2020 Could Have School Districts Seeing Red
Between a new state pension plan and Gov. Bruce Rauner's amendatory veto of the Democrats' school funding plan, some school districts would be in for a big hit in July 2020.
A regional journalism collaboration focused on expanding access to trusted, timely and relevant information across three key statewide topics: Education, Political Impact and Health/Environment
Urbana School Supt. & Local Democratic Lawmakers Call For Override To Ensure School Funding
Democrats have kept up a steady attack on Governor Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1, their education funding reform bill. And at a news conference in Urbana Thursday, they spelled out some of their complaints --- and their worst fear, that the state would enter the new school year with no state funding for public schools.
Avery Announces Candidacy For Lieutenant Governor
Current Champaign County NAACP President and former Champaign County Board Chair Patricia Avery announced her candidacy for Illinois Lieutenant Governor Thursday, running with Democratic candidate for governor Tio Hardiman.
Rauner Defends SB1 Changes Affecting School Districts With TIF Districts Or Tax Caps
Governor Bruce Rauner is defending his changes to a school funding bill that would mean less state money for school districts that have TIF Districts or tax caps under PTELL.
New Teacher Pension Payments Passed To Districts
Thanks to a new state pension law, school districts will now have to pay new teacher pensions. But Governor Rauner's amendatory veto cut the part of SB 1 that would've recognized those pension payments as part of a school's cost of doing business.
In Champaign, A Neighborhood Is Being Torn Down In Hopes Of Rebuilding And Rebirth
On the north side of Champaign, a seven-block section of residential neighborhood is being torn down. City officials say all of the old houses that made up Bristol Place will be gone by the end of the year, to be replaced by entirely new housing --- and, they hope, better living conditions.
Governor Signs Procurement Reform Bill
Governor Bruce Rauner came to the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus Wednesday to sign a bill streamlining the procurement process for state institutions. The bill (SB 8) regulates purchases throughout state government. But the measure is one that state universities have particularly wanted to speed up the process of purchasing goods and equipment.
Medicaid Bill Backlog Pushing Illinois Doctors To The Brink Of Closure
During its two-year state budget crisis, Illinois racked up more than $3 billion in debt to providers who serve the state’s most vulnerable patients - and it could be months, even years, before it’s all paid off. And some doctors in private practice are being pushed to the brink as they wait.
Republican To Rauner: Borrowing Better Than ‘Outrageous’ Interest
Another voice is urging Gov. Bruce Rauner to work with the budget that was passed over his objections.
OSF HealthCare To Take Over Presence Hospitals In Urbana, Danville
Peoria-based OSF HealthCare says it has signed a letter of intent with Chicago-based Presence Health to take over Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, and Presence United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville.
