Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Democrats create migrant working group Republicans say should be made public
Illinois House Democrats are forming a working group to address the ongoing migrant crisis impacting the state. Republicans say it needs to be made public.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, said the migrant crisis “provides challenges and opportunities that require thoughtful engagement and consensus building.”
The Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign returns contributions improperly accepted from city contractors
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign fund has returned dozens of contributions totaling more than $50,000, including money given by city contractors after his 2023 election — in violation of city ethics rules.
The Chicago Sun-Times published a story Nov. 10 raising questions about the contractor contributions — which are barred for sitting mayors under an executive order enacted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel in 2011 and still in effect — as well as potentially improper contributions from city lobbyists.
Chicago Tribune: Texas transportation company sues Chicago for migrant bus restrictions
A Texas transportation company is suing Chicago over rules the city put in place to restrict unscheduled buses carrying asylum-seekers.
The lawsuit filed by Irving-based Wynne Transportation earlier this month accuses the city of violating federal and state law with its restrictions on what Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration has referred to as “rogue buses.”
FOX 32 Chicago: Chicago White Sox reportedly considering new stadium in South Loop
There is talk of a new sports stadium in Chicago, and it’s not for the Bears.
The Sun-Times reported on Wednesday night that the White Sox are in “serious” talks to build a stadium in the South Loop, providing a prime site for South Side baseball.
The Center Square: Pritzker touts early childhood education funding
Preschools in Illinois are expanding in some areas due to the $250 million taxpayer-funded Smart Start Program.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the Smart Start Program looks to make early childhood daycare and preschool more accessible for families throughout the state. The program is run by the Illinois State Board of Education, which hopes to add 5,000 seats in certain areas. However, on Wednesday, Pritzker said the state had exceeded that number.
The Daily Herald: Rolling Meadows could owe Arlington Heights $1 million over taxes received in error
Rolling Meadows may have to pay Arlington Heights more than $1 million in misallocated sales taxes from Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, following a recent state appeals court’s opinion.
In a 2-1 decision issued Friday, the First District Appellate Court reversed a lower court’s decision that initially dismissed Arlington Heights’ lawsuit seeking more than eight years’ worth of back taxes.
The Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Brandon Johnson pushes the deadline back again to move migrants out of shelters
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is once again pushing back its deadline for moving migrants out of shelters after they’ve stayed for 60 days, extending it to Feb. 1.
It’s the second time the deadline has been extended in the face of frigid temperatures. The Johnson administration initially delayed its 60-day limit on shelter stays to next week, with about 650 migrants expected to have to leave shelters then.