Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: Illinois has the worst unemployment rate of all states
Illinois continues to struggle with unemployment as new numbers show the state is dead last out of the 50 states.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released updated unemployment numbers for the 50 states and Washington D.C. The list shows where each state was during September.
Chicago Tribune: Will Cook County voters back higher taxes for forest preserves?
The Forest Preserve District of Cook County, long-maligned by a reputation for mismanagement and politically motivated hiring, is taking a gamble on the November ballot: It’s asking voters to hike their own property taxes to give the district an annual budget boost of $40 million.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and her hand-picked Superintendent Arnold Randall unveiled a revamp of the district in 2014, but a tax hike was deemed a political non-starter after decades of damaging headlines. Most focused on sweeping patronage accusations (later curbed by court monitoring), but also neglect and financial mismanagement as well as smaller-scale scandals, such as an aquatic center where workers pocketed payments and gave minors alcohol.
Chicago Sun-Times: Police oversight commission holds special meeting on proposed CPD budget
The Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability held a virtual meeting Monday night, questioning Chicago’s top cop and other department brass on the proposed police 2023 budget.
The interim commission is charged with reviewing and commenting on the Chicago Police Department budget before a City Council vote. Mayor Lori Lightfoot revealed her budget this month. In the proposal, the Chicago Police Department’s budget would increase from $1.88 billion to $1.94 billion.
Daily Herald: 'We're going to fight against it': District 15 says it'd challenge a Bears tax-financing district
Opposition to a tax increment financing district for the proposed Chicago Bears redevelopment at Arlington Park is growing, with the school district that would be most affected already raising concerns to Arlington Heights officials.
Palatine Township Elementary District 15 Superintendent Laurie Heinz said that if the special taxing mechanism is implemented — where property taxes above a certain level would be diverted away from schools, as well as other taxing bodies, and into the Bears’ proposed mixed-use project — the district would need financial assistance to add classroom space to schools in nearby Rolling Meadows, or potentially even build a new school within the 326-acre site.