigan is vacating, received a six-figure donation to his war chest might have raised fewer eyebrows if a couple of facts had been left out of the story.