Latest News from NW Illinois News

Analysis: Northwest Illinois fire, police pension funds paid $8 million, lost $924K on investments in 2016

By Kyle Wahe | Jun 28, 2017

Northwest Illinois’ 10 police and fire pension funds paid out a total of $8,100,566 in benefits to 204 retirees and inactive recipients in 2016 while losing $924,236 on their investments, according to a NW Illinois News analysis of the funds' mandated financial filings with the Illinois Department of Insurance.

Rauner tells people: Power of change is in your hands alone

By Giovanni Whaley | Jun 23, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner told listeners of the "Chicago's Morning Answer" radio show that they'd better not rely on entrenched politicians to save them.

Illinois among states seen as on the precipice of a pension disaster

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jun 23, 2017

Officials in Springfield and around the country are talking about a “pension cliff” and trying to determine what will happen as large numbers of educators become fully vested in school district pension benefit systems.

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'Panicked' Democrats fear House downfall after approving school funding bill, radio host says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2017

Democratic state lawmakers showed their true colors in May when they demanded an investigation into an article about apparently doomed school funding reform legislation, a radio show co-host said recently.

Overtaxed Illinoisans also seeing nation's smallest growth in personal income

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

Illinois’ average personal income growth since the Great Recession is tied with Nevada for the worst in the country, according to data from Pew Charitable Trusts recently published on the Illinois Policy Institute website.

Rauner urges political unity to save the future of Illinois

By Hoang Tran | Jun 20, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to unite and pass a balanced budget that will fund Illinois and get it back on its feet.

Taxpayers say 'reform,' but lawmakers hear 'more taxes,' policy pro says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 17, 2017

Illinois lawmakers betray their ignorance of the needs and opinions of taxpayers when they pass huge tax increases as a way out of the ongoing budget impasse, a policy expert said on a radio program recently.

Ex-state senator sues over 'unconstitutional' skipped paychecks, years after supporting skipped pay

By Scott Holland, Cook County Record | Jun 17, 2017

A former member of the Illinois Senate is suing the state’s comptroller to get money he claims was denied him during a decade in office — even though he voted for the measure he now claims is illegal.

Elections board will be 'toast' without new computers by 2018 elections, official says

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 16, 2017

Illinois’ ongoing budget problem has left the State Board of Elections in a financial hole so deep that agency officials claim they can’t afford the new computers they need to handle the number of candidates filing petitions to run in next year’s elections.