Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois’ gas tax hike: It’s going to hit more than motorists
The state’s doubling of the gas tax on Monday was evident at gas pumps last weekend, as motorists lined up to top off their tanks.
But the increase in the state’s motor fuel tax — from 19 cents a gallon to 38 cents — will hit a lot of consumers, not just those who own vehicles. Businesses are just now working through how they’ll pay for it, but the early read is that, like most things, their increased costs of doing business will trickle down to customers.
Crain's Chicago Business: Here comes a huge road project to make it easier to get to O'Hare
Right now, the only road into the airport for most users, from the east along Interstate 190, at times becomes one long traffic jam, with congestion and confusion about when to turn where spilling over onto Mannheim Road and other thoroughfares.
WTTW Chicago Tonight: Illinois Taxes Goods. But What About Services?
It may feel like Illinois, and Chicago in particular, already take a cut of everything and anything that can be taxed – come January, Illinois will even begin to tax rented parking. But in reality, Illinois skips some significant potential sources of tax revenue: There’s no tax on retirement income, for one, and the state taxes only a handful of services (most are utility-related).
That may change.
Chicago Tribune: Judge gives extension to Ald. Edward Burke’s attorneys to file pretrial motions
Lawyers for longtime Ald. Edward Burke were given an extension Tuesday on when to file pretrial motions in the sweeping corruption case alleging Burke abused his City Hall clout for personal gain.
Dressed in a gray pinstriped suit adorned with a white pocket square, Burke, 75, said nothing during the brief hearing before U.S. District Judge Robert Dow.
Chicago Tribune: Emanuel administration quietly extended scrap shredder’s North Side permit for 3 years
During the waning days of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s time in office, his administration quietly awarded a three-year extension to a clout-heavy scrap shredder with a long history of pollution problems on the city’s North Side.
At least three city departments handed out new permits shortly after a member of the family that owns General Iron Industries sued his mother and brother, accusing them of ignoring environmental hazards and refusing to share information related to the company’s bid to sell its properties along the Chicago River between the Lincoln Park and Bucktown neighborhoods.
Chicago Sun-Times: Inspector general says millions in commercial driveway permit fees slipping through city’s fingers
Before asking beleaguered Chicago taxpayers to cough up even more of their hard-earned money, Mayor Lori Lightfoot knows she must wield the budget ax and make certain the city is collecting all the revenue it’s owed.
She might want to start with driveway permits.
Peoria Journal-Star: State pays $4.7 million to struggling independent pharmacies
Nearly $5 million has been sent to independent pharmacies in Illinois who are caught in a financial squeeze of inadequate reimbursements for filling Medicaid prescriptions.
Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s office said Tuesday it has sent $4.7 million to more than 70 independent pharmacies under the Critical Access Pharmacy program. The bulk of those pharmacies are located in downstate Illinois.
Daily Herald: Is Lake County Board rethinking support for Route 53 extension?
After years of campaigning that resulted in no real action, the Lake County Board is softening its support for a northward extension of Route 53.
Revisions proposed for the board’s strategic plan call for the panel to “evaluate and consider alternatives” to the long-stalled Route 53 extension.