Charter School Parents, Students To Lobby State Lawmakers
Charter school advocates said at least 12 pieces of proposed legislation in Springfield would harm charter schools if approved.
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Charter school advocates said at least 12 pieces of proposed legislation in Springfield would harm charter schools if approved.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he's working hard to get state lawmakers to approve the pension deal that seems to have stalled in Springfield last week.
Gov. Pat Quinn outlined his case Wednesday for making Illinois' temporary income tax increase permanent, predicting "extreme and radical" budget cuts to schools and services without additional revenue.
Gov. Pat Quinn is expected to propose making Illinois' temporary income tax increase permanent in order to avoid massive budget cuts when he presents his election year budget address Wednesday, according to lawmakers briefed on his plans.
Actor Martin Sheen, Gov. Pat Quinn, and community activists gathered in the basement of St. Pius V Church at 1919 S. Ashland Av., where they urged the Illinois General Assembly to increase the state's minimum wage from $8.25 to at least $10 an hour.
Illinois State Board of Education Superintendent Christopher Koch had sought a $1 billion increase in his department's budget for next year. Instead, lawmakers have recommended a $1 billion decrease as part of a preliminary budget blueprint.
The House Labor & Commerce Committee heard testimony Wednesday from supporters of increasing the minimum wage in Illinois beyond the current $8.25.
Two of Illinois' strongest allies in fighting drunken driving were somewhat in disagreement a proposal to give drivers with four drunk driving convictions a chance go get their license back.
Chicago public employees and retirees have been descending on Springfield on Wednesday for a rally to protest the state's new pension reform law.
As 3-D printing technology grows more and more sophisticated, an Illinois lawmaker wants to make it illegal to use a 3-D printer to make firearms, or gun parts, unless you have a federal gun manufacturer's license.
Some of the proposals would make it easier to get a permit, while others would expand the list of locations where people would be allowed to carry weapons. Others would tighten restrictions.
The drop in revenue reflects an expected decrease in the state's income tax. The temporary hike is scheduled to drop from its current 5 percent to 3.75 percent next January.
The lawsuit, which follows others already filed by retirees, argues the pension bill approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Pat Quinn more than a month ago violates a clause of the state constitution that says pension benefits may not be cut.
With a 2011 state income tax increase set to expire at the end of the calendar year, the governor and Illinois lawmakers are facing a huge drop in state revenue, which would affect many social service groups that rely on the state for funding.
Eddie Winters, a candidate for the Illinois House of Representatives 10th District seat, filed the suit against former Alderman Ed Smith (28th), claiming Smith referred to him as a "wife-beater" who "failed to pay child support and leaves his kids starving."
The Illinois Legislature approved a historic plan Tuesday to eliminate the state's $100 billion pension shortfall, a vote that proponents described as critical to repairing the state's deeply troubled finances but that faces the immediate threat of a legal challenge from labor unions.
After more than five months of work, Illinois' legislative leaders announced Wednesday they've reached a deal to help solve the state's $100 billion pension problem, considered the nation's worst.
Opponents of legislation to legalize gay marriage in Illinois rallied Wednesday outside the state Capitol, one day after thousands held their own event to urge lawmakers to approve it.
Supporters of gay marriage in Illinois say now is the time for lawmakers to give it the okay, and headed to Springfield by the busload on Tuesday to deliver their message, but it remained unclear if there were enough votes in the House to send same-sex marriage legislation to the governor.
Illinois lawmakers will be back in Springfield tomorrow to start their fall veto session, and some issues important to Chicago officials could be among those high on the agenda, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
With lawmakers preparing to return to Springfield this week to address the state's most pressing issues, Senate President John Cullerton is suggesting the $97 billion Illinois pension shortfall isn't as dire as other top leaders contend.
Opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage are gearing up for another push in the Illinois Legislature.
Gov. Pat Quinn's appeal of a ruling that his veto of lawmakers' pay was unconstitutional will be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court.
His predecessor, state Rep. Tom Cross of Oswego, stepped down to run for state treasurer. Cross held the position for a decade.
Illinois schools that teach sex education will be required to provide information about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases -- not just abstinence.
Organizers for Lollapalooza are helping fund the next generation of headliners.
Edgar Quero hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 9-8 on Sunday in the rubber game of their first crosstown series this season.
A fire at the vacant old Balmoral Park racetrack in Crete, Illinois, sent smoke billowing over several south Chicago suburbs Sunday morning.
After more than 80 years, there will be no Ann Sather restaurant location in the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community, effective in June.
Two people were rushed to the hospital from the scene of a fire in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood early Sunday morning.
In a move aimed at curbing the growing problem of "teen takeovers," D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro is threatening to bring charges against parents if their teens violate the local curfew.
State Rep. Josh Turek and State Sen. Zach Wahls squared off Thursday over which candidate can flip Iowa's open Republican-held Senate seat, as millions in outside spending reshapes the primary's final stretch.
Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin say their concern is there may be more emergency exit doors than flight attendants in the event of an evacuation.
Ald. Jim Gardiner (45th) is suing the city of Chicago, its inspector general's office, and the Board of Ethics, accusing them of defamation.
