Illinois Quick Hits: Former Judge Accused Of Stealing; Businessman Holds $100K Giveaway

News in brief for Friday, June 9, 2023.

Lawmakers To Receive 5 Percent Pay Raise After Gov. Pritzker Signs Largest State Budget Ever

Pritzker on Wednesday signed the state's $50.6 billion budget.

Illinois Quick Hits: Naperville Mayor Defends Bears Meeting; Pritzker Lowers Lawmaker Pay Raise 0.5%

News in brief for June 7, 2023.

This Is The City In Illinois With The Most People On Food Stamps

According to the latest available data from the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 15.8 million households received SNAP benefits in 2021.

Mayor Wants Chicago To Have A 'Real Seat At The Table' With Bears

Brandon Johnson spoke with Bears President Kevin Warren in an effort to get the city into conversations about keeping the team in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor Reaffirms Commitment To Stopping Violence After Another Violent Weekend

Chicago has seen 244 shootings in 28 days, including 73 over the last week.

Chicago Tourists Total 49 Million In 2022, 80 Percent Of Pre-Pandemic High

Hotels averaged 60 percent occupancy in 2022, a 43 percent jump from the year before.

Illinois Quick Hits: Crypto Lawsuit Filed; Agency Sending Air Purifiers; Wildfire Haze Continues

News in brief for Tuesday, June 6, 2023.

Pritzker: Invest In Kids Program May Be Renewed This Year, But With Changes

The program grants tax credits to people who use private dollars to fund scholarships that allow students to attend private schools.

Civic Committee Announces Ambitious Plan To Cut Down On Murders In Chicago

Members say they hope to bring the yearly number of murders down to less than 400, the lowest homicide rate since 1965.

Illinois Approves Increased Rates For Medicaid In Coming Fiscal Year

Rate increases will cost the state an extra $317 million.

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago Eyes $51 Million For Migrants; Concert Attendees Late After Traffic; Yorkville Water Park Opens

News in brief for Wednesday, May 31.

Statewide Effort Focuses On Ending Homelessness In Illinois

A new bill would create the Illinois Interagency Task Force on Homelessness and an Office to Prevent and End Homelessness.

Illinois Quick Hits: House To Take Up State Budget; Chicago's Weekend Safety Plan

News in brief for Friday, May 26.

Illinois Pork Producers Brace For Impact From U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

New requirements go into effect July 1 to give gestating sows more space.

Analysis Shows Percentage Of Household Income Going Towards Bills In Illinois Communities

The average Illinois household spends $2,121 a month on the 10 most common household bills, a new report shows.

Illinois Quick Hits: Child Welfare Worker Charged With Theft Of State Funds; Crime Concerns Cancels Carnival

News in brief for Thursday, May 25.

Mayor Brandon Johnson Passes His City Council Reorganization Plan In First Key Vote

Alderman approved Johnson's plan to reorganize the City Council by a vote of 41-9.

Universal free test prep classes gaining momentum in Springfield

Proposal would provide free test and professional licensure and credentialing prep courses for Illinois public college students

Bill Implementing Full-Day Kindergarten In Illinois Ready For Governor's Desk

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, said the bill better prepares the state's youth for the future.

Bill Requiring Policies Against Racism In Illinois Schools Passes House

"A November 2021 report found that hate crimes in schools increased by 81 percent from 2016 to 2018,” State Rep. Maurice West said.

Chicago To Receive Federal Help To Combat Homelessness

Newly-elected Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson frequently referred to the issue of homelessness across the city as a "moral crisis."

Illinois Quick Hits: Officials Cancel Event After Flash Mob; Sheriff Wants Furlough Law Repealed

News in brief for Tuesday, May 23.

Illinois Democrats Seek To Allow Noncitizens To Be Police Officers In State

The Fraternal Order of Police has been in support of the legislation being enacted.

Illinois Quick Hits: Delayed Tax Credit Launches; Peotone Airport Bill Advances

News in brief for Thursday, May 18.

Illinois To Reinstate Blue Collar Jobs Act

The program provides an income tax credit to companies that invest in Illinois.

U.S. Supreme Court Declines To Block Illinois And Naperville Gun Bans

Justices will not block the ban of certain assault-style weapons in the state.

Illinois Quick Hits: Pneumonia Front Today In Chicago Area; Girl Missing Since 2107 Found In NC

News in brief for Tuesday, May 16.

Illinois Quick Hits: Johnson's Mayoral Inauguration Today; Measure Bars Some From Elected Office

News in brief for Monday, May 15.

How Much Illinois Homeowners Pay In Property Taxes

Nationwide, property taxes accounted for 32.2 percent of all state and local tax revenue in fiscal 2020, more than any other tax.

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker Says State Prepared For Migrant Surge; Illinois Leads U.S. In Exonerations

News in brief for Thursday, May 11.

Illinois Lawmakers Seek To Reduce Fraud In SNAP Program

House Bill 2214 would collect data from the cards to better track skimming and fraud.

Illinois Measure Would Allow Windmills On Lake Michigan

Proponents say it will create thousands of clean energy jobs, bringing the state closer to goals set in the Climate & Equitable Jobs Act.

Proposed Wealth Tax Would Pay For After-School Programs, Migrant Health Care

State Rep. Will Guzzardi said the tax could raise up to $500 million per year.

What It Costs To Retire Comfortably In Illinois

More than 26 percent of Americans between ages 65 to 74 were still working in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Former Chicago Police Chief Waller Tabbed As Interim Superintendent

Fred Waller, who rose to third in command at CPD before retiring in 2020 after 34 years, will lead the department on a temporary basis.

Mayor Thompson Launches “Move with the Mayor” Health Initiative

Kick Off at Proviso West High School on May 6

Lightfoot Urges Texas Governor Not To Send More Migrants To Chicago

"We simply have no more shelters, spaces or resources to accommodate an increase of individuals at this level," the mayor wrote in a letter.

How Gas Taxes In Illinois Compare To Other States

While the federal government levies a tax of 18.4 cents on every gallon of gas sold in the U.S., each state adds on its own excise tax.

What It Costs To Retire Comfortably In Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical retirement-age American spent $52,141 in 2021.