(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Municipal League has announced that 656 municipalities across the state, more than half, have adopted an ordinance establishing a 1% local grocery tax. The action has been taken to replace the statewide grocery tax that will expire January 1st, 2026. The IML says that without this funding, many cities & towns could face significant budget shortfalls, which could in turn impact other services. The deadline to have passed such an ordinance and have it filed with the State Department of Revenue was October 1st.
(CHICAGO) Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reported to federal prison yesterday afternoon. The 83 year old lawmaker was convicted earlier this year of ten counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud, and other charges as prosecutors argued that Madigan spent years ensuring the approval of legislation that was favorable to utility company ComEd in exchange for kickbacks, jobs, and contracts. Sentenced to seven & a half years in prison, Madigan must also pay a $2.5 million fine and will serve three years’ probation.
(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education has announced the state’s Blue Ribbon Schools for 2025 after the U.S. Department of Education cancelled the federal program recognizing academic excellence and student achievement. Fifteen public schools and thirteen private schools were noted from throughout Illinois. The latest statistics show 4,408 public schools and 1,230 private schools in Illinois.
(SPRINGFIELD) A Texas hamburger chain tops a list of out-of-state brands that residents of Illinois would like to see in the Land of Lincoln. In the recent MarketBeat survey of over 3,000 respondents in Illinois, the brand most people want to see is Whataburger followed by Buc-ee’s, another Texas-based company, which is known for its super-sized gas stations.