Illinois Update

Banking:

Why the biggest private-bank sale in decades has so many American Chartered staffers on edge – Crain’s Chicago Business, March 05, 2016
One might think $449 million would be enough to go around in the sale of a privately held bank.  But in the case of Schaumburg’s American Chartered, the largest privately held local bank to sell in decades, it may not be.

Budget:

Bills passed by Illinois House Democrats provide no funding source for money to be spent – Reboot Illinois, March 06, 2016
SPRINGFIELD — Legislation to spend as much as $3.7 billion on higher education and some human services is on the way from the House to the Senate.  But Republicans say anyone waiting on that money shouldn’t get excited: Gov. Bruce Rauner will veto the bills, and even if Democrats can muster overrides, the money doesn’t actually exist in state coffers.

Young and old rally against state budget crisis –Daily Egyptian, March 6, 2016
Andrew Bynom, a lecturer at SIU’s Center for English as a Second Language, stood among nearly 100 demonstrators along Carbondale’s Main Street on Saturday to raise awareness of how the state’s budget impasse is painfully affecting southern Illinois. 

Chicago:

Analysis: The key players who will guide Emanuel’s 2^nd term – Chicago Sun-Times, March 03, 2016
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has long maintained that he doesn’t have just one inner circle but a bunch of them on issues pertaining to business, labor, politics and ethnic issues.  It’s a good thing Emanuel is not relying solely on the team that surrounds him at City Hall as he struggles to regain his political footing after the police shooting of Laquan McDonald. That supporting cast has changed dramatically.

Criminal Justice:

Trust, integrity, reforms top issues in state’s attorney race – Chicago Sun-Times, March 05, 2016
As Cook County voters prepare to pick their next top prosecutor, confidence in the criminal justice system is at a low point. Questions about the handling of the Laquan McDonald case and other police shootings have prompted a federal investigation of the Chicago Police Department. Local, state, and national officials from both parties are pushing to reduce jail and prison populations. And amid the calls for reform, violent crime has spiked in Chicago, as it has in many other cities.

Developments in Springfield:

State tax refunds started going out March 1 –The State Journal-Register, March 6, 2016
After being delayed because of Illinois Department of Revenue efforts to crack down on fraud, state income tax refunds started going out March 1.

Illinois AG mulling legal case over delayed coal mine rules –Washington Times, ­March 6, 2016
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is considering legal action against the state’s natural resources agency for what prosecutors call a failure to follow the terms of a court-brokered plan to toughen oversight of coal mines. 

Education:

Spring state testing season brings changes, unknowns and pushback – Chicago Tribune, March 07, 2016
The spring state testing season launches this week in Illinois, amid unknowns, dramatic changes for students and continued pushback by parents who don’t want their kids tested. The lengthy PARCC exams that debuted last year will be streamlined, a nod to families concerned about so much testing.

Environment:

The Illinois Attorney General is considering legal action against the state’s natural resources agency for what prosecutors call a failure to follow terms of a court-brokered plan to toughen coal mines oversight – The Republic, March 06, 2016
ST. LOUIS — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan‘s office is considering legal action against the state’s natural resources agency for what prosecutors call a failure to follow the terms of a court-brokered plan to toughen oversight of coal mines. The tougher regulations were part of broader reforms touted with much fanfare two years by the administration of former Gov. Pat Quinn. 

Healthcare:

A county health department in central Illinois says it will close one of its offices because of the state’s ongoing budget – The Republic, March 06, 2016
MATTOON, Illinois — A county health department in central Illinois says it will close one of its offices because of the state’s ongoing budget crisis. The Mattoon Journal-Gazette (bit.ly/1QAmv9S ) reports that the Coles County Health Department plans to close its Mattoon office on Tuesday. The department’s main office in Charleston will remain open.

Higher Ed:

Governors State University’s trustees have unanimously approved a tuition freeze for the suburban Chicago campus – The Republic, March 06, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Illinois — Governors State University’s trustees have unanimously approved a tuition freeze for the suburban Chicago campus in the upcoming academic year. The trustees approved the tuition freeze on Friday and also renewed their pledge to front funds for the school’s Monetary Award Program.

Illinois Primaries:

Rauner-Madigan war fuels Illinois campaign spending binge – Chicago Sun-Times, March 06, 2016
Campaign fund-raising records are poised to fall before the March 15 primary, thanks to the political proxy war between Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan that’s stoked massive investments in a handful of races.

Is Ken Dunkin Buying Votes? ‘Undercover’ Videos Latest in Nasty State Race –DNAinfo, March 6, 2016
BRONZEVILLE — In the midst of an ugly re-election battle that has seen mudslinging on both sides, supporters of candidate Juliana Stratton have accused Rep. Ken Dunkin’s campaign of paying people $50 to vote for him.

Illinois House candidate says he was attacked by opponent’s supporters –WGNtv, March 7, 2016
CHICAGO — A candidate for the Illinois House says he was attacked by his opponent’s supporters.

Trump Rally at UIC Fires Up Thousands of Chicago Protesters ­–DNAinfo, March 7, 2016
DOWNTOWN — Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is heading to Chicago this week — and thousands of Chicago protesters say they’re ready to greet him.

Bill Clinton to campaign here Tuesday –Daily Herald,  March 6, 2016
Former President Bill Clinton will visit the Chicago area Tuesday, one week ahead of the Illinois’ Democratic primary.

Bruce Rauner will endorse Shimkus, address residents –Daily Eastern News, March 6, 2016
Gov. Bruce Rauner will be endorsing U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, the 15th district Congressman, at 1:45 p.m. Monday at Mid America Motorworks in Effingham.

Tom Kacich: 15th District a $2 million primary –News Gazette, March 6, 2016
The Republican candidates in the 15th Congressional District primary — incumbent Rep. John Shimkus and challenger Kyle McCarter — are leaving little to chance in their effort to win the overwhelmingly Republican district.

This just in… President Obama endorses Dunkin opponent Juliana Stratton –Capital Fax, March 7, 2016
Juliana Stratton, Democratic candidate for state representative in Illinois’ 5th District, announced Monday that President Barack Obama is endorsing her campaign to unseat state Rep. Ken Dunkin. The president has recorded a radio and television commercial in which he endorsed Stratton and asked Chicagoans to support her.

Presidential Campaign:

Morning Spin: Trump, Kasich, Cruz head to Chicago this week as Clinton, Sanders airs TV ads – Chicago Tribune, March 07, 2016
With just eight days until the Illinois primary election, the presidential campaign arrives this week.  Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, John Kasich and former President Bill Clinton are all scheduled to hit the city or suburbs to fire up supporters ahead of the March 15 Republican and Democratic primaries.

Transportation:

A high-speed train to O’Hare is a risky proposition. Just ask Toronto. – Crain’s Chicago Business, March 05, 2016
When Mayor Rahm Emanuel fantasizes about how express train service between downtown and O’Hare International Airport might look, his reveries likely take him to another Great Lake city: Toronto.  Last June, Canada’s biggest city rolled out a $456 million (Canadian) rail link between downtown Toronto and Pearson International Airport. The publicly financed project features Japanese-made trains, decked out with onboard Wi-Fi and luggage racks, and a sales pitch built upon speed: Fliers can zip between the city’s business center and primary aviation hub in 25 minutes.