Prairie State Wire

Former state university employee Anderson paid in $156K to pension fund, could collect $3.4M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Jan 1, 2019

Former state university employee Karen Anderson, who retired in December 2018, saved $156,495 toward a pension over 20 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: January is ‘Radon Awareness Month' in Illinois

By Press release submission | Jan 4, 2019

Statewide Radon Poster and Video Contests Now Accepting Entries

ISRA's Pearson warns gun rights may slip through loophole

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 4, 2019

Richard A. Pearson, Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) executive director, is warning members that what he calls a flaw in the state constitution could make things harder for lawful gun owners.

Skillicorn encourages state GOP to regroup

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 4, 2019

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) views the GOP's losses in November as an opportunity for rebirth.

Legalized pot leads to more stoners on the road, studies show

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 4, 2019

Legalization of recreational marijuana use in Illinois will almost certainly lead to a sharp increase in the number of motorists driving stoned, studies and surveys in states where pot is legal show. In Colorado, at least, fatal accidents shot up at an alarming rate during a period when legal adult use began in late 2012 followed by sales in 2014. From 2013 to 2015, traffic fatalities there rose 40 percent.

From Chicago City Wire

State GOP chair calls for ban on lawmakers running tax-appeal firms

By Glenn Minnis | 1 year ago

Tim Schneider, chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, says no politician in Illinois should be able to get away with what Chicago Ald. Ed Burke is accused of doing.

LEEF: J.B.’s 21 issues

By Jeffrey Leef | Jan 7, 2019

I have always admired Nobel Prize Laureate Milton Friedman’s calm and surgically precise dismemberment of brainwashed liberals’ who argued with the great man with memorized self-righteous chants of nonsense.

State Rep. Lou Lang resigns from General Assembly after 30 years to become lobbyist to state lawmakers

By Karen Kidd | Jan 7, 2019

Much maligned state Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), an ally of Illinois's powerful state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), resigned from the General Assembly earlier today after 30 years, only six months after stepping down from a leadership position over a sexual harassment scandal.

Skillicorn opposes proposed gas tax

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 8, 2019

State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake) is strongly against a proposed gas tax hike that would give Illinois the highest gas tax in the country.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR BRUCE RAUNER: Illinois Receives $3.7 Million Early Childhood Grant

By Press release submission | Jan 9, 2019

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ILLINOIS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION: Multi-Agency collaboration reduces backlog at the Illinois Human Rights Commission

By Press release submission | Jan 9, 2019

The Illinois Human Rights Commission (HRC) is releasing its first Progress Report on transforming service delivery and addressing the backlog of cases pending before the HRC.

From North Cook News

Policy analyst supports worker complaint against SEIU

By Glenn Minnis | 1 year ago

Trey Kovacs insists he isn’t surprised that at least some public sector unions are still resorting to what he calls the same strong-arm tactics they relied on before a landmark 2018 Supreme Court ruling supposedly outlawed them.

9 Republicans voted ‘yes’ on bill to hike pay for department heads

By LGIS News Service | Jan 10, 2019

Nine GOP state lawmakers joined with Democrats to pass a bill to hike the pay of state agency department heads this week.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY: 1099G forms out for those who received Unemployment Insurance

By Press release submission | Jan 10, 2019

Electronic forms have been sent; Paper forms to follow

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS' AFFAIRS: Manteno Veteran's Home takes precautions after a single Legionnaires' disease case is identified

By Press release submission | Jan 10, 2019

The Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) was notified this morning regarding a confirmed case of Legionnaires' disease (legionellosis) in a resident of the Manteno Veterans' Home.

From Illinois Business Daily

Analysis: Illinois posted 9th lowest individual income tax rate in 2018

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 1 year ago

Illinois ranked No. 36 for its top individual income tax rate, according to a Tax Foundation analysis of 2018 tax numbers that tracked the District of Columbia and the 43 states that levy such taxes.

Cullerton's re-election as state senate president draws mixed response

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 11, 2019

State Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago) retained his position as president of the Illinois State Senate on Wednesday, eliciting expressions of support and concern from his political allies and opponents.

With House re-election, Madigan continues streak as nation's longest-serving speaker

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 11, 2019

State Rep. Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was re-elected speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Most board members of Tollway Authority ousted

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 11, 2019

A bill removing members of the Illinois Tollway board passed both houses of the General Assembly on Wednesday. Senate Bill 1298 also requires the governor to fill the vacancies on the board by Feb. 28.

49 state employees to get 15 percent raises

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 11, 2019

In the final days of the 100th General Assembly, a bill that makes changes to the Illinois Lottery Law and raises the salaries of 49 state employees passed with 68 yes votes and 37 no votes. Two members voted "present."