The Supreme Court has maintained mail access to the abortion pill mifepristone, setting aside for now a lower court order that blocked abortion providers from prescribing the widely used drug through telehealth and shipping it to patients.
Chatham residents say they're losing a vital resource as Walgreen's prepares to close its store near 86th and Cottage Grove.
According to AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Chicago was $5.17 on Friday, up from $3.75 a year ago.
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Company customers are likely to see minor credits on their bills for the next three years, thanks to a $125 million settlement agreement announced Thursday by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Chicago gas prices are spiking as the war with Iran drags on, with regular gas nearing $6 in some spots and premium already selling for more than $7 in some places.
In the legal venue of anti-trust enforcement, the state is not taking on the Trump administration, but rather filling a void that state officials say the Trump administration has vacated.
At least 80 deaths have been reported in a new Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda, authorities said.
Engineers at Northwestern University have created a wireless polygraph to detect stress.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Wednesday announced an expansion to the city's CARE Program, a specialized team that responds to mental health crises without police.
A Texas couple is filing a lawsuit accusing the AI company of guiding their teenage son in using drugs, resulting in a fatal overdose.
An American on the repatriation flight began showing symptoms of hantavirus and another "tested mildly PCR positive for the Andes virus," the Department of Health and Human Services says.
After more than 80 years, there will be no Ann Sather restaurant location in the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community, effective in June.
Flight attendants at Chicago-based United Airlines have approved a new labor contract, marking their first pay increases in six years.
The Chicago Fire FC announced Wednesday morning that its new stadium in the South Loop will be named McDonald's Park.
U.S. prosecutors allege a man with multiple aliases used the name of the famed Astor family to scam a Mexican billionaire out of $450 million.
Thousands of people marched from the West Loop to Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago on Friday for May Day, with activists calling for workers' rights, stronger labor protections, and increased school funding.
The Chicago-born house music track, which began as a personal poem in 1982 and became a defining anthem of the city's house music scene, has been selected for permanent preservation by the Library of Congress.
The Library of Congress revealed this year's list of 25 recordings to be preserved for future generations on the National Recording Registry.
David Allan Coe also had hits with "You Never Even Called Me By My Name" and "The Ride" among others.
Some youngsters got a behind-the-scenes look at the magic of making opera Sunday at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Matt DeCaro, an actor who was a familiar face on the Chicago stage for many years, died this weekend.
Meteorologist Kylee Miller has your 5:30 p.m. First Alert Weather forecast for Sunday, May 17, 2026.
Organizers and local leaders say the event was meant to highlight the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Chicago.
Meanwhile, a drone attack on a nuclear facility in the United Arab Emirates has America’s Gulf allies on edge. Olivia Rinaldi reports.
Two Navy jets collided in midair, then plummeted to the ground at the air show southwest of Boise.
The Volo Museum in Illinois got a lot of attention for a speeding ticket from New York City for “K.I.T.T.” from “Knight Rider.” Now, the talking car, or at least the actor behind it, is proclaiming its innocence.
A woman appeared in court Sunday on charges that she stabbed her 2-month-old daughter to death in a home on Chicago's Southwest Side.
One person was killed and five others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on the Eisenhower Expressway in Chicago's western suburbs early Sunday.
A fire at the vacant old Balmoral Park racetrack in Crete, Illinois, sent smoke billowing over several south Chicago suburbs Sunday morning.
Organizers for Lollapalooza are helping fund the next generation of headliners.
After more than 80 years, there will be no Ann Sather restaurant location in the 900 block of West Belmont Avenue in Chicago's Lakeview community, effective in June.
Pothole complaints continue everywhere, but especially on one street in the Pullman neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
People in Lincoln Park and Lakeview have rallied against a plan to build a new industrial ComEd electrical substation in their neighborhoods, pushing local and state leaders to get involved.
Monday marks one year since Illinois enacted Karina's Law — legislation aimed at taking firearms out of the hands of people accused of domestic abuse.
Tenants at a South Shore apartment building said they've noticed their rent fluctuating by hundreds of dollars a month due to a change in how their utility billing system is set up.
A man from the Chicago suburbs lost $69,000 of his savings to a scam by a thief using an AI-generated U.S. Marshals badge to intimidate him.
Edgar Quero hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 9-8 on Sunday in the rubber game of their first crosstown series this season.
Murakami added his 17th homer in the fifth, a two-run shot to center off Jameson Taillon that traveled an estimated 428 feet.
Chris Brady had six saves for Chicago and has six shutouts this season.
Carson Kelly hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning and drove in four runs as the Chicago Cubs stopped a five-game White Sox winning streak with a 10-5 victory over their crosstown rival.
Randal Grichuk hit a two-run homer and drove in four runs, leading the Chicago White Sox to a 6-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
A court hearing was held Sunday for a woman charged with stabbing her 2-month-old daughter to death in a home on Chicago's Southwest Side.
A motorcyclist was found with a gunshot wound on the Eisenhower Expressway on Chicago's West Side Saturday night.
The ages of the victims range from 19 to 55, according to Chicago police.
A Davison Township police chief released body camera video showing how a senior "water wars" prank brought an officer within milliseconds of opening fire on a student.
A man was found shot to death Thursday morning in Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood.
