Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois' migrant health care subsidies projected to be $300 million over budget
Illinois will pause a program intended to provide taxpayer subsidized health care to the influx of non-citizen arrivals. The program is already up to $831.6 million in projected taxpayer costs.
As part of the state’s fiscal year 2024 budget that began July 1, Gov. J.B. Pritzker modified the state’s health benefits for immigrants programs to only cover those over 65 for a total budgeted amount of $550 million. There would also be co-pays paid for by the enrollee and cost-sharing measures paid for by the service provider.
Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor Brandon Johnson hints at return of guaranteed income program
A program that provided direct cash assistance to 5,000 Chicago residents in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic could return to City Hall.
In recent remarks to reporters, Mayor Brandon Johnson said he would like to bring back a version of the Chicago Resilient Communities Pilot, though he did not provide figures for how much it would cost or how the program would work.
Chicago Tribune: Low-income Metra riders could see fares slashed, as pilot program that cut fares in south Cook County ends
Transportation authorities are looking to test a new program next year that will offer half-priced Metra fares to low-income residents, as a pilot program that lowered fares on South Side Metra routes is set to end.
The new program, which could begin in February, would allow all state residents eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a federal income-based program, to apply for reduced-priced fares. It is expected only to be offered to Metra riders, and would not apply to riders of the region’s other two transit agencies, Pace and the CTA.
WTTW: Police Union, Johnson Reach Deal to 2-Year Contract Extension with Bigger Raises, Bonuses for Cops
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Friday that negotiators had reached a deal to extend the contract for Chicago’s more than 10,000 police officers for an additional two years with an agreement that includes bigger than expected raises and bonuses, as well as changes city officials said will reduce murders and crime on public transit.
The deal, which must be approved by the Chicago City Council, resolves the issues left over from the contract agreement reached by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot in July 2021 that ended the longest union negotiations in the city’s history.
Capitol News: Gun laws, scholarship tax credits, nuclear energy – but not new spending – on table for veto session
When lawmakers return to the Capitol next week for their annual fall veto session, they have a full agenda, including a handful of vetoes from Gov. JB Pritzker to consider overriding, in addition to deciding whether to revive a private school scholarship program.
But additional state spending is unlikely to be on their agenda, according to recent comments from both the governor and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.