Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Chicago’s homicide rate up; Black residents are 77% of victims
Chicago-area residents are now three times more likely to become a homicide victim than they are to be struck by lightning. That has Violence Interrupters Executive Director Tio Hardiman primed for battle.
“The best thing we can do is sort of reconnect with all the young people we were working with before the pandemic,” Hardiman told The Center Square. “You cannot change the circumstances young people live in, but you can help change the way young guys think about resolving conflicts. You don’t have to pick up a gun every time you get into an argument.”
Chicago Sun-Times: Johnson’s plan to declare record $434M TIF surplus threatens plans to transform LaSalle Street office buildings into residential use, City Council members say
Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to use a record tax increment financing (TIF) surplus threatens to deprive developers of the subsidies they need to transform LaSalle Street office buildings into residential use, downtown City Council members warned Wednesday.
Alderpersons Bill Conway (34th) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) sounded the alarm about the future of the city’s “LaSalle Street Reimagined” plan during Wednesday’s budget hearing.
Chicago Tribune: CTA unveils $2 billion budget that aims to draw back riders, address employee shortages
The CTA is planning no changes to fares in its 2024 budget, as it looks to continue drawing back riders from pandemic lows and to address employee shortages that have left the agency struggling to provide frequent, reliable train and bus service.
Agency officials said they plan to add back service in the coming year — after cuts from pre-pandemic levels — but the budget contained few details about when or how they plan to do so. CTA spokesman Brian Steele said the specifics of how service will be added will depend on hiring.
Daily Herald: Batavia schools, Aurora plan to sign casino revenue deal
The Batavia school district would receive some of the increased property taxes generated by the proposed new Hollywood Casino when it opens in northeastern Aurora, under an agreement the school district and the Aurora City Council are contemplating.
The city is planning to create a new tax increment financing district for the casino, which will be built on Farnsworth Avenue near Bilter Road. Normally, any additional property tax revenue in a TIF district is devoted to paying for the work done that increased the value of the land.