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Daily Southtown: For state workers, a special holiday come vote time
Once upon a time, Illinois state workers took better perks in exchange for lower pay.
Today is different. The perks remain, but Illinois state workers are now the highest-paid state workers in the nation after adjusting for cost of living. Most are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
One of those perks will fall on Tuesday.
That day, many Illinois voters will head to the polls during their lunch break, before work or after sunset. Some will have already cast their votes.
Greg Hinz: Illiana Corridor whacked again in federal court
A federal judge has stuck another knife into the just barely alive proposed Illiana Corridor.
In a decision released Nov. 1, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Norgle used terms such as “invalid” and “no longer effective” to describe a Tier 2 environmental impact statement prepared on behalf of the project by the Illinois Department of Transportation and its Indiana counterpart.
IDOT had hoped to forestall a ruling. But Norgle held the EIS no longer is valid because of prior court action, so there is no controversy to consider.
Sun-Times: CPS principals in line for about $3 million in raises
Chicago Public Schools announced $3 million in raises to school leaders the same week that its teachers ratified their new $9.4 billion contract.
Emailing principals and assistant principals on Wednesday — shortly before the Chicago Cubs started their final game of the World Series — district officials announced graduated salary raises for principals averaging 3 percent each this year — as low as 1.5 percent but as high as 7.4 percent depending on experience. That’s according to a CPS presentation obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.
CBS: Governor Rauner Proclaims Nov. 4 ‘World Champion Chicago Cubs Day’
Governor Bruce Rauner announced Thursday that Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 will be marked as “World Champion Chicago Cubs Day” across Illinois in celebration of the Cubs’ historic World Series win.
“The Cubs winning the World Series is bigger than baseball. It is especially meaningful for the generations of Cubs fans who have stood by this team, through thick and thin, for the last 108 years,” Gov. Rauner said. “I’m a North Sider. I was born a few blocks from Wrigley Field, and I remember watching the Cubs every summer on Channel 9. We have been through every emotion with this team. To see this historic win, to see the players lift the Commissioner’s Trophy, that’s a moment for all of us. This is a celebration for past and present fans along with all the Cubs’ legends who never gave up hope.”
Sun-Times: CPS will increase budget $55 million this year
Chicago Public Schools will spend about $55 million more this year than originally budgeted on a teachers contract reached just in time to avert a strike, district officials said Wednesday.
The total cost of that four-year contract, which took nearly two years to settle, is $9.45 billion, according to CPS officials.