The push is on for Illinois legislators to advance some form of pension reform to address what proponents say are shortfalls in Tier II pensions.

Illinois implemented Tier II pensions with fewer benefits in 2011. Former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed that measure. Tuesday, he said it brought savings.

Chicago risks being held in contempt of court if Mayor Brandon Johnson insists on slashing spending and staff integral to the Chicago Police Department’s court-ordered reform push, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul warned this week.

In a letter to Johnson dated Tuesday and obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, Raoul expressed “grave concern” about cuts targeting CPD units responsible for implementing sweeping changes mandated in a federal consent decree.

Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump.

A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats.

After months of warnings about the “fiscal cliff” facing transit agencies when COVID-19 relief money expires, Metra leaders provided a stark hypothetical Wednesday.

“The number we are throwing around mathematically is a 40% reduction of service to meet the budget hole in 2027,” Executive Director Jim Derwinski told board directors at a meeting.

The Pekin City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday to keep the 1% state-instituted grocery tax set to expire on Jan. 1, 2026.

Illinois was one of a handful of states that instituted the 1% grocery tax with the Jan. 1, 2026, sunset that also allows cities to implement their own replacement version of tax either on groceries or a general sales tax without needing to do a referendum.