Illinois News Network

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CRS's simple message

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The Community Renewal Society (backed by SEIU) paid IPI a visit today urging Illinoisans to support the Fair Tax and reminding passers-by that "to whom much is given, much is required." 

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Illinois state universities want to keep your income tax increase

Illinois state universities seem to be advocating to keep the state's "temporary" income tax increase. 

The universities said losing a projected $1.5 billion in revenue would mean less teachers, more classes taught by adjunct professors, fewer courses and lowered graduate program assistance. It would also stunt poorer students ability to get degrees and encourage students to attend schools in other states.

Despite an increase in tuition over the past years, public universities say they're still having problems paying for daily operations.

Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard told the senate appropriations committee that "Our tuition has doubled over the last several years at our institution as well as most others. We had to make up for that loss of state funds and these families just can't afford it. The average family income in southern Illinois is $36,000 a year," he said.

Read the full story from the Northwest Herald

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Moody’s downgrades Chicago’s bond rating again

"Moody’s Investors has dropped Chicago’s bond rating another notch, citing “massive and growing unfunded pension liabilities” that “threaten the city’s fiscal solvency” without “major revenue” and budget cuts “ in the near term” and for years to come."

"Eight months after ordering an unprecedented triple-drop in the bond rating, which determines city borrowing costs, Moody’s dropped Chicago’s bond rating again — this time from A3 to Baa1 with a negative outlook."

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United enforces bag size limit

The Chicago-based United Airlines is cracking down on passengers who try to bring over-sized carry-on bags on their flights. 

"United says there is no change in policy — just a campaign to improve passenger awareness" according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Some passengers are complaining that this is just another way for the airline to collect more fees, but United says it's an attempt to speed up the boarding process.

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Early voting for the March primary begins today

The Chicago Tribune notes that early voting for Illinois' March 18 primary election begins today.

If a ballot is requested by March 13, voters can vote by mail if they will be out of town on election day.

The rest of the story is here.

Photo via the Chicago Tribune.

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Childcare moms help pay high union bills

Jackson Adams' latest at ILnews.org chronicles a mother who is being forced to pay union dues for running a daycare out of her home - something she has done for 25 years.

“There was no option to say we didn’t want a union,” Laura Baston said.

Apparently the state's policy has put many such mothers and families in the same place; taking money out of their pockets in order to pay for union representation they'd rather not have.

Read the full story here.

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Illinois Senate looking at online gambling to increase revenue

The State of Illinois' continued fiscal woes has caused lawmakers to look for new ways for the state to generate revenue.

The initiative is led by Senate President John Cullerton, who has been pushing for decreasing online gambling restrictions in the state for several years. Now the issue is being discussed in the Senate Executive Committee.

CINewsNow.com reports that Pat Quinn has remained consistently opposed to the idea.

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4 Illinois companies among Fortune's 50 Most Admired

Four Illinois-based companies made Fortune Magazine's annual 50 Most Admired - a list of the most loved companies from around the world. 

McDonald's landed the highest at 22, followed by Boeing at 26, Caterpillar at 33, and Deere at 46.

Apple took the number 1 spot.

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Convicted terrorist worked as an Obamacare navigator in Illinois

"A terrorist from Jordan briefly worked as an Obamacare navigator in Illinois while authorities remained unaware of her conviction for involvement in a deadly grocery store bombing and two other attacks" according to a report from National Review Online.

Rasmieh Yousef Odeh was convicted in Israel  for her role in several bombings in that country in the 1960's and 1970's - some of which resulted in the death of innocent bystanders. 

"The Illinois Department of Insurance quietly revoked Odeh’s certification as a Navigator In-Person Counselor on November 24, explaining in a disciplinary report that the decision was “based on an investigation which revealed that she had been convicted in Israel for her role in the bombings of a supermarket and the British Consulate in Jerusalem and failed to reveal the conviction on her application.”"

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Head of the DCFS resigns after legally troubled past comes to light The Sun-Times has the story: "The acting chief of the state’s child welfare agency has resigned after a series of Sun-Times and WBEZ stories about his theft conviction and paternity case."

Mr. Bishop submitted his resignation to Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday. It takes effect tomorrow.

"Bishop cast the stories about his misdemeanor theft conviction and paternity case as political distractions."

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School teachers vote to boycott ISAT As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times: "Teachers at a Little Village school will refuse to administer an annual state achievement test next week, a move that could ultimately cost them their jobs."

"About 40 teachers at Maria Saucedo Elementary Scholastic Academy voted unanimously Tuesday to boycott the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, said Sarah Chambers, a special education teacher at the school. She spoke outside the school, which was surrounded by supportive parents, students and fellow teachers."

“This ISAT test is absurd,” Chambers said. “It is not tied to anything — it’s not used in promotion, it’s not used in graduation, it’s not used for leveling of the school.”

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Did Chicago defraud taxpayers of $55 million?

"As examples of flagrant government waste and careless handling of taxpayer dollars, they don’t come much bigger than this."

"A report by Illinois Auditor General Bill Holland says a $55 million program to curb inner-city violence in Chicago — hastily announced and implemented in late summer 2010 — became a sieve through which money passed virtually unchecked to countless groups and individuals."

Read Reboot Illinois' story here.

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Star Wars creator donates big bucks to University of Chicago

George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson have donated $25 million to the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools to support the construction of a new arts facility, reports the Chicago Tribune. 

"This brings the couple's commitment to Chicago institutions to at least $50 million since marrying last year. They also have pledged $25 million to the education charity After School Matters, catapulting them into the upper ranks of the city's philanthropists."

"Hobson's connection to the Laboratory Schools is personal. The founder of the firm where she has spent her career, John Rogers Jr., is chairman of the school's board and an alumnus. He approached her about making a gift."

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Legislating the kill button

The stolen smart phone: one of the most annoying inconveniences in tech life. 

Temporarily cut off from the world, victims must shell out hundreds of dollars for a replacement. The lucky ones are eligible for a cheaper upgrade. 

These phones, of course, often end up on the black market, wiped and reprogrammed for the next customer. Swipe a phone, make a few hundred dollars. It's a pretty enticing option for those with sticky fingers.

So, how do you stop it?

State Senator Toi Hutchinson has proposed legislation mandating a "kill switch" for any phone sold in the state of Illinois that would wipe the phone, making it unavailable for use. Phone providers would not be allowed to charge extra for device's addition. 

Will it cut down on stolen phones? Or will the black market find a way once more to subvert the new challenge?

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Prices up, sales down in Chicago housing market

"Sales of single-family homes and condos fell 8.9 percent last month in the Chicago area compared with a year earlier. At the same time, the median price rose 17.8 percent to $164,900 in the nine-county Chicago area, the Illinois Association of Realtors reported Friday."

"In the city alone, sales were off by 9.1 percent but the median price surged 27.9 percent to $200,750."

“Severe winter weather and seasonal trends definitely affected sales in January,” Realtors president Phil Chiles said. “Despite diminished traffic from buyers, prices remained robust and indications are that they will continue to show strength as we enter the spring selling season.”

The Sun-Times has the rest of the story.