Read the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: The pandemic left election officials scrambling for judges in March. But extra pay and a law that allows younger workers has them optimistic about Nov. 3.
As the coronavirus pandemic began to take hold in Illinois in the days before the March 17 primary, hundreds of poll workers backed out and left local election authorities scrambling to staff polling places.
The pandemic is still going strong heading into the general election. But officials in the state’s 108 election jurisdictions have had months to prepare and, with Election Day just over three weeks away, several in the Chicago area expect to be in better shape than they were in March.
Chicago Sun-Times: As Pritzker pushes no-knock warrant ban, Chicago police allow them but tightened search rules
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he wants to ban no-knock search warrants in Illinois, but Chicago police officials say they rarely conduct those kinds of raids and have revamped their search-warrant policy as part of a risk-management evaluation.
Pritzker announced his proposed reform this past week in reaction to the no-knock warrant for drugs that led to the fatal shooting by police of Breonna Taylor in March in Louisville, Kentucky. Taylor’s boyfriend, who said he didn’t know it was the police, shot an officer during the entry into the apartment, and Taylor was killed when officers returned fire.
Crain's Chicago Business: 2020 is giving Chicago condo sellers a headache
In the week ended Sept. 26 and most of the eight weeks prior, 1,000 or more condos came on the market in Chicago, according to data posted Oct. 5 by the Chicago Association of Realtors. The exception was the week before Labor Day, when 911 condos came on the market.
Chicago Sun-Times: Alsip Mayor John Ryan: On second thought, he still wants a pay raise but a smaller one
After coming under fire for pushing for a big pay raise he’d get if he’s reelected, Alsip Mayor John D. Ryan says he’s OK with a smaller salary increase.
He wanted mayoral pay to increase from $75,000 a year to $85,000 starting after next spring’s election, in which he’s planning to seek reelection.
Belleville News-Democrat: Here’s how the coronavirus economy has affected the city of Belleville’s finances
The city of Belleville’s revenue is down about $580,000 because of the coronavirus’ disruption to the economy this year, but employee furloughs, layoffs and other budget cuts have kept the city from going into deficit spending.
When the virus first hit the economy in the spring, city officials feared the drop in revenue could hit $1.5 million. But revenue loss did not reach that estimate and most of the 56 employees who were furloughed in May have been able to return to work. Eight part-time library workers were recently laid off and four part-time city employees and three full-time employees remain on furlough.
Daily Herald: Amid legislative push to eliminate them, Palatine seeks new red-light camera contract
Despite attempts by some lawmakers to ban red-light cameras, the village of Palatine — like others across the suburbs — plans to continue using them, although it has solicited proposals from vendors rather than automatically extending its latest contract.
The cameras have worked well for the village, lowering traffic crashes and increasing safety, Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen said. They’ve also brought in millions of dollars in revenues earmarked for the police department, particularly its traffic unit.