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GOVERNMENT
New Illinois laws 2024: More laws in effect July 1, including minimum wage, tax increases
A host of new laws went into effect in Illinois Monday, at the halfway point of the year.Some of the new laws mean you will pay more at the pump and at your favorite Chicago restaurants, but it also means many minimum wage workers are getting a raise.ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchMinimum wage increaseMinimum wage workers in Chicago and Cook County will be getting a raise July 1.Those workers will now make a base pay of $16.20 per hour.Chicago tipped minimum wage phase-outChicago started the first phase of cutting out tipped wages for workers. The...
DuPage County Division of Transportation announce major road construction projects kicking off this year
“It’ll be a great place if they ever finish it,” the old O. Henry quote, jabbing at the seemingly endless construction around New York City, comes to mind every summer in Illinois; as construction crews come out of winter hibernation to fill some of the potholes expanded by the thawing and freezing of precipitation on roads’ surfaces. This year, as part of its five-year Transportation ...
Illinois Finally Signs Agreement to Build $1B Invasive Carp Barrier, Now That the State Isn’t on the Hook for Entire Lifelong Maintenance Tab
After months of negotiations, Illinois finally signed onto a project partnership agreement this week with the state of Michigan and the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with construction of what’s largely viewed as the last line of defense against invasive carp entering the Great Lakes. The best...
Harvey mayor aims to freeze property taxes after residents get huge bills
HARVEY, Ill. (CBS) – As Cook County residents face large increases in their property tax bills this year, one south suburban mayor wants to guarantee his city won't raise taxes next year and urged other municipalities to follow suit.Lillie Rayborn has lived in Harvey for 20 years, but her latest property tax bill may make this the last year she can afford to stick around."I'm angry," she said. "I'm afraid I'm going to lose my house."Rayborn said last year, her bill was a little over $2,000, but this year, it doubled to more than $4,000."It's not fair to the seniors,...
Comings and goings in Harlem
The town of Harlem, which was incorporated in 1884, included today’s Forest Park and areas of River Forest. The Harlem Post was a local German weekly newspaper for Harlem’s German population. According to the publisher, a German weekly was necessary because Harlem, based on its population at the time, “is considered one of the most German settlements in Illinois, because the large German papers do not reach this area, and because most residents are not able to understand the English weekly papers.” Its first edition was published on Sept. 12, 1895.
Parking expansion for Cosley Zoo approved
Wheaton’s Cosley Zoo will be able to expand its parking. In a 5-1 vote Monday, July 1, the Wheaton City Council approved amending the zoo’s special use permit to create 93 spaces on the east side of Gary Avenue. The Wheaton Park District, owners of the zoo, has...
Joliet Traffic Alert: Desplaines Street Closed Due to Falling Concrete
Joliet, IL – Desplaines Street is currently closed at the railroad bridge near Marion Street due to falling concrete from the bridge. The Joliet Police Department announced the closure on Saturday, citing safety concerns. According to the department, the closure is expected to last throughout the weekend as crews assess and repair the damage.
Arlington Heights Awaits Bear Response to Racetrack Tax Proposal
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald reported a response was submitted by the Bears to a proposed solution for the tax standoff over the racetrack, which might mean a shift in the stadium outlook.
Nearly 150 new Illinois ZIP codes added to high-risk lead testing list
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Starting this month, 1-, 2- and 3-year-old children living in nearly 150 communities in Illinois will need their blood screened for lead, a test that wasn't previously required in those parts of the state.The Illinois Department of Public Health announced an expanded list of high-risk ZIP codes this year, including more than a dozen in Cook County, increasing mandatory testing for lead exposure of children who live within those areas. A total of nearly 1,200 ZIP codes in Illinois now are considered high-risk for lead exposure."There is no safe level of lead in the blood," said Illinois...
THE DANGERS OF THE TOXIC CHEMICAL EMISSIONS FROM THE KOPPERS PLANT IN CICERO, IL
Who’s protecting the residents of Cicero and Stickney, IL, from the tons of toxic chemical emissions migrating from the massive, 36-acre Koppers coal tar plant at the corner of Laramie and Pershing roads? The danger is that these chemicals from Koppers are blowing into nearby residential neighborhoods and that the residents are breathing them. And they don’t even know it.
Swamp monster finds a new home just beyond the Naperville border
Driving along Naperville Road in Plainfield, you may have seen this green swamp monster, but its owner Brendan Heffernan said The post Swamp monster finds a new home just beyond the Naperville border appeared first on NCTV17.
Cook County veteran gifted new roof from local contractor: 'It was like winning the lottery'
THORNTON, Ill. - There’s a new roof going up on a house in south suburban Thornton. Normally, that’s not big news. But under this new roof, a remarkable story played out involving a military veteran with an ill granddaughter who got a helping hand from a local contractor.
OP Public Health Director Theresa Chapple steps down
After about three years in the position, Oak Park’s Public Health Director Theresa Chapple will be officially leaving her role July 12. Chapple is taking a couple weeks of vacation now, according to village officials, and is not expected back by the time her official tenure concludes. For now, Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley will oversee the public health department, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.
A former employee of a Cook County agency sues over his firing, alleging retaliation
A former aide to Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele has filed a federal whistleblower lawsuit against the county property-tax appeal agency, Steele and her top aide, court records show. The ex-employee, Frank Calabrese, said he was an appeals analyst and communications director for Steele until he was...
The village isn’t listening
After living in the village of Oak Park for 25 years, it is surprising how little our voices are heard in this small community. When the Madison Street road diet was implemented, there was prompt removal of the planters and trees without warning, evidently fearing community input. There was a 5-story apartment building approved despite a 7-0 vote rejection by the Plan Commission. Now we are pushing forward with leaf-bagging, which is opposed by the majority of the village. It has been stated that the recycling service may not be able to continue leaf pickup.
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