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* Illinois Answers Project | Greising: The Challenge to Erase Illinois’ $140 Billion in Pension Debt: So it often goes in Illinois: Well-intended efforts to fix the state’s pension problems somehow run aground. Even so, Pritzker and others in state government have not given up. And civic groups are stepping into the breach, introducing ideas that could lead to a permanent fix for a pension problem that has dogged the state for more than a generation.
* WAND | Illinois could address problematic video gambling, underage customers buying alcopop: The Illinois Gaming Board hopes the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules will approve a policy to deter video gambling addiction. Gambling terminal operators could be required to provide signs with information for customers seeking help with problematic gambling.
* Shaw Local | Simpson announces Illinois Statehouse campaign: Shabbona Village Trustee David Simpson has announced he is running as a Democrat for state representative in Illinois’ 74th District as he seeks to fill the seat currently held by first-term incumbent Republican Bradley Fritts.
* Metropolis Planet | Windhorst seeking re-election: “I believe my constituents are best served when their conservative values are heard in Springfield and when I can stand in the way of radical liberal legislation to ask tough questions and point out flaws in bills,” Windhorst said. “In my position as Floor Leader, I help to organize and direct debate on key bills and that means greater representation of the values of the people that I serve.”
* Sun-Times | Facing ethics questions, city Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin pauses Congress bid: The allegations include questions about whether Conyears-Ervin asked staff to run personal errands and whether she leaned on a bank to issue a mortgage for the building housing the aldermanic office of her husband, Ald. Jason Ervin (28th). There are also questions about why the treasurer’s office made a $100,000 confidential settlement with employees.
* Tribune | Chicago Ethics Board defends handling of Melissa Conyears-Ervin allegations, referred case to inspector general: The allegations against Conyears-Ervin and the lack of resolution highlights central weaknesses in the city’s internal system to mete out accountability. The Board of Ethics is hamstrung by a lack of investigative power and instead must rely on the IG’s office, which generally operates in secrecy until it releases quarterly reports.
* WBEZ | Is the worst behind us? What unemployment data for metro Chicago indicate: In recent months, however, the industry appears to have rebounded. Restaurant-related unemployment has been below 4% in six of the eight months between December 2022 and July 2023. And the region’s estimated number of workers in that industry topped 340,000 in July 2023, the highest such figure since June 2019.
* Sun-Times | Comptroller candidate grilled, then approved, by City Council committee: Exhibit “A” for Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) were comptroller-designate Chasse Rehwinkel’s own social media posts after campaigning for three candidates who want to reduce the Chicago Police Department’s $1.94 billion-a-year budget: U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill.; Ald. Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez (33rd), running for ward committeeperson; and state Sen. Graciela Guzman.
* Block Club Chicago | Chicago’s ‘Migrant Camps’ Will Be Modeled After New York City’s Tent Shelters: Even behind closed doors, mayoral officials did not specify locations but “have places they’re working on, and talking to leaders in those communities first,” Hadden said.
* Tribune | Chicago City Council set to vote on $25 million payout to 2 men wrongfully convicted in murder of Chicago basketball standout: In 2016, Tyrone Hood and Wayne Washington independently of each other sued the city, alleging police, including then-Detectives Kenneth Boudreau and John Halloran, fabricated evidence and coerced testimony to win murder convictions in the May 1993 killing of Marshall Morgan Jr. The Tribune reported last month about a tentative deal to settle both lawsuits simultaneously for a total of $25 million, pending approval by the City Council.
* Tribune | Two ex-DCFS workers go on trial for child endangerment in murder of 5-year-old AJ Freund in Crystal Lake: McHenry County State’s Attorney Patrick Kenneally argued that the two were “lazy and heartless,” saying they were, “two criminals who didn’t give a damn.”
* Tribune | Migrant mother charged with felonies over bathroom dispute with Chicago police speaks out: The migrant mother from Venezuela who was arrested Saturday after allegedly blocking traffic and scuffling with police said the confrontation began when police officers wouldn’t allow her to bring her 3-year-old child into the public bathroom inside the Southwest Side police station. “I was desperate,” Dayrelys Coy, 21, told the Tribune Monday. “All the children and women needed to use a clean bathroom.”
* AP | Illinois appeals court to hear arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions: If the appeal before the Chicago-based First District Appellate Court fails, Smollett would have to finish a 150-day stint in jail that his trial judge ordered during his 2022 sentencing. Smollett spent just six days in jail before his release pending the outcome of the appeal. A ruling is expected to take several weeks.
* Crain’s | Chicago groups take part in ambitious bid to cure cancer: Crain’s health care reporter Katherine Davis talks with host Amy Guth about the Chicago biotech companies and health systems involved with President Joe Biden’s “cancer moonshot” project.
* Sun-Times | Chicagoans to be told this week where they can receive free updated COVID-19 vaccine: The new vaccine is specifically created to cover all current strains of COVID-19. ‘We already have the vaccine in Chicago,’ said Dr. Geraldine Luna, medical director for the Chicago Department of Public Health. ‘We are just waiting for the CDC to make their final recommendations before we begin the rollout.’
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 7:34 am
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Is it the Better Government Association that has lately sounded like Illinois Policy when discussing pensions? That Illinois Answer project doesn’t have much details so far but sounds like same old same old…also overlooks the fact Illinois was making extra pension payments pre-covid money.
Comment by DTownResident Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 8:27 am
David Greising.
“And a controversial codicil in the state constitution … .” Codicil definition: “A codicil is an addendum of any kind to a will.” The Constitution of 1970 isn’t a will.
“I have come to believe pension reform can be accomplished without a constitutional amendment.” No comment necessary.
How about a reference to the funded ratio?
To quote Lt. Col. Kilgore: “These people never give up!”
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 9:14 am
The Illinois Answers pension article is more of an opinion piece than straight reporting.
One tell is that they are working with the Tribune, a completly anti-pension organization.
Another is the use of phrases like: “An extraordinarily generous state retirement package”
Really? Generous in itself is an opinion statement. Extraordinarily generous is a confession of bias.
Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 9:20 am
“”Is it the Better Government Association that has lately sounded like Illinois Policy..?”
Lately?
Comment by walker Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 10:48 am
“Chicagoans to be told this week where they can receive free updated COVID-19 vaccine”
Probably the arm.
Comment by bhartbanjo Tuesday, Sep 12, 23 @ 3:17 pm