Get the latest news headlines from around Illinois.
WFLD: Cook County Jail population drops with more electronic monitoring
The population at the Cook County Jail has dropped below 8,000 for the first time in years due to more detainees being sent home on electronic monitoring.
The number of detainees at the jail recently fell to 7,999, according to a statement from the Cook County sheriff’s office.
Sun-Times: Rauner urged to take a stand against Trump sanctuary city threat
A pair of influential aldermen demanded Friday that Gov. Bruce Rauner “stand up for Chicago” and against President-elect Donald Trump’s first 100 days promise to cut off federal funding to so-called “sanctuary” cities.
Ald. Danny Solis (25th), former chairman of the City Council’s Hispanic Caucus, and Ald. Ameya-Pawar (47th), chairman of the Asian-American Caucus, said they are particularly concerned because Rauner tried last year to temporarily block the flow of Syrian refugees into Illinois in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Sun-Times: City races to nab $1.1 billion for CTA before Obama departs
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will ask the City Council to meet in special session on Nov. 30 to authorize a transit tax-increment financing district in the race to nail down $1.1 billion in federal grants to modernize the CTA Red Line before President Barack Obama leaves office.
City Planning and Development Commissioner David Reifman described the timing as “threading a needle” because the city must take two actions on Nov. 30 to secure federal funding and authorize a new TIF that will stretch along the Red Line from North Avenue to Devon.
The Southern: Gov. Rauner wants work on budget to continue next week
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Friday he hopes Illinois lawmakers resume work to end an epic budget standoff next week when they return to Springfield for a brief session and not just focus on trying to override his vetoes.
The Republican governor said he wants to meet with legislative leaders Monday to discuss how to proceed, but Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan hasn’t responded. Madigan’s spokesman didn’t immediately respond to calls for comment.
Illinois hasn’t had a budget in more than 16 months, resulting in cuts to social service providers, some of whom have shut down altogether. Higher education institutions are receiving less funding than they have in the past and face an uncertain future.
Chicago Tribune: Cullerton and Rauner, be the adults in Springfield — speaker a lost cause
We’ll take Senate President John Cullerton at his word that he is ready to work with adversaries — he didn’t name Gov. Bruce Rauner, whose fellow Republicans grabbed two seats from Cullerton’s still-solid Democratic majority — and advance policies to improve Illinois.
We’ll also take Rauner at his word that he will strive for unity: “This has been a long, grueling campaign cycle, both nationally and locally. For the good of the people of Illinois, let’s … come together and focus on the future of improving the quality of life for every family in our state,” the governor said.
Northwest Herald: Metra to auction vehicles, other items
Metra on Thursday announced that an online auction of its surplus materials and other items will begin Monday, with more than 14 surplus vehicles to be sold.
This is the first time the agency has used an online auction to generate revenue after a test auction was successfully conducted last month.
Metra will be using online auctions to sell used vehicles, heavy equipment and tools, railcar parts and other surplus items as they become available throughout the year. Used railcars also are expected to be sold through an online auction in the future.