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Chicago City Wire

Sunday, December 22, 2024

News from December 2016

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Rauner veto of automatic voter registration bill stands after House vote

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 5, 2016

The Illinois House failed to garner the votes needed to overturn Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto of Senate Bill 250, which would have automatically registered Illinois residents to vote when they make government transactions, such as renewing a driver's license.

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Some Dems demand Madigan 'vision' before supporting him for speaker

By Jeff Gantt | Dec 5, 2016

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) went about his usual business on election night.

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Report: SNAP aid formula gives illegal immigrants edge over citizens

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 4, 2016

In an overwhelming majority of states, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) provides benefits to families with illegal immigrant wage earners in them while denying benefits to identical families of U.S. citizens having the same incomes, according to a report from the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS).

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Pro-growth reforms called for to stem exodus of millennials

By Karen Kidd | Dec 4, 2016

Citing worrisome data that indicates millennials are fleeing the state and taking their families with them, a Chicago-based conservative think tank is urging state lawmakers to pass pro-growth reforms.

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Analyst: Credit downgrade to junk spells more trouble for Chicago Public Schools

By Karen Kidd | Dec 4, 2016

Standard & Poor’s decision to sink Chicago Public Schools’ credit rating into junk-bond territory shortly after the district’s new $9.5 billion teachers’ contract was hammered out will worsen the district’s financial woes, according to a recent report issued by a Chicago-based conservative think tank.

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Illinois' debt per capita ranks among 10 highest in U.S., at nearly $15,000

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 2, 2016

Ranking among the top 10 states for debt per capita, Illinois is exhibiting a continuously increasing amount of red ink per resident — particularly pension debt, but also other calculated liabilities.

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Think tank: Further talks between state, AFSCME would be waste of time

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 2, 2016

The state's largest public employee union is calling for Gov. Bruce Rauner to continue negotiating after talks were declared to be at an impasse earlier this month, but further talks with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) would be pointless, an attorney for a Chicago-based think tank said recently.

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Illinois jobless rate ticks up, despite 2,200 jobs added

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 2, 2016

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) recently released the latest data on the state's unemployment rate and job growth, and although 2,200 new jobs were created, the unemployment rate increased to 5.6 percent.

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Project Six CEO calls for 42nd Ward alderman to release board of ethics opinion

By Karen Kidd | Dec 2, 2016

Chicago's former legislative inspector general refuses to back down from comments made by Alderman Brendan Reilly (42nd), saying the new government watchdog group CEO did a great disservice to Reilly’s resigned zoning staffer, who had been lobbying for the company.

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CPS insider: District can, won't close dozens of empty, near-empty schools

By Karen Kidd | Dec 1, 2016

Dozens of Chicago public schools remain open for political reasons, despite being nearly empty, according to a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) insider familiar with facility operations who spoke with Chicago City Wire.

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Trump's success with Latino voters focus of Chicago Young Republicans event

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 1, 2016

Chicago residents can gain an insider’s view of how President-elect Donald Trump won Latino votes with guest speaker Steve Cortes, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday at O'Callaghan's in Chicago, 29 W Hubbard St., second floor.

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Former state school employee Taylor paid in $42K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $555K in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state school employee Karen Taylor, who retired in November 2016, saved $42,094 toward a pension over 10 years working for public schools, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois records show.

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Former firefighter Alberts paid in $118K to pension fund, could collect $2.63M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former firefighter Richard Alberts, who retired in November 2016, saved $117,609 toward a pension over 23 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

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Former EMT battalion chief Collins paid in $252K to pension fund, could collect $5.15M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former EMT battalion chief John Collins, who retired in November 2016, saved $252,061 toward a pension over 36 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

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Former battalion chief Brennan paid in $260K to pension fund, could collect $4.92M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former battalion chief Patrick Brennan, who retired in November 2016, saved $259,873 toward a pension over 36 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

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Former state university employee Wallace paid in $132K to pension fund, could collect $3.04M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state university employee Arlene Wallace, who retired in November 2016, saved $132,137 toward a pension over 23 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

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Former EMT fire engineer Kwasny paid in $206K to pension fund, could collect $3.86M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former EMT fire engineer Richard Kwasny, who retired in November 2016, saved $206,094 toward a pension over 36 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

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Former teacher Laird paid in $109K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $1.91M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former teacher Tamara Laird, who retired in November 2016, saved $109,420 toward a pension over 21 years working for public schools, Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund records show.

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Former captain Stanley paid in $208K to pension fund, could collect $4.84M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former captain Julius Stanley, who retired in November 2016, saved $208,491 toward a pension over 39 years working for fire departments, Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago records show.

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Former teacher Hidalgo paid in $128K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $2.81M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former teacher Lillian Hidalgo, who retired in November 2016, saved $127,656 toward a pension over 32 years working for public schools, Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund records show.