Michael Madigan hints at shift on state pensions - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

 

The position of Gov. Pat Quinn and Democratic lawmakers largely has been that it is unconstitutional to reduce benefits for current state employees. However, Madigan’s statement could signal a shift on the issue.
Republicans and business interests long have pushed for changes in future benefits to current employees, changes they believe are legal.
Public employee unions vowed to fight changes for current workers.

Michael Madigan hints at shift on state pensions - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

34 linked to gangs prosecuted in Winnebago County - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

Bruscato, citing U.S. Department of Justice statistics, said Illinois has the highest per capita gang membership level in the country, while Winnebago County ranks second in the state in total number of gang members.

Click on the following for more details:  34 linked to gangs prosecuted in Winnebago County - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

State senators hand out staff raises

Republicans in the Illinois Senate handed out raises to top aides and other staffers worth an average of 4.9 percent.

Democrats in the Illinois Senate, who advocated for the income tax increase during the lame-duck legislation session in January, also gave staffers salary increases worth an average of 4.5 percent

Patty Schuh, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, said about 62 Senate Republican employees received increases of up to 7 percent on Jan. 1, primarily because many of them hadn’t received a salary bump in more than three years.

State senators hand out staff raises

Tax amnesty program tops revenue estimates | tax, amnesty, million -

Gov. Pat Quinn's office said that offering delinquent taxpayers a chance to pay up without punishment brought in $314 million. It was originally expected to produce about $250 million.

In addition to the money for general state spending, the amnesty produced $403 million for local governments and state income tax refunds

Click on the following for more details:  Tax amnesty program tops revenue estimates | tax, amnesty, million - Jacksonville Illinois News and Information Jacksonville Journal Courier

Statewide Wind Setbacks: Not Likely in Illinois - News - The Illinois Wind Energy Association

 

"I don't see the state taking away the county's power, but you never know,"Campbell said. "Right now, most ordinances in the state are wind-friendly. If more restrictive ordinances pass, that's when it could get interesting."
Campbell only advocates a statewide policy if it were to allow public hearings at the local level, since she admitted not all counties have the resources to conduct their own studies.

The wind industry has only expressed lukewarm support for statewide standards in Illinois, with the state's strong history of "home-rule" authority and a patchwork of mostly positive wind siting ordinances. However, there are some possible benefits to standardized permitting regs:

He points to current Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal for more restrictive setbacks as an example. The policy set to take place March 1 calls for a setback of 1,250 feet. Walker wants 1,800 feet.

On the other end, propellers from two towers were damaged this past summer near Marseilles and a group of citizens in Livingston County worry about a decrease in property tax value from houses near wind turbines.

Click on the following for more details:  Statewide Wind Setbacks: Not Likely in Illinois - News - The Illinois Wind Energy Association

Belvidere school officials to explain magnet school plan - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star

We’re proposing to change the number of instructional minutes in math and increase the number of minutes in science and technology, yet not increase the length of the day,” Belvidere Superintendent Michael Houselog said. “Some things will need to shuffle around.”
During the School Board’s Jan. 29 retreat, members learned the finer details of the efforts and research invested in the proposed school. Beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, district parents can do the same.

district is pushing to make Washington STEM Magnet a reality despite a soft economy in the belief it won’t cost more than what the district pays now to run Washington Elementary, Houselog said. An exact dollar amount for operations isn’t available yet.

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