Prairie State Wire

Prairie State Wire

Monday, October 14, 2019

Latest News

From Illinois Business Daily

Illinois’ public pensions are 81.2 percent government funded

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 2 days ago

Taxpayer contributions to Illinois’s public pension funds in 2018 amounted to 81.2 percent of the total, the seventh highest ratio among the 50 states, according to newly released data by the U.S. Census Bureau.

From Metro East Sun

Spate of Illinois cities woefully short on pension funding

By Chris Adams | 2 days ago

Municipalities across Illinois are struggling to maintain the pensions of their public safety entities as the funds continue to shrink.

From Metro East Sun

Sen. Plummer deems Planned Parenthood's Downstate mega-clinic 'a complete disaster'

By Glenn Minnis | 2 days ago

Illinois state Sen. Jason Plummer (R-Edwardsville) is convinced that Planned Parenthood’s secret construction of a so-called mega abortion clinic in southern Illinois is a 'disaster' for the pro-life movement as well as state taxpayers.

From Illinois Business Daily

Total state tax collections in Illinois reach $38 billion, Census Bureau reports

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 2 days ago

State tax revenues in Illinois amount to $38 billion, the sixth highest tally among the 50 states, according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

State Government

With more than 7,000 units of government, Illinois earns yet another dubious national distinction

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 10, 2019

With Illinois' newly formed property tax task force scheduled to make recommendations aimed at reining in the state’s outrageous property tax rates before the Thanksgiving holiday, Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) hopes that at least part of the group's solution lies in cutting the Prairie State’s massive number of government units.

From West Cook News

Oak Park trustee Susan Buchanan: 'You stop it, you are a white male! Your skin is light enough.'

By West Cook News | 4 days ago

Oak Park trustee Susan Buchanan berated fellow trustees for speaking on racial equity and oppression during Monday's board meeting.

State Government

Illinois tops Kiplinger’s list of 'least tax-friendly' states in nation

By Kasey Schefflin-Emrich | Oct 8, 2019

Illinois has been named the nation’s 'least tax-friendly' state in a new analysis by Kiplinger.

State Government

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | Oct 8, 2019

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

From Illinois Business Daily

The price of education: Which Illinois schools charge the highest in-state tuition?

By Local Labs News Service | 7 days ago

Illinois residents pay the highest in-state tuition at University of Chicago, Northwestern University and School of the Art Institute of Chicago, according to an analysis of federal data.

From Illinois Business Daily

Decatur’s concentrated poverty rate is the highest in Illinois

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 9 days ago

The Decatur metro area’s share of extreme poverty – neighborhoods where at least 40 percent of residents live below the poverty level – is the highest in Illinois, according to a new analysis from the website 24/7 Wall St.

From Illinois Business Daily

Illinois earns grade of C+ for manufacturing health

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 9 days ago

Illinois received a grade of C+ on a scorecard developed by Ball State University to gauge the health of each state’s manufacturing sector.

Community

STATE FIRE MARSHALL: Honors National Fire Prevention Week

By Press release submission | Oct 4, 2019

Encourages Illinoisans to Establish and Practice their Emergency Plan

From South Cook News

WGN reporter says police ejected him from School District 227 public meeting

By Glenn Minnis | 10 days ago

A team of WGN-TV News reporters are claiming they were recently ejected from a Rich Township High School District 227 public meeting held to debate the fate of Rich East High School.

State Government

New Illinois law prohibits employers from asking about wage history

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 2, 2019

Illinois employers are no longer allowed to question job applicants about their past wage and compensation histories after the Illinois Equal Pay Act officially took effect across the state Sept. 29.

Politics

Government watchdog director calls out child 'exploitation' in climate change protests

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 2, 2019

The executive editor and founder of the government watchdog website WirePoints views the outbreak of climate change demonstrations across the globe featuring young people with a leery eye.

Politics

Over 40 cases of Illinois voter fraud documented by Heritage Foundation

By Local Labs News Service | Oct 1, 2019

More than 40 people have been found guilty of election or voter fraud in Illinois since the year 2000, according to a Heritage Foundation database that details such cases nationwide.

State Government

FBI and IRS raid three villages in Sen. Sandoval's 11th District

By Zeta Cross | Oct 1, 2019

Within three days after FBI and IRS agents raided the home and offices of Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-Chicago) , agents made early morning raids on three southwest villages in Sandoval’s district.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Former state Rep. Breen poised for a rematch with Costa-Howard in 48th District

By Glenn Minnis | 13 days ago

Peter Breen thinks the residents of Illinois can use all the help they can get from their representation in Springfield.

From Lake County Gazette

Morrison called out by ISRA director for firearm confiscation remark

By Glenn Minnis | 15 days ago

In the eyes of Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) Executive Director Richard Pearson, state Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) had a Beto O’Rourke moment last spring.

State Government

Candidate Ives calls out opponent for his role in impeachment inquiry: 'Casten is a bitter partisan'

By Glenn Minnis | Sep 28, 2019

Congressional candidate Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) argues that U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) so hastily throwing his support behind an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about her potential opponent's style of politics.