Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Judicial redistricting added to campaign contributions as concerns ahead of high-profile Illinois cases
Attention on judicial integrity has been raised with the focus on $2 million in campaign contributions Gov. J.B. Pritzker made to two Illinois Supreme Court justice candidates who won in November. The court hears cases next week. In one high-profile case, Pritzker is a top defendant.
Pritkzer downplayed his $1 million donation to each of two then-supreme court candidates who are now on the bench of seven. He gave half a million from each of his political campaign and his revocable trust to Supreme Court candidates Mary O’Brien and Elizabeth Rochford. That’s despite the governor signing into law last year limiting contributions to such campaigns to $500,000 from single individuals.
Chicago Tribune: Mayoral rivals keep their differences mostly issue-focused as they disagree over taxes, vouchers and charter schools at women’s forum
Mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson differed on taxes, schools and the privatization of public resources during a robust forum Saturday largely dedicated to women’s issues.
Perhaps the most spirited exchanges between the two were over how to raise money to fund programs and the fallout over governments privatizing services.
Chicago Sun-Times: Vallas’ and Johnson’s pension, property tax plans underwhelm fiscal experts
Candidates in the runoff race for Chicago mayor are trying to convince voters they will keep their pocketbooks a priority if elected, as growing property taxes and the city’s pension crisis cast long shadows across the campaign trail.
WTTW: Chicago State University faculty begin strike vote ahead of possible walkout
Faculty and staff at Chicago State University have begun a vote to determine whether they’ll go on strike following months of contract negotiations.
The CSU University Professionals of Illinois announced its membership is taking a strike authorization vote that will last from Wednesday until Friday. If workers do opt for a work stoppage, the union’s bargaining team could then call a strike.
CBS Chicago: Illinois foster children are being moved repeatedly from one place to another, and traumatized
More than 60,000 foster children have been stuck in a vicious cycle of moving from one place to another – four, 10, 20, and even more homes and institutions.
Children often suffer trauma as they constantly start over with new caregivers, communities, schools, and friends. Their paths should have been different.
Chicago Sun-Times: It’s not Madigan’s trial, but the feds’ big upcoming case is all about the former speaker
Michael J. Madigan will likely never step foot in the federal courtroom where four former political power players are about to face trial, accused of trying to bribe the longtime Illinois House speaker to benefit ComEd.
Daily Herald: Pritzker donation raises concerns of partisan influence on school board races
With significant financial support from Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Illinois’ Democratic Party is getting involved in contests for school and library board seats this spring to combat what party officials call “really extreme candidates,” including some backed by conservative groups.
Pritzker’s campaign committee, which has been nearly entirely self-funded by the billionaire governor, made a $500,000 donation to the state Democratic organization Feb. 27, Illinois State Elections Board records show.
WCIA: Public safety officials spark fight over Illinois bill legalizing ground sparklers
Firefighters and other public safety officials across the state are against a new bill that would loosen Illinois’ strict fireworks laws.
Illinois’s fireworks and pyrotechnics laws are one of the strictest in the nation. A new bill would expand the list of items not covered by the law to include “handheld or ground-based sparklers that are non-explosive and nonaerial that contain 75 grams or less of pyrotechnic composition per tube or 500 grams or less for multiple tubes”.