Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois facing growing housing crisis as property taxes continue to increase
Illinois now ranks as the least affordable state for housing in the Midwest, with 1 in 3 households paying more than 30% of their income for housing as property taxes continue to rise.
U.S. Census Bureau data analyzed by the Illinois Policy Institute also shows that at least 15% of households pay upwards of 50% of their income for housing, rendering them by federal standards as “severely burdened.” At the same time, data shows that the typical homeowner’s property taxes have jumped by $756 since 2019, leaving the state home to the second-highest rates in the country.
Chicago Sun-Times: DNC protests planned over Gaza, other causes, one organizer saying, 'People feel betrayed by the Democratic Party'
Chicago protesters have marched against Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza every weekend since last October. But the task of organizing those protests has been difficult while leaders witness the daily violence from Israel’s attacks, including the killing or maiming of their own family or friends.
“We’ve been struggling,” said Deanna Othman, a board member with the Chicago chapter of American Muslims for Palestine. “Nobody expected this to last this long.”
The Chicago Tribune: Parking meter deal violation could cost Chicago over $100 million
Chicago’s much-maligned parking meter privatization deal could soon be costing the city even more money.
Chicago Parking Meters, the private company with a monopoly on the city’s paid street parking, filed a lawsuit in April asking the court to enforce an arbitration panel’s ruling that determined the city twice shorted the company under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
CBS Chicago: Former Harvey school official pleads guilty to stealing $1.5 million of chicken wings
A former Harvey School District director pleaded guilty to stealing $1.5 million worth of chicken wings.
Vera Liddell, 68, was charged with theft and operating a criminal enterprise.
The Daily Herald: Bringing home Olympic wins: How suburban athletes fared in the Paris Games
As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games drew to an end Sunday, Team USA led the overall medal count with 126, 35 more than China. The United States tied China with 40 gold medals.
From Olympic veterans to those making their debuts, 12 local athletes helped contribute to Team USA’s effort. Here’s how they fared:
The Center Square: Lawsuit: Illinois ‘Worker Freedom of Speech Act’ violates employers’ free speech rights
The Liberty Justice Center filed a First Amendment lawsuit to challenge a recently enacted Illinois law that would prohibit companies from holding mandatory meetings where “religious or political matters” are discussed.
Liberty Justice Center Senior Counsel Jeffrey Schwab explained that political matters as defined in the law extends to discussions surrounding policy changes or regulations.
Capitol News: The government spends millions to open grocery stores in food deserts. The real test is their survival.
More than 100 people congregated in the parking lot of Rise Community Market on its opening day a little over a year ago. As they listened to celebratory speeches, the audience erupted into joyful exclamations: “Mercy!” “Wonderful!” “Wow!” “All right!” Colorful homemade signs raised by local leaders beckoned the crowd to join in: “We!” “Are!” “No!” “Longer!” “A!” “Food!” “Desert!”
For most American cities, the opening of a new grocery store barely warrants a mention. But in Cairo, the government seat of Illinois’ poorest county and the fastest-shrinking one in America, business openings are rare. And for residents who for years had to travel long distances to buy food, it was a magical moment.
WCIA: ‘It’s Showtime’: State officials cut the ribbon to open Illinois State Fair
The cutting of the ribbon marked the official start of the 171st Illinois State Fair.
“A full year of dreaming, planning and hard work comes down to this,” Rebecca Clark, the state fair manager, said during a press conference Thursday. “We are proud to be an economic engine for our state and local economy and one of the last getaways for families before the start of a new school year.”