Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Special interest groups and Democrats push to enhance pension benefits
Several special interest groups, including the Illinois Education Association, are pushing to enhance benefits across the state’s entire Tier 2 pension system.
Illinois enacted a second tier of benefits for public employees hired after 2011. The change was meant to reduce retirement benefits for newer employees and help shore up the state’s unfunded pension liability, which stands at $140 billion more than a decade later.
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Johnson spends $8.6 million on nine-month ShotSpotter deal — more than entire past year’s cost
Mayor Brandon Johnson is spending $8.6 million to extend the city’s controversial deal with ShotSpotter for nine final months — shelling out significantly more than the city paid for the entire past year of service.
Johnson announced last week the city planned to shut down the gunshot detection system after the historically violent summer months and the Democratic National Convention, making good on a key campaign promise.
The Chicago Tribune: FBI investigating Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard while Illinois attorney general orders her charity to stop soliciting donations
A charity organized by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has been told by the Illinois attorney general’s office to stop soliciting or accepting contributions, and that it must register with the state.
Separately, a law enforcement source confirmed federal authorities, including the FBI, are conducting an investigation targeting Henyard. The source said the probe has included recent interviews by investigators both inside and outside of Dolton, but is in the early stages and no charges have been brought.
National Review: Chicago Education Board Moves to Pull Cops from Schools
Dozens of Chicago high schools that continue to employ school-resource officers to protect students and staff from violence will no longer be allowed to do so under a plan coming before the far-left city’s education board this week.
The “Resolution to Create a Comprehensive Whole School Safety Policy,” which is on the board’s Thursday meeting agenda, would prohibit the 39 city schools that continue to utilize school-resource officers from continuing to do so next school year.
Crain's Chicago Business: Conservative policy group launches push against transfer tax measure
A statewide conservative think tank is launching an effort to swat down the city’s March 19 ballot referendum on raising the transfer tax on $1 million-and-up property sales to raise money for anti-homelessness efforts.
The Center Square: Retailers push back on Pritzker's proposal to cap sales tax credit they claim
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal includes going after Illinois retailers’ earnings, something that is not sitting well with industry officials.
Retailers receive a discount of 1.75% of the sales tax they collect from sales as reimbursement for collecting taxes for the state. Pritzker wants to cap the claim at $1,000 a month. His administration said the move would raise about $101 million for the state and $85 million for local governments.
The Daily Herald: Board of Review member says panel’s decision to increase Arlington Park property about ‘fairness’
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner George Cardenas is defending his vote that would increase the value of the former Arlington International Racecourse site by nearly $30 million.
If approved, the value would still be lower than what the Cook County assessor’s office set earlier this year.
WCIA: Champaign city council approves new intersection cameras, discusses downtown revitalization
The Champaign City Council passed several measures at their meeting Tuesday night, including planning downtown upgrades and approving the Police Department to buy new intersection cameras.
Council members voted to accept a state tourism grant to beautify parts of downtown. Champaign Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen thanked Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) for helping secure the grant.