Get the latest news from around Illinois.
National Review: The Chicago Political Machine’s New Blueprint for Power
The Chicago Teachers Union is cementing its place as Chicago’s new political machine. After handpicking Brandon Johnson, one of its own employees, to run for mayor, it funneled over $2.3 million into his campaign to ensure his election. Now it’s seeking billions of dollars in returns on that investment. A leaked copy of CTU’s 142 pages of demands shows that the union is looking to negotiate its most radical, expensive contract yet.
It’s a blueprint that’s likely to be replicated by other strong government unions if CTU succeeds: pour millions into a local election, then get billions’ worth of political gains through contract negotiations. Zero accountability or transparency required. Moreover, the union, through its collective-bargaining agreement, is forcing policy reforms that would otherwise have their merits debated and then voted on by the Chicago City Council or the Illinois General Assembly.
State Journal-Register: 'Only so much to go around': Spending demands mount as Illinois lawmakers craft budget
“Tight” is the term Gov. JB Pritzker and those within his office have used most frequently to describe the state’s budget in the upcoming fiscal year. Still, dozens of groups have barnstormed the Capitol in recent weeks with hopes to get a larger slice of a $52.7 billion pie.
In addition to addressing legislative priorities, lawmakers’ last week in Springfield before scheduled adjournment will key-in on budget negotiations. There, they’ll hold the precarious task of meeting demands of major players like the Chicago Bears with their new stadium and a $1 billion ask from the Chicago Teachers Union while trying to avoid a state deficit.
The Chicago Tribune: Chicago police, city officials appear to miss goals on meeting requirement to report and review when officers point their weapons
Five years after pledging to firm up recordkeeping on incidents where police officers point their weapons at people while performing their duties, the Chicago Police Department and other city officials appear to have fallen short of goals outlined in a federal consent decree guiding reform, the Tribune has found.
That consent decree calls for CPD officers to notify the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications each time they point a weapon at someone. OEMC is then required to notify the officer’s supervisor, and those records ostensibly are available to the public through the Freedom of Information Act.
WTTW: Chicago Police Department Consent Decree Set to Expand to Include Traffic Stops After Fatal Shooting of Dexter Reed
A federal court order requiring the Chicago Police Department to change the way it trains, supervises and disciplines officers is set to expand to include traffic stops, officials told WTTW News.
The move comes two months after four officers fired 96 bullets in 41 seconds during a West Side traffic stop, killing 26-year-old Dexter Reed.
WCIA: Illinois House passes bill to end wildlife killing contests
In February 2023, more than 400 coyotes were hunted in one weekend at a contest held by an outdoor equipment store in western Illinois. Winners received part of a prize pool of $15,000.
The Humane Society of the United States called this contest “an atrocity” and “a disgrace”.
Chicago Sun-Times: Brother of convicted businessman James Weiss pleads guilty to lying to FBI, IRS
Joseph Weiss, brother of convicted businessman James Weiss, pleaded guilty Monday to lying to the FBI and the IRS about James Weiss’ ties to the late Chicago mobster Frank “The German” Schweihs.
The charges against Joseph Weiss became public last October, revealing the alleged connection between his brother and Schweihs days before James Weiss was set to be sentenced.
The Daily Herald: Wheaton mayor: Apartment project expected to ‘move forward’ downtown
Wheaton leaders say they have awarded building permits to a developer planning to breathe new life into the south side of the downtown with a major residential project.
“We’re very confident that that project is moving forward,” Mayor Phil Suess said. “In fact, they’ve already taken out their building permits. So we do expect that project to move forward.”
NBC Chicago: Cameras, citations could be used to enforce parking bans on highways near O'Hare
Illinois lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow the Illinois Tollway to utilize cameras to help issue tickets for drivers who park their vehicles on the shoulders of highways near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The legislation, which passed both the Illinois House and Senate, would aim to increase driver safety near the airport and to discourage motorists from parking their vehicle on the shoulders near O’Hare.