McLean County Times

From Prairie State Wire

Wirepoints: Poor Illinois school districts get smallest portion of state pension subsidies

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Earlville CUSD 9 in LaSalle County receives just $230 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, the lowest of all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

From Prairie State Wire

Wirepoints: Analysis reveals which Illinois school districts benefit most from state pension subsidies

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Rondout SD 72 in Lake County receives $1,579 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, leading all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

Watchdogs: Was your property tax illegally assessed?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Mar 8, 2018

In the last election, 55 assessors in 36 counties, including one in Livingston County and three in McLean County, were illegally placed on the ballot and elected, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs.

Heartland Community College spent $393K per graduate in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Mar 6, 2018

With an annual budget of $62,300,256 and 158 graduates in 2016, Heartland Community College in Normal spent $393,161 per graduate in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of data tracking the performance and spending at 48 Illinois community colleges.

From Prairie State Wire

House committee passes bill banning kids under 12 from playing on tackle football teams

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With 11 yes votes, a bill banning youth younger than 12 years old from playing on organized tackle football teams passed the House Mental Health Committee on Thursday.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 15% of Illinois residents enrolled in food stamps program

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans – or about 15 percent of the state’s population – were on food stamp rolls in January 2017, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

Analysis: McLean County SNAP participation costs fell 2.08 percent over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 23, 2018

The welfare office in Bloomington saw food stamp costs drop by 2.08 percent from January 2015 to January 2017, according to a McLean County Times analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: State SNAP participation costs fell 11 percent over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Welfare offices in Quincy, Blue Island and Calumet Park saw food stamp costs drop the most from January 2015 to January 2017, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: On campuses of all sizes, Illinoisans pay higher in-state tuition than Midwest peers

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

An Illinoisan attending the University of Illinois will spend nearly $8,000 more per year than a Missourian at Missouri State University-Springfield, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of 116 four-year public universities in 10 Midwestern states based on enrollment.

Analysis: 211 people in McLean County added to food stamp rolls over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 9, 2018

The number of people receiving food stamps in one McLean County location rose by 0.9 percent as President Trump entered office, according to a McLean County Times analysis of federal data.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: U of I in-state tuition tops list of 115 Midwest schools spanning 10 states

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With an annual price tag of $15,058, the University of Illinois charged the highest in-state tuition for 2016-17, according to Higher Education Tribune.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 150,000+ Illinoisans left food stamp rolls as Trump entered office

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

The number of food stamp recipients fell over two years at 54 of 66 Illinois welfare offices analyzed by Prairie State Wire.

Analysis: Proposed K-12 budget would cost McLean County residents $107M more in income taxes

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 31, 2018

McLean County residents would pay $106,879,245 more in state income taxes if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a McLean County Times analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

Aperion Care Bloomington hit with health violations

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 24, 2018

Aperion Care Bloomington, a 117-bed skilled care facility in Bloomington, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2017.

McLean has 13th highest abortion rate among largest Illinois counties in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 17, 2018

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, McLean County ranked No. 13 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Report: McLean ranks 12th among largest Illinois counties for abortions performed in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 16, 2018

McLean County accounted for 229 of the 38,382 abortions performed statewide in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: Despite lower fees, Illinois ranks 13th among states with highest cost to start a business

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Illinois state government lowered its fees for forming and maintaining Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Setting up an LLC now costs $150, down from $500. And maintaining one costs $75, down from $250 per year.

Analysis: India is most common country of origin for international students attending Illinois State University

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 21, 2017

There are 170 students from India attending Illinois State University on federal student visas, making it the most common country of origin for international students at that school.

Analysis: 2.5% of Illinois State University students are international

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 20, 2017

With 525 international students from 67 countries attending Illinois State University on federal student visas, the group makes up 2.5 percent of the total student body, according to a McLean County Times​​​​ analysis of data obtained from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Sen. Bill Brady took money from taxicab lobby to help ban ride-sharing

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 17, 2017

Chicago's taxicab cartel donated $180,750 to 61 state legislators in 2014-15, including state Sen. Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), encouraging them to help preserve their traditional monopoly by banning ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in Illinois.