March, 2017 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Rochester ranked 708th in state in lottery ticket sales

By Local Labs News Service | Mar 20, 2017

The village of Rochester had the 708th highest lottery ticket net sales statewide per capita for the month of May 2016 -- up 46 spots from its April ranking.

Spaulding ranked 818th in state in lottery ticket sales

By Local Labs News Service | Mar 20, 2017

The village of Spaulding had the 818th highest lottery ticket net sales statewide per capita for the month of June 2016 -- down 41 spots from its May ranking.

Group wants to shoot down gun bill

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 20, 2017

A conservative group known as Yes I'm Right is blasting pending Illinois legislation it says gives the state too much power to revoke citizens' Second Amendment rights.

Illinois GOP accuses Mendoza of hypocrisy on state's debt

By Michael Carroll | Mar 20, 2017

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza’s announcement last week that the backlog of bills in the state has reached $1,000 per resident smacks of hypocrisy, an Illinois Republican Party spokesman said.

Law firm critical of state's process for appointing IWCC members

By Ruth de Jauregui | Mar 20, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner followed the rules when he named Deborah Simpson and Lenore "Elizabeth" Coppoletti to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) recently, but a Chicago law firm decried what it sees as a "secret" process that leaves the public out of the picture.

Businesses bemoan possible minimum wage hike

By Hoang Tran | Mar 20, 2017

A minimum wage increase could force businesses to falter, neighborhoods to fall apart and skilled workers to flee the state, a group of opponents to raising the wage argued in front of an Illinois House panel recently.

Rauner creates jobs site to offset impact of potential AFSCME strike

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 19, 2017

To thwart potential economic issues for union workers in the face of a possible impending large-scale AFSCME strike, Governor Bruce Rauner recently launched a website intended to aid laborers should they forfeit their current jobs.

AFSCME leader presents inconsistent numbers from strike vote

By Mia Sims | Mar 19, 2017

A strike authorization vote by AFSCME members resulted in only 49 percent voting to authorize a strike, not the 81 percent of members that Executive Director Roberta Lynch announced at a press conference on Feb. 23.

High court to decide FOIA case against high school group

By Caitlin Nordahl | Mar 19, 2017

Whether the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is a government entity could decide the outcome of a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit filed against it.

Chatham's shallow response to FOIA request criticized

By Michael Carroll | Mar 19, 2017

A candidate's request to see emails about local water quality allegedly received by the Village of Chatham’s president was improperly rejected last month, the Edgar County Watchdogs said recently.

Illinoisans carry heaviest tax load, analysis determines

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 19, 2017

Making ends meet in the Prairie State is no walk in the park, according to a recent WalletHub analysis that said Illinois' combination of sales, property and income taxes is the nation’s highest.

Gardner ranked 124th in state in lottery ticket sales for June 2016

By Local Labs News Service | Mar 19, 2017

The Village of Gardner had the 124th highest lottery ticket net sales statewide per capita for the month of June 2016 -- up 51 spots from its May ranking.

Group acts as public buffer on streaming service tax

By Caitlin Nordahl | Mar 16, 2017

The Illinois Policy Institute won't sit back and watch as lawmakers consider imposing a statewide sales tax on internet streaming services.

Pritzker panel looking into gubernatorial run

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 16, 2017

Billionaire JB Pritzker has raised the stakes in the Illinois governor's race, establishing a panel to look into a possible run to oust Bruce Rauner.

NRA fires back at possible lead ammo ban

By Ruth de Jauregui | Mar 15, 2017

The National Rifle Association is asking members to call the Illinois Senate Environment and Conservation Committee ahead of a hearing on a bill that would ban lead ammunition in state parks and protected natural areas.

State lawmakers accused of questionable pay raises by committee

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 15, 2017

Illinois lawmakers are using a seemingly surreptitious way to give themselves pay raises: creating new and useless committees for which they are automatically paid an extra $10,326 as chairmen, a Chicago-based think tank is arguing.

NRA issues call to arms against anti-gun measures

By Carol Ostrow | Mar 14, 2017

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is calling for a blitz against bills that it says would sharply curtail legal firearms possession that will be presented in judiciary hearings in the Illinois General Assembly today.

Rauner urged to call AFSCME's 'bluff'

By Karen Kidd | Mar 13, 2017

Three conservative activists took to the airways recently to offer their support to Gov. Bruce Rauner's decision to seek replacement workers in advance of a possible strike by the state's largest public employee union.

Springfield schools board recognizes middle school basketball team

By Philip Gonzales | Mar 12, 2017

The Springfield Public Schools Board of Education met March 7 to recognize a middle school basketball team.

FOIA requests trigger ILETSB compliance

By Ruth de Jauregui | Mar 12, 2017

Edgar County Watchdogs reported in a recent issue of Illinois Leaks that Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests triggered Illinois Law Enforcement Training & Standards Board (ILETSB) non-compliance letters to be sent to 30 sheriffs.

Sangamon Sun

News from March 2017