Get the latest news from around Illinois.
The Center Square: California, New York, Illinois incomes decline in first time since 2009
America’s three largest Democratic states, along with Rhode Island, Mississippi, Louisiana and the District of Columbia experienced income declines in the last year while the nation as a whole saw incomes rise by 2%. New York incomes suffered the worst, declining 1.6%, while California incomes declined the least, at just 0.2%.
These figures come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s revised numbers for 2022, which also reduced national growth from 2.1% to 1.9%, a cut in reported growth of roughly 10%.
Chicago Sun-Times: Small steps, slight delay for key parts of Johnson’s progressive agenda
Three key items on Mayor Brandon Johnson’s progressive to-do list inched ever so slowly forward Wednesday despite opposition or parliamentary maneuvers aimed at derailing them.
The City Council held a public hearing on Johnson’s revised plan to raise the real estate transfer tax on high-end home sales to generate $100 million in annual revenue. That money would be used to combat homelessness.
Chicago Tribune: Mayor Brandon Johnson to visit U.S. border as migrant crisis worsens
Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Wednesday he will visit the southern U.S. border imminently, as city predictions that buses from Texas would spike to new heights were turning true.
In a post-City Council meeting news conference Wednesday afternoon, the mayor said Chicago was now expecting at least 14 — and as many as 22 — buses that day and delivered a promise: “I am going to the border as soon as possible.” He did not specify when.
WTTW: NASCAR to Return to Chicago for 2024 Race, Mayor Announces
NASCAR will once again transform the streets of downtown Chicago into a racetrack, with the Chicago Street Race returning to Grant Park on July 6-7, 2024, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced Wednesday.
Johnson waved the green flag after race officials agreed to reduce the time it will take to set up and take down the race by a total of six days — four days before the race and two days after the race.
WGN: Lawsuit filed against city to end inhumane conditions for Chicago residents, migrants
At least two South Shore residents filed a lawsuit demanding the city to put an end to creating inhumane conditions for Chicagoans and migrants.
The group filed the suit back in May when hoping to prevent the former South Shore High School from being turned into a shelter for asylum seekers. Instead, the group wants to make sure the former high school is either reopened or used for community purposes only.
WBEZ: Toni Preckwinkle pitches a $9 billion Cook County budget with no new taxes, fees or hikes
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is pitching an optimistic $9.14 billion budget for next year: no new taxes, fees or hikes of any kind, and no layoffs of government employees.
Among her priorities, Preckwinkle is bracing to pay more to help provide medical care for thousands of asylum seekers arriving in Chicago. And she plans to tap about $166 million in reserves to continue some programs the county created with federal pandemic relief dollars after that lifeline runs out in a few years.