Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, say more than 90 pieces of budget legislation will be consolidated and introduced as House Bill 131 and Senate Bill 2512.

Welch and Harmon issued a joint statement saying the compiled language would ensure that all interested parties have time to review and offer thoughtful feedback.

In previous years, Welch and Harmon have sponsored shell bills that were stuffed with line items and passed during the final hours of session.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXAMS POSTPONED DUE TO CYBER ATTACK

The University of Illinois has postponed all final exams and assignments through Sunday due to a global cyber attack on the school’s Canvas learning management system.

A university statement said the vendor that operates Canvas, Instructure, disclosed the incident May 1 and it remains under investigation.

IL FEDERATION OF TEACHERS MEGAPROJECTS CALCULATOR

The Illinois Federation of Teachers has released a “Mega Project, Mega Loss” calculator it says quantifies how much towns and schools stand to lose under megaprojects legislation in the General Assembly.

The teachers union said the current bill signifies the largest transfer of responsibility for revenue to fund schools and services from private developers to individual property owners in the state’s history.

AAA FUEL PRICES

Illinois fuel prices dipped slightly on Friday, according to AAA.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.99, down less than a penny from the day before. The average price for diesel is $5.98.

The national averages are $4.55 for unleaded and $5.67 for diesel.

POPE 1 YEAR

On the one-year anniversary of Illinois native Pope Leo XIV’s election as pope, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich offered thanked for the pontiff’s leadership and his call to unity and peace.

In a social media post, Cupich asked all to join him in praying for the Holy Father.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Illinois quick hits: WARN report layoffs total 1,689; Powerball winners in Rochelle and Colona

Illinois quick hits: WARN report layoffs total 1,689; Powerball winners in Rochelle and Colona

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square WARN report layoffs total 1,689 According to the latest Illinois Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice, 1,689 employees across...
No ethics reform in sight as ex-speaker’s scheduled prison term begins

No ethics reform in sight as ex-speaker’s scheduled prison term begins

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – As his predecessor’s scheduled 7.5-year prison term for public corruption begins, the speaker of the Illinois House...
Trump losing ground on economy, poll finds

Trump losing ground on economy, poll finds

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Donald Trump rode a poor economy back to the White House during his 2024 campaign, but seven months into his second term, most voters aren't...
Major tech company to cut H-1B visas amid Trump pressure, fee

Major tech company to cut H-1B visas amid Trump pressure, fee

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Tata Consultancy Services, a large employer of H-1B visa holders in the United States, will stop using the program due to new fees from the...
US, India to hold new round of trade talks, with focus on energy

US, India to hold new round of trade talks, with focus on energy

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square India and the United States will resume trade talks this week in Washington, with the Trump administration seeking increased purchases of U.S. oil and gas...
Johnson: Republicans 'have plans' to 'fix' Obamacare

Johnson: Republicans ‘have plans’ to ‘fix’ Obamacare

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square As the ongoing government shutdown enters its third week, Republican leaders are reminding Democrats that by blocking the House-passed funding bill, they are also delaying...
Illinois House Speaker: 'Mr. Trump, tear down this fence!'

Illinois House Speaker: ‘Mr. Trump, tear down this fence!’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House has compared a fence outside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in...
Energy cost concerns loom as legislators look at policy changes

Energy cost concerns loom as legislators look at policy changes

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois legislators are set to begin the fall veto session Tuesday with some worried electric rate increases...
PJM exit: A price solution or power move?

PJM exit: A price solution or power move?

By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Surging electricity demand, an aging grid, and generation sources retiring faster than new ones can be...
Broadview, Illinois reduces ICE protest zone after ‘chaos,’ 15 arrests

Broadview, Illinois reduces ICE protest zone after ‘chaos,’ 15 arrests

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The village of Broadview, Illinois is reducing the area where protesters can stage near the Immigration and...
Illinois’ ‘F’ grade leaves taxpayers on the hook for billions, watchdog says

Illinois’ ‘F’ grade leaves taxpayers on the hook for billions, watchdog says

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Budget gimmicks, pension debt and late financial reports are leaving Illinois taxpayers in the dark, according...
Illinois quick hits: Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments; Blue Ribbon Schools announced

Illinois quick hits: Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments; Blue Ribbon Schools announced

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Chicago Jewish Alliance on peace developments The Chicago Jewish Alliance has offered a response to the release of 20 hostages held...
WATCH: Trump’s emergency Guard appeal denied; Fiscal Fallout reviews state salaries

WATCH: Trump’s emergency Guard appeal denied; Fiscal Fallout reviews state salaries

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In today's edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop gets to the...
Reforms prompt big money appeals in IL biometrics cases

Reforms prompt big money appeals in IL biometrics cases

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Even as reforms seem to have edged down the number of biometric privacy lawsuits targeted at businesses in Illinois, appeals courts are...
Meeting Briefs

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Will County Board Executive Committee for October 9, 2025

The Will County Board’s Executive Committee held a contentious meeting on Thursday, October 9, 2025, dominated by debates over public access and a controversial resolution concerning immigrant rights. A proposal...