Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois sues TikTok for its harmful business practices targeting children
The state of Illinois is going after another social media company.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that Illinois is joining 13 other states in a lawsuit against the social media platform TikTok. The lawsuit claims TikTok includes design features that they say make children addicted to the platform. Joining the lawsuit were California, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, Vermont and Washington.
The Chicago Tribune: CPS, teachers union set sights on special property tax districts to plug schools’ budget hole with different visions
The sharply-divided leaders of Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union seem primed to unite around one broad solution to solve the school district’s budget woes: tax increment financing revenue.
Both CPS CEO Pedro Martinez and CTU leadership urged city officials this week to use TIF revenue — property tax dollars collected to spur economic development projects — to help cover the district’s major budget stressors, including the cost of non-teacher pension payments and a still-under-negotiation contract with teachers.
Chicago Sun-Times: Acero charter school plans to close 7 schools, blindsiding parents, teachers —'They did not inform us'
Families and educators were left reeling Wednesday night after Acero charter schools leaders voted to close seven of their 15 schools next year during a board of directors meeting.
The schools are: Casas, Cisneros, Fuentes, Paz, Santiago and Tamayo elementary schools and Cruz K-12, Acero leaders announced at the meeting, which was held at Acero Clemente Elementary in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood.
The Daily Herald: St. Charles wants to extend life of special taxing district
St. Charles wants to extend the life of its First Street tax increment financing district so revenue from the district can continue to be used to repay the city for money it borrowed to fund downtown redevelopment.
If the TIF district expires as scheduled at the end of 2025, the city will have to pay the entire cost of the outstanding $24 million debt.
Peoria Journal-Star: Peoria unveils $282 million budget proposal for 2025. What to know as negotiations begin
The Peoria City Council got their first look at city staff’s $282 million budget proposal for 2025.
The proposal consists of millions of dollars for roads, stormwater, sewers and a plan to fully fund the city’s pension obligations for 2025. Inside the budget is a $65.8 million community investment plan. It would see $17.9 million go towards roads; $15.1 million for stormwater; $14.9 million for sewers and $7.6 million for vehicles, technology and cybersecurity.