Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Legislators say disabled workers could be fired if sub-minimum wage is ended
Illinois House Bill 793 would require adults with disabilities to receive minimum wage. State legislators and CCAR Industries, a non-profit who’s mission is to enhance the quality of life of East Central Illinois citizens with developmental disabilities, are against the bill.
State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said under federal law there’s a waiver for minimum wage because the productivity of someone with certain disabilities isn’t the same as someone who has full-cognitive abilities.
The Chicago Tribune: State of the Union: What to watch as Biden addresses the nation
The State of the Union speech is one of the biggest pieces of political theater every year. It’s rooted in a simple requirement in the U.S. Constitution that directs the president to “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” But in modern times, it’s a televised extravaganza where every detail is carefully scrutinized.
Here’s how to watch and what to look for during Thursday’s address by President Joe Biden.
Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago’s search for new revenue targets video gaming, wealth taxes, heliport, downtown digital ads
A City Council subcommittee overseeing the search for new revenue will report back in 30 days with ideas that include video gaming, expanded helicopter service to and from O’Hare and Midway airports and turning vacant downtown retail space into a haven for digital advertising.
Freshman Ald. William Hall (6th), Mayor Brandon Johnson’s hand-picked chair, also warmed to possibly leveling the tax playing field between the haves and have-nots by seeking legislative approval for a city income tax on salaries over $100,000 earned in Chicago or taxing stock holdings and personal liquid assets of wealthy residents.
The Daily Herald: Why EV charging could soon cost more in Des Plaines
People who drive electric vehicles soon could have to pay a little more to charge them in Des Plaines.
The city council this week tentatively approved a new fee formula for city-owned charging stations. A final vote is expected at the council’s March 18 meeting.
The Center Square: Industry expert: More than doubling sports gambling tax will have negative impact
An industry expert says Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal to increase the sports betting tax by 20% could cause ripple effects in the industry.
If approved by the legislature, the tax for sports book operators would go from 15% to 35%, one of the highest percentages in the country. If enacted, the higher tax would take effect July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Pritzker’s office estimates it could generate $200 million in increased tax revenue.
Capitol News: State commission says Illinois underfunds public universities by $1.4 billion
A state commission created in 2021 has issued a new report calculating that public universities in Illinois are underfunded by approximately $1.4 billion.
The Commission on Equitable Public University Funding is made up of 34 members, including legislators, representatives from public universities, and members of advocacy organizations.