Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Survey: Nearly half of small businesses couldn't cover June rent
A new survey shows that nearly a third of Illinois small businesses couldn’t pay their rent on time or in full in June, but conditions have improved.
The small business network Alignable survey shows that nationwide, 46% of small business owners reported rent difficulties, the highest delinquency rate since March 2021. Only 28% of small businesses said they have fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chicago Tribune: Push and pull between Chicago Public Schools, teachers union, school board and charter school advocates continues at annual budget hearings
As Chicago Public Schools attempts to eliminate a looming $505 million deficit and pass its proposed $9.9 billion budget for the coming school year, the district, the Chicago Teachers Union and education advocates presented competing priorities – and found some consensus – at public comment hearings Tuesday and Wednesday.
With an impending budget vote on the horizon, CPS said it would eliminate its budget shortfall by introducing cuts to academic and operational departments, identifying grants for additional funding and restructuring some of their debt in order to eliminate the deficit, while maintaining their goal of making funding more equitable across the district for the coming school year.
Chicago Sun-Times: Ahead of DNC, Brandon Johnson puts homeless on the street to make room for tent city occupants
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration is putting unhoused people back on the streets to make room for relocated tent encampment occupants who are being moved before the Democratic National Convention next month.
More than half a dozen people told the Sun-Times that they were thrown out or fear they are about to be ejected from a shelter in a former hotel off the Magnificent Mile — as city officials begin to clear a highly visible tent city abutting the Dan Ryan Expressway.
The Daily Herald: Des Plaines to spend $134 million to replace lead pipes
Des Plaines officials plan to spend $134 million over 20 years replacing water service lines made from lead or galvanized steel.
The city council on Monday voted to make the city responsible for the cost of replacing those potentially dangerous pipes on private property, which previously would’ve been a property owner’s responsibility.
WCIA: Decatur Public Schools bans student phone usage
Decatur Public Schools has a new policy with their cell phones.
After discussions at multiple meetings, the Decatur Public School Board of Education has voted to ban cell phones as a part of the new Electronic Devices policy for all students during the school day. All students will have to keep their phones and other devices in their locker or a location designated by the students’ teacher.
The Center Square: Illinois is setting the stage to use federal funding to provide broadband service statewide
Now that the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Illinois’ proposal for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, implementation is underway.
The approval enables the state to request access to funding for the BEAD program.
Central Illinois Proud: Dunlap’s Board of Education approves multi-million-dollar training facility
At Wednesday’s board of education meeting at Dunlap High School, an $8.5 million training facility project was officially approved.
A 42,500 square foot indoor training facility called the Dunlap Training Center will be built at the corner of Legion Hall Road and Cedar Hills Drive, on the high school campus.