Latest News from Prairie State Wire

Ives critical of bill to extend TIFs

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 30, 2018

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) expressed her displeasure for a recent House bill that would create tax increment allocation financing extensions for ordinances in several cities in Illinois passes during the Nov. 15 House floor session.

Pritzker faces AFSCME's contract negotiations

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 30, 2018

When totaled, salary and all the perks leave state taxpayers on the hook for an average annual compensation package of around $110,000 for the average state worker, according to a recent report by Wirepoints.

Senate removes bill that would extend water ownership legislation

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 29, 2018

A Senate bill that would have changed the sunset date on previous legislation involving the privatization of public water systems was removed from the record Nov. 15.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE: 2018 Madison County Tentative Multiplier Announced

By Press release submission | Nov 29, 2018

Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0249, according to Constance Beard, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider Statement on State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit's Remarks

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 28, 2018

Tim Schneider, Illinois Republican Party chairman, is calling for the resignation of state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-Aurora) after she refused to apologize for remarks some insist wished death upon family members of a colleague at the height of testy House floor debate.

Market Watch: Lincoln Park couple takes $50M mansion off market

By LGIS News Service | Nov 28, 2018

Illinois' highest-in-the-nation property taxes are eroding home equity and depressing home values across the state. This report is on a Lincoln Park estate with a $50 million price tag being taken off the market.

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Is gas tax hike in the cards?

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 27, 2018

The start of J.B. Pritzker’s term as governor and the end of Rahm Emanuel’s run as mayor of Chicago could be marked by the passage of the state’s first capital bill in nearly a decade.

Williams: Pension loans bill 'an awful idea'

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 27, 2018

For all the fault he finds in House Resolution 1225, David Williams isn’t surprised to hear Illinois lawmakers are supporting it.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Serve Illinois Joins the #ILGive Campaign to Support Illinois Nonprofits

By Press release submission | Nov 27, 2018

To help increase donations to nonprofit organizations throughout the state, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Serve Illinois) is joining Forefront in its #ILGive campaign

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY: Unemployment Rate Up Slightly in most Metros

By Press release submission | Nov 27, 2018

Unemployment rates increased over-the-year in October in twelve of Illinois's metropolitan areas and decreased in two, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES)

College acceptance rates at 2 top-rated Illinois schools plummet between 2006 and 2018

By Prairie State Wire reports | Nov 27, 2018

Illinois universities topped a national ranking of prestigious schools whose acceptance rates have declined a collective 37 percent over the past 12 years, according to a new study by BusinessStudent.com.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: E.coli Food Safety

By Press release submission | Nov 26, 2018

Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following announcement on Nov. 20.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S.

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ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT ON AGING: Recognizes National Caregiver Month

By Press release submission | Nov 26, 2018

IDoA highlights ways to provide relief to family caregivers

Illinois vendor debt up at end of October

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 24, 2018

Illinois' vendor debt increased for the week ending Oct.31, finishing at $7,767,600,175.05.

CASS: An anti-poverty program even conservatives can love

By Oren Cass, Manhattan Institute | Nov 23, 2018

For most of America, it’s been the economic recovery that wasn’t.

‘The Once and Future Worker’ and ‘The Forgotten Americans’ Review: Alienated, Angry, in Need of a Job

By W. Bradford Wilcox, American Enterprise Institute | Nov 23, 2018

For too long, the American working class was ignored in politics and public policy. All that changed in 2016. The election served notice that the working class, especially working-class men, felt overlooked, alienated and angry and were desperate enough to try anything—even Donald Trump.

Incoming Democrat won't back Madigan

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 23, 2018

Despite House Speaker Michael Madigan's more than four decades in power, Democratic state representative-elect Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville) is determined to oppose him.

Illinois State Rifle Association wary of Dem-controlled House

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 23, 2018

Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) executive director Richard A. Pearson, in a bulletin recently sent to members, warned state residents that they may soon face what he called the same perils as those faced by gun owners across much of the country.

Hollman new House chief clerk

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 21, 2018

John W. Hollman, executive clerk of the Illinois House of Representatives, will be chief clerk for the remainder of the 100th General Assembly. His appointment was approved Nov. 13.

Legal medical marijuana complicates employers' policymaking

By Danielle Pacey | Nov 20, 2018

As states legalize the use of medical marijuana, employers must adapt and adopt new policies for the workplace.

Prairie State Wire

News from November 2018