August, 2016 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Sangamon County Finance Committee considers travel requests, new hires

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 24, 2016

At a recent meeting, the Sangamon County Finance Committee considered several proposed travel requests, new hires.

Lincoln Library Board to discuss Summer Reading Program

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 23, 2016

The Lincoln Library Board of Trustees will discuss its Summer Reading Program at its next meeting 4:45 p.m. Wednesday at the library, 326 S. Seventh St.

Sherman Public Library Board set to approve new personnel policy

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 23, 2016

The Sherman Public Library Board will discuss and approve a new personnel policy at a special meeting 6 p.m. today at the library.

Sherman Village Board considers Capital Improvement Plan bids

By Philip Gonzales | Aug 23, 2016

At a recent meeting, the Sherman Village Board discussed and considered submitted contract bids for the Capital Improvement Plan Project.

Pleasant Plains School District 8 Board discusses athlete-concussion protocols

By Philip Gonzales | Aug 23, 2016

At a recent meeting, the Pleasant Plains Community Unified School District 8 Board discussed concussion protocols when student-athletes sustain head injuries.

Ball-Chatham School District Board presents tentative fiscal 2017 budget

By Philip Gonzales | Aug 23, 2016

At a recent meeting, the Ball-Chatham School District Board presented a tentative fiscal 2017 budget.

Rauner urges GOP to fight Democratic Party 'machine'

By Karen Kidd | Aug 22, 2016

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner urged Republicans to take on the nefarious governmental force he called "the machine" and deprive the Democrat Party of its supermajority in the General Assembly.

Size of Illinois' labor force drops for third straight month

By Karen Kidd | Aug 22, 2016

Illinois’ unemployment rate is down slightly in large part because of a decline in the state's labor force, according to a recent press release and a spokesman for the state's Department of Employment Security.

Comptroller Munger pleased with ‘no budget, no pay’ policy

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 22, 2016

Ever since Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger instructed payroll personnel last spring to make politicians wait for paychecks along with other state vendors, resistance has failed to deter her from that stance, and she recently has revised her "no budget, no pay" policy.

Rauner: Mapping ballot measure may suffer term limits' fate in high court

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 22, 2016

No one knows which way the state's Supreme Court will rule on the pending Independent Map Amendment ballot measure, but the litigation could face the same fate as previous rulings about term limits, Gov. Bruce Rauner recently told reporters.

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Rauner: Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation will fund overdue renovations

By Karen Kidd | Aug 22, 2016

After taking rhetorical shots at the Democrat-controlled General Assembly, which he said blocked state-backed legislation, Gov. Bruce Rauner, as part of Ag Day recently at the State Fair, announced the formation of a private Illinois Fairgrounds Foundation to do what the failed legislation would have done.

Second week of Olympics adds to Illinois medal count

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 22, 2016

It was another successful week for athletes from Illinois at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, as our participants hit the medal stand in six different events.

No Democrats yet to pledge to NoMoreMadigan

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 19, 2016

Mike Strick, Republican candidate for District 84 in the Illinois House of Representatives, recently asserted that his NoMoreMadigan pledge has been garnering some positive responses among voters and candidates these past few weeks.

School districts' pension 'pickups' cost students and taxpayers

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 19, 2016

The practice of the "pickup" -- where school districts pay some, if not all, of teachers' contributions into their own retirement pensions -- could leave Illinois' educators, students and taxpayers high and dry.

Springfield’s Transportation Improvement Program draft awaits public input

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 19, 2016

The public is invited to review and submit comments on a draft version of Springfield’s Transportation Improvement Program, covering Sangamon County, Springfield and the Village of Chatham for fiscal years 2017-20 from now until Sept. 15.

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Sangamon County working to be state's first Certified Work Ready Community

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 19, 2016

Through its innovative “Work Ready Sangamon" program, Sangamon County announced recently that it may soon become Illinois’ first jurisdiction to achieve Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC) status in affiliation with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Sangamon County Civil Liabilities Committee to get budget update

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 18, 2016

The Sangamon County Civil Liabilities Committee will receive a budget update at its next meeting 5:15 p.m. today in Room 201 of the County Building.

Sangamon County Public Health, Solid Waste, Zoning Committee to OK requisitions

By LocalLabs News Service | Aug 18, 2016

The Sangamon County Public Health, Solid Waste and Zoning Committee will approve requisitions at its next meeting 6 p.m. today.

Illinois GOP campaign targets longtime Democrats' grip on power

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 18, 2016

The Illinois Republican Party launched digital ads this week to highlight disproportionately lengthy tenures of Illinois' leading career politicians, including State House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Dist. 22) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), following “disastrous” decisions made recently in Springfield by the General Assembly.