Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Measure to increase Illinois' rainy day fund passes committee
Illinois lawmakers are looking to address issues within the state’s rainy day fund, which currently could pay down only 11 days worth of bills at the comptroller’s office.
House Bill 2515 would set up automatic deposits into the budget stabilization fund, also called the state’s rainy day fund, from future budgets if the state keeps up with bill payments. The transfers would be triggered when the accounts payable from the general fund is estimated to be less than $3 billion, and the governor has estimated growth in general revenues of over 4%.
Chicago Tribune: Which Chicago mayoral candidate received the most votes in your ward?
Though Chicago election officials called voter turnout in Tuesday’s election sluggish — an estimated 32% of registered voters cast a ballot at the polls, during early voting or through the mail — two mayoral candidates emerged as front-runners.
Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson will face former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas in an April 4 runoff to determine who will become the city’s 57th mayor.
Chicago Sun-Times: Former Cook County official Patrick Doherty sentenced to more than five years for bribery, tax evasion
The former chief of staff for disgraced Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski is the latest public official sentenced to prison in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe targeting Chicago’s south suburbs.
WGN: Finalists for Chicago mayor layout their plans for city’s future
Chicagoans have just five weeks to choose a new direction for the city. On Day 1 of the runoff, the contrasts between the two finalists, Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson, were sharp.
“People want a problem-solver and that’s what I am,” Vallas said.
“I’m going to be the mayor for the entire city of Chicago,” Johnson said.
Chicago Tribune: Voters place 62 on new Chicago police councils
Chicago voters elected 62 people Tuesday to serve on the city’s first civilian police oversight councils, most of whom were supported by the National Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression.
Another eight winners were endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police.
WTTW: Incumbent Chicago City Council Members Hang On, as 14 Races Likely Headed to Runoffs
Just one member of the Chicago City Council lost their bid for a full four-year term on Tuesday, another sign that the power of incumbency remains a powerful force in Chicago politics.
After being appointed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to replace former Ald. George Cardenas, 12th Ward Ald. Anabel Abarca lost to community organizer and social worker Julia Ramirez, who won more than 56% of the vote, according to unofficial returns from the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners.