Prairie State Wire

Senate Education Committee sends bill reinstating five-hour school day to floor

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 31, 2019

The Illinois Senate Education Committee recently unanimously approved moving a bill that would reinstate an old rule defining a school day as at least five clock hours.

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | Jan 31, 2019

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Chambana Sun

University of Illinois freezes tuition – but still higher than 12 of 13 Big 10 conference peers

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

In-state tuition and book costs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will continue to be among the highest for schools in the Big 10 conference, despite the UI Board of Trustees' vote on Thursday to extend an in-state tuition freeze for the fifth-straight year.

HB 181 calls for fining parents who bully their children

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 31, 2019

A bill that would amend the Illinois's criminal code to make parental bullying a crime has been assigned to the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee for further consideration.

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Meet the New Director of IL Dept. of Agriculture in New January Edition of Common Ground Newsletter

By Press release submission | Jan 31, 2019

Subscribe to receive future editions of monthly newsletter

ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH: Opioid Alternative Pilot Program Launches

By Press release submission | Jan 31, 2019

Registration now open

Lethal property taxes propelling residents out of Illinois

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 31, 2019

According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, at least 1.5 million residents have fled Illinois since the start of the new millennium, and Wirepoints website places the bulk of the blame squarely on the state’s “lethal combination of rising property taxes and stagnant incomes.”

Chicago can do better than second-worst sinkhole city, fiscal data analyst says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 31, 2019

Chicago, ranked next-to-last "sinkhole city" in a recent government fiscal data analysis group's report about the nation's most populous cities, needs to make some changes to improve its ranking, the group's chair said during a during a recent interview.

Chamber president: State should work to minimize minimum wage increase damage

By Karen Kidd | Jan 31, 2019

As Illinois's small businesses brace for the expected minimum wage increase, the Democrat-controlled government in the state should work to keep the damage to a minimum, a Chamber of Commerce official said during a recent interview.

Joint committee hearing focuses on future of College Illinois program

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 31, 2019

A joint hearing before the state Senate Appropriations II and Higher Education committees was held Tuesday to receive information on the College Illinois program and how it will continue in the coming years.

Single-use plastic bag ban will not help, environmental risk specialist says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 31, 2019

A proposed state-wide tax on single-use plastic bags currently stalled in the Illinois Senate, along with unenacted bans on the bags, needs to remain that way, an environmental risk specialist said during a recent interview.

EDITORIAL: Gov. Pritzker's new climate strategy is all pain, no gain

By Jay Lehr, Ph.D and Tom Harris | Jan 30, 2019

High taxes, record debt, underfunded pensions, notorious corruption, and an ongoing urban crime problem are only a few of Illinois’ most pressing problems.

Alicia Tate-Nadeau nominated to Illinois Emergency Management Agency

By Metric Media News Service | Jan 30, 2019

Alicia Tate-Nadeau was nominated in the Senate to be the director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday, Jan. 29, according to the official Illinois General Assembly website.

IPI: FBI's secret Madigan recordings in affidavit reveal nothing new about speaker's operations

By Karen Kidd | Jan 29, 2019

Illinois's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), earlier today revealed to be a target in the same FBI investigation that led to an extortion indictment against a Chicago alderman, is not accused of anything new, a think tank reported.

ILGOP on FBI Madigan tape: Reform is long overdue

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 29, 2019

The Illinois Republican Party is pointing to a secret FBI recording of a Chicago alderman allegedly assuring a local developer of the perks to come from striking an alliance with longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan as just a snapshot of the way he has always operated.

EDITORIAL: Pritzker’s climate order is all pain, no gain

By James Taylor | Jan 29, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a January 23 executive order committing Illinois to the expensive energy sources and failed carbon-dioxide reduction goals of the United Nations and the Paris Climate Agreement.

James Ayers's nomination to position with the Illinois Community College Board withdrawn

By Local Labs News Service | Jan 29, 2019

James Ayers's nomination to be a member of the Illinois Community College Board was withdrawn on Jan. 28, according to the official Illinois General Assembly website.

From Chicago City Wire

Are taxes and bans the future of plastic shopping bags in Illinois?

By LGIS News Service | 6 years ago

The state legislature adjourned before taking action on Senate Bill 1597, which would require Illinois consumers to pay a 5 cent fee for every single-use paper or plastic bag, but similar proposals are being considered at the county and local levels.

Center for Immigration Studies research shows only 10 percent of Americans compete with illegal immigrants for jobs

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 28, 2019

According to the Migration Policy Institute, Illinois has the sixth-highest illegal immigrant population in the country, about 487,000.

Pritzker commits Illinois to joining U.S. Climate Alliance

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 28, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an order committing Illinois to be the 18th state joining the U.S. Climate Alliance on Jan. 23 at Erin's Pavilion in Springfield, pledging the state will abide by the Paris Agreement.