Latest News from Prairie State Wire

This week in Illinois history: July 9-15

By Robert Hadley | Jun 25, 2018

Learn about the first open-heart surgery, the Scopes Trial and the launch of Streeterville, all of which happened this week in Illinois history.

People in prime working age are fleeing Illinois, think tank reports

By Karen Kidd | Jun 25, 2018

Not only is Illinois' overall population in deep decline, the number of people in prime working age also is going down in the state, a Chicago-based Conservative think tank said in a recent report.

Private colleges in Illinois report 4.5 percent of borrowers defaulted on student loans

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 25, 2018

Three colleges in Chicago had the highest default rates among private colleges in Illinois for borrowers who started repaying student loans in 2014 and defaulted on those loans by the end of 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis.

Dabrowski: Magicians: How Illinois politicians made $1.2 billion in budget deficits disappear

By Ted Dabrowski, Wirepoints | Jun 24, 2018

If you want to understand Illinois’ corrupt budget making process, take the example of how the legislature just “cleaned up” some of its unaccounted-for budget deficits.

OPINION: It's up to state legislators to stop gerrymandering

By Rep. David S. Olsen (R-Illlinois) and Sen. Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) | Jun 24, 2018

"By designing districts for partisan advantage, we send the message that winning elections is more important than upholding democracy."

Illinois unpaid vendor debt dips below $7 billion

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 24, 2018

The state’s unpaid vendor debt trickled down during the week ending June 22, finishing at $6,838,969,832.77.

Analysis: 28 percent of mortgages in Piatt County considered ‘equity-rich’

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 23, 2018

Among Illinois counties, Piatt, Moultrie and Monroe had the highest percentage of property owners with mortgages who have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

Analysis: 40 percent of mortgages in Boone County considered ‘underwater’

By LGIS News Service | Jun 23, 2018

Among Illinois counties, Boone, Montgomery and Bond had the highest percentage of property owners with mortgages who owe at least 25 percent more on their loans than their property is worth, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity at the end of the first quarter.

Reeder: It’s time Illinois addresses meaningful criminal justice reform

By Scott Reeder | Jun 22, 2018

There is no more depressing place to be than in a prison visiting room when children come to see their mom or dad.

Illinois State Rifle Association highlights events for summer

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 22, 2018

This summer shapes up as a busy and critical time for the Illinois State Rifle Association.

If it cleans up Springfield, Dodge is OK with new law to handle harassment complaints

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 21, 2018

State treasurer candidate Jim Dodge is open to almost anything if it stands to make Springfield the place he thinks it was meant to be.

Rent control initiatives to get new life in Springfield next year

By W.J. Kennedy | Jun 21, 2018

Rent control initiatives in Springfield were stranded when the 2018 regular legislative session ended on May 31, but landlords and property managers in Illinois anticipate a more aggressive push when the General Assembly convenes in January 2019.

Sexual harassment allegations or not, Dodge questions why lawmakers are entitled to hefty pensions

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 21, 2018

Jim Dodge, the Republican candidate for state treasurer, desperately wants answers from lawmakers in Springfield.

IL Rising: Is Illinois the top state to leave?

By LGIS News Service | Jun 20, 2018

The IL Rising team discusses the state and its population exodus.

IL Rising - Is bankruptcy IL's only option?

By LGIS News Service | Jun 20, 2018

Economics professor from Colorado talks bankruptcy laws with the IL Rising team.

Wirepoints founder thinks pension bonds won't fix Streator's problem

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 19, 2018

The founder of Wirepoints believes issuing bonds to pay toward pensions won't fix the problem Streator is having for fire and police retirees.

Is bankruptcy the only way Illinois can overcome 'unsustainable fiscal policy'? Economist thinks so

By Doug McMurdo | Jun 19, 2018

A former economics professor who is an adviser to the Heartland Institute believes the best way to overcome Illinois’ unsustainable debt is to do what no state has done since the 1930s: declare bankruptcy.

Illinois Veterans Affairs would receive nearly $51M for capital projects under Rauner budget

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 19, 2018

More than six-tenths of 1 percent of the governor's 2019 capital budget request would fund Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs projects, according to a state analysis.

BetterGov fact-check: Rauner’s Legionnaires’ claim misses mark and the point

By LGIS News Service | Jun 19, 2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently made a claim, among others questionable statements, that the Legionnaire's outbreak were due to massive.flood. BetterGov investigates the validity of that claim.

State police would receive $2.3M for capital projects under Rauner budget

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jun 18, 2018

Only 0.03 percent of the governor's 2019 capital budget request would fund Illinois State Police projects, according to a state analysis.

Prairie State Wire

News from June 2018