West Cook News

Curran on Madigan indictment: 'There is a great deal of work that still needs to be done'

By Karen Kidd | Mar 25, 2022

Long-embattled and now former state House Speaker Michael Madigan, indicted earlier this month on federal corruption charges, sold out the public's trust, state Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) said in a news release.

Curran notes liberation of Auschwitz in 1945, Paris Peace Accords signing in 1973

By Karen Kidd | Jan 29, 2022

Illinois State Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) used one of his social media accounts earlier this week to point out that two different points of historical conflict occurred on the same day

Welch: Newly signed student-athlete compensation legislation 'victory' for state, students

By Karen Kidd | Jun 30, 2021

Legislation signed by Gov. J.B.

Gun-related murders in Cook County and Chicago sets record in 2020

By Karen Kidd | Jan 23, 2021

Chicago and Cook County last year saw the highest number of homicides ever, a report from the county's Medical Examiner's Office found.

U.S. Rep. Davis' Twitter spat with Pritzker, IDES last month not forgotten amid still ongoing pandemic

By Karen Kidd | Jan 12, 2021

A central Illinois congressman's pre-Christmas Twitter spat last month with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the state's unemployment agency still stings as Illinoisans continue to suffer in the pandemic-fueled economic downturn.

Cook County tax assessment case's future uncertain after SCOTUS decision

By Karen Kidd | Dec 3, 2020

It's unclear what options, if any, Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and other state officials have in a property tax case that the U.S.

Cicero to hold cleanup week following night of violence, subsequent peaceful protests

By Karen Kidd | Jun 12, 2020

Cicero residents plan a community clean up following more than a week of largely peaceful protests that followed a night of looting and other violence on June 1.

From Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

From Prairie State Wire

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

From West Central Reporter

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

From Chicago City Wire

Legal support service president slams Cook County Board's approval of Just Housing Amendment

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

The Cook County Board of Commissioner's decision last month to limit what property owners can ask potential tenants about their criminal histories was shortsighted and will have long-reaching effects, according to the president of a Chicago legal support services firm.

Rep. Arroyo not commenting on colleague's reported comments prompted by abortion bill

By Karen Kidd | May 1, 2019

The assistant majority leader in the Illinois State House is co-sponsoring a major reproductive rights bill, but he has not responded to interview requests to talk about the legislation or about a Democratic colleague's reported suggestion that castration would help settle the abortion issue in Illinois.

People Over Politics Party celebrates judge's decision to reinstate slate

By Karen Kidd | Feb 15, 2019

The People Over Politics Party, founded to support candidates for office in Orland Park, is celebrating a Cook County judge's decision to reinstate it slate of candidates in April's municipal election, according to a party press release.

Oak Park trustee calls Chicago mayoral candidate's annexation plan 'embarrassing'

By Karen Kidd | Feb 8, 2019

The annexation scheme suggested by former police superintendent turned Chicago mayoral candidate Garry McCarthy would amount to theft and isn't going to happen, a trustee from one of the targeted suburbs said during a recent interview

Naperville council members slam Stava-Murray's 'white supremacist' characterization

By Karen Kidd | Feb 8, 2019

Naperville, tarred as racist by its own state Rep. Anne Stava-Murray (D-Naperville), needn't worry: City Council members have its back.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

IPI: FBI's secret Madigan recordings in affidavit reveal nothing new about speaker's operations

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), earlier today revealed to be a target in the same FBI investigation that led to an extortion indictment against a Chicago alderman, is not accused of anything new, a think tank reported.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's outgoing Republican governor saw a few of his vetoes overridden during the Fall Veto Session in Springfield and a few new laws have been passed, a QUAD city area lawmaker said in a summary recap released last week.

From Prairie State Wire

State facing huge debt for public-sector retiree health benefits, says Wirepoints

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's "other debt disaster" is $73 billion in unfunded state retiree health insurance benefits and more than twice that amount owed over the next four decades, according to a special report issued this week by an online news outlet.

From Prairie State Wire

FY19 Budget: 'Not one penny should be spent on pork,' Ives says

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) believes state lawmakers need to reject political pork spending that was hidden in the budget passed earlier this year.