Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Sun-Times: City Council approves Lightfoot’s $11.6 billion budget — with 11 ‘no’ votes
Former Mayor Rahm Emanuel pitched a shutout in his first big game on a new field, even though his first city budget doubled water and sewer rates, raised city sticker fees, hotel and parking taxes and closed three district police stations.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s 2020 budget goes easier on taxpayers, steers clear of a massive property tax increase, but had 11 “no” votes.
Crain's Chicago Business: Why are real estate investors avoiding Chicago?
Single-property commercial sales in the Chicago area fell to $7.7 billion in the first nine months of the year, down 33 percent from the same period in 2019, according to New York-based research firm Real Capital Analytics. It was the biggest drop among the top 25 U.S. markets, and much larger than the 6 percent decline for the nation overall.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago City Council approves Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to restrict vehicle impoundment, lower fines for illegal pot possession
The City Council approved Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s plan to reduce penalties and fines for people caught carrying pot in their car or using it in public in Chicago.
Chicago aldermen approved the mayor’s ordinance, which was introduced earlier this month, on a 45-5 vote Tuesday after robust debate in committee earlier in the week over whether police would still be able to impound drug purchasers’ vehicles during sting operations.
Chicago Sun-Times: Berrios bowing out? Ex-Democratic county chair could be giving up ward seat he’s held for three decades
He’s already a former Cook County assessor and a former Cook County Democratic Party chairman, and now Joe Berrios could be looking to add another political gig to the former list: the ward post he’s held for decades.
As of Tuesday, Berrios had not yet filed his nominating petitions to run for re-election for committeeperson of the Northwest Side’s 31st Ward, his base of power since 1987.
Chicago Tribune: Chicago City Council raises minimum wage to $15 by 2021, but restaurant servers still will get lower tipped wage
Chicago’s minimum wage will rise to $15 by 2021 and apply to youth, people with disabilities and other groups that historically have been paid less, but restaurant servers and other tipped workers will continue to receive a subminimum wage.
Chicago’s City Council on Tuesday approved a plan proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot that brings Chicago to $15 an hour, up from $13 currently, four years ahead of when the state is set to get to that threshold.
Chicago Sun-Times: Van Dyke leaves federal custody for a state prison outside Illinois
Convicted former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke is no longer in federal custody in New York and has been moved to a state prison outside of Illinois, officials tell the Chicago Sun-Times.
Illinois corrections officials would not disclose his location, but the Maryland Division of Corrections shows an inmate with Van Dyke’s name and date of birth is currently being held at the Maryland Reception, Diagnostic and Classification Center in Baltimore.