Latest News from Chicago City Wire

Harmon donates $100 to Friends of Dorothy Brown

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 12, 2016

Friends of Dorothy Brown has received $97,707 in contributions in 2016 from 198 donors.

Lombardo donates $500 to Friends of Anita Alvarez

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 12, 2016

Friends of Anita Alvarez has received $547,030 in contributions in 2016 from 365 donors.

Morris donates $100 to Friends of Genita C. Robinson

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 12, 2016

Friends of Genita C. Robinson has received $69,278.90 in contributions in 2016 from 126 donors.

Jones donates $250 to Citizens to Elect Willie B. Cochran

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 12, 2016

Citizens to Elect Willie B. Cochran has received $33,150 in contributions in 2016 from 43 donors.

BGA to hold citizen watchdog training workshop at DePaul

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 12, 2016

Anyone wishing to become a citizen watchdog can attend the Better Government Association’s (BGA) free public training session 5-7 p.m. Jan. 12 at DePaul University, 14 E. Jackson Blvd., Room 1137, in Chicago.

Analysis: Pension-fund fine against charter schools part of systematic oppression

By Karen Kidd | Dec 12, 2016

Slapping charter schools with $1.8 million in fines for being late on pension-fund payments is exactly the opposite of how the state should be treating such educational programs, a Chicago-based journalist said during a recent conservative radio talk show.

Trump threat against 'sanctuary' cities could cost Chicago over $3 billion in aid next year

By Kathy Adams | Dec 12, 2016

The City of Chicago could lose billions in federal aid in 2017 if President-elect Donald Trump carries through on his plan to deny funding to communities that do not help deport illegal aliens, the Better Government Association said.

Dems called on to end Madigan's reign as House speaker

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 12, 2016

“If America is two countries, Illinois is two states,” the Peoria Journal Star said recently in an editorial, censuring House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and attributing the state’s “abysmal” financial status to continued ineptitude and duplicity in the General Assembly.

Election losses have taken some shine off Madigan's rose, analyst says

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 12, 2016

Voting for state Rep. Mike Madigan to serve yet another term as House Speaker may be more difficult for Democrats this time, according to the screenwriter for a documentary about the Chicago Democrat.

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Advocacy group: Income-related student-success gap in state persists

By Carol Ostrow | Dec 11, 2016

Chicago-based independent education advocate Advance Illinois, which compiles data for its annual “The State We’re In” report, recently released its newest findings on the state’s education statistics, illuminating an achievement gap in need of rebalancing.

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'Illinois Rising' hosts rip self-satisfied Chicago City Council's budget

By Karen Kidd | Dec 11, 2016

Two Chicago-area talk radio hosts offered a bitterly comical take on City Council's celebration of its recently passed balanced budget, saying some serious issues weren't mentioned the day it passed.

Professor: Alderman needs guidelines for lobbyist allegedly acting as chief of staff

By Hoang Tran | Dec 11, 2016

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly should set clear parameters if he is to continue to employ registered lobbyist Madeleine Doering, University of Illinois Professor Dick Simpson said.

Rauner outlines details for second stopgap budget

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 9, 2016

Gov. Bruce Rauner took to social media this week to lay out his terms for another stopgap budget.

Proposal would replace pensions with 401(k)-style plans for new public hires

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 9, 2016

With Illinois' state pension liability 17 percent more than it was last year, the vice president of a Chicago-based think tank recently said that 401(k)-style plans for public employees would go a long way toward easing the pension crisis.

Illinois loses 10,000 manufacturing jobs in past year

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 9, 2016

The manufacturing industry in Illinois continues to show job losses, despite October's net gain of 1,600 jobs.

Report: State's pension debt soars 17 percent to $130 billion this year

By Chicago City Wire | Dec 9, 2016

Already struggling under a multi-tiered fiscal burden, Illinois taxpayers are now confronting incontrovertible evidence of serious fiscal setbacks in their state as a new report revealed staggering amounts of pension debt and escalating red ink.

U of I rejects sanctuary-campus calls; City Colleges of Chicago on board

By Chicago City Wire reports | Dec 8, 2016

On Tuesday, the University of Illinois System rejected calls from students and activists to declare its three locations “sanctuary campuses," but only five days prior, the City Colleges of Chicago Board of Trustees adopted a formal resolution declaring itself a “welcoming campus” for students and employees who are in the country illegally.