Stories | McLean County Times

The price of local government: Village of Saunemin

By Local Labs News Service | Jul 30, 2017

The Village of Saunemin budget was $275,400 for its 2015 fiscal year, or $2,220.97 per household.

The price of local government: City of Pontiac

By Local Labs News Service | Jul 28, 2017

The City of Pontiac budget was $16.83 million for its 2015 fiscal year, or $3,854.79 per household.

State tax hike means Harrisburg's richest get richer

By LGIS News Service | Jul 28, 2017

School’s out in the summertime. So when Harrisburg’s Mike and Angella Gauch decided they would drive to Springfield earlier this month, getting out of work wasn’t a concern.

Brady calls on Democrats to release 'hostage' school funding bill

By Hoang Tran | Jul 28, 2017

Illinois students and parents should be preparing for school, not worrying whether those schools will open, Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) said at a Republican press conference on Thursday.

Suburban property taxpayers would be on hook for CPS’ $17B in debt if schools bill becomes state law

By Chicago City Wire reports | Jul 28, 2017

A measure that would require homeowners in Chicago’s suburbs to pay off Chicago Public Schools’ $17 billion in debt is expected to go to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s desk for his signature later this month.

State school funding bill would micromanage public school spending — down to the cent