George Wiebe

6 days ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Robert Herguth |Mitchell Armentrout |George Wiebe

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has taken campaign money from individuals and interest groups that could benefit from his decision-making in Springfield — including contributions from lobbyists, businesses and unions. The Hillside Democrat also has a charity that’s gotten backing from some of the same interests, though with less transparency regarding who his charity has gotten its money from, records show.

3 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Matt Moore |David Struett |George Wiebe |Violet Miller

The clock is ticking for state lawmakers to find more than $700 million for CTA, Metra, Pace and the Regional Transportation Authority before they run out of federal COVID-19 grants next year and resort to drastic cuts in service. Lawmakers are focusing on reform as they consider two bills to either merge the agencies or empower the RTA. But they rarely talk about immediate funding solutions. Time is running out, though.

3 weeks ago | wbez.org | David Struett |George Wiebe

The clock is ticking for state lawmakers to find more than $700 million for the CTA, Metra, Pace and Regional Transportation Authority before they run out of federal COVID-19 grants next year and resort to drastic cuts in service. Lawmakers remain laser-focused on reforming the agencies as they discuss two bills to either merge the agencies or empower the RTA. But legislators have all but refused to talk about immediate funding solutions. “There will be no funding without reform,” state Sen.

2 months ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Matt Moore |Tina Sfondeles |Mitchell Armentrout |George Wiebe

Earlier this afternoon, Gov. JB Pritzker laid out his State of the State address in Springfield. It’s the governor’s seventh budget blueprint, which Republicans are deriding as the largest in state history. In today’s newsletter, we’ll look into what the governor is proposing — and excluding. Plus, we’ve got reporting on the “multimillion-dollar” grant keeping Heartland Alliance Health’s doors open, a hike in Bears ticket prices and more community news you need to know below.

2 months ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Tina Sfondeles |Mitchell Armentrout |George Wiebe

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday unveiled a $55.23 billion spending plan with an unexpected “budget surplus” — but noted the uncertainty of state funding under President Donald Trump, while also nixing a healthcare program for adults who lack legal status to save the state millions. The Democratic governor also peppered his seventh budget blueprint — which Republicans derided as the largest in state history — with key policy proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.