BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is asking its federal counterpart for more time to assess damage form early-winter floods that struck nearly two dozen counties. The Belleville News-Democrat ( bit.ly/1V4hHcw ) reports that the state agency is seeking to extend the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Friday deadline for damage assessments until…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – President Barack Obama returns to his political birthplace Wednesday with a plea to the Illinois Capitol for “better politics.” But his message will fall among the acidic word-war that has stifled Springfield for nearly a year. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, Democrats who control the Legislature, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Efforts to overhaul Illinois’ school funding formula again face long odds in the spring legislative session, despite calls to address the matter urgently. Many lawmakers say it will be tough to get support to fix the formula because current proposals call for some districts to lose money. They also point out…
CHICAGO (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner has used his executive powers to create a privately run and funded economic development agency that he says will “jump-start” job growth. The first-term Republican signed an executive order Wednesday establishing the Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation. It’s a nonprofit group the governor, a former private equity investor,…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Anyone under 18 who’s caught with electronic cigarettes or other tobacco-free nicotine products would face a fine or community service under a new Illinois law. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation last week that imposes penalties for minors who possess e-cigarettes. State Sen. Julie Morrison sponsored the measure. The Deerfield Democrat says…
( KTRS ) Illinois Democratic Senate President John Cullerton says he’s delaying a funding bill for colleges in the hopes that Gov. Bruce Rauner will reconsider his threat to veto it. Democrats last week approved a $721.5 million to be split between community colleges and tuition grants for low-income students who qualify for the Monetary…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency is coming to Illinois to help assess damage from early-winter floods that struck nearly two dozen counties. Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday vowed to “do everything possible to help people and communities” affected by the late December and early January flooding. FEMA will work with its…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Democrats have approved $721.5 million for tuition grants and community colleges, but Republicans call it an empty promise because the state still doesn’t have a budget. The funding measure sent to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner Thursday allocates $324.4 million to community colleges for operating costs and $397.1 million to the…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will propose fixing the state’s underfunded pension system and eliminating what he says is wasteful bureaucracy in public schools during his State of the State address. The Republican governor is delivering his second State of the State speech Wednesday with no budget and mounting pressure over the…
CHICAGO (AP) – A statewide coalition plans to launch a social media campaign to press Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration to expand the medical marijuana pilot program to more patients. The Cannabis Patient Advocacy Coalition says its campaign will include short video testimonials from Illinois residents. It kicks off Monday with an Iraq War veteran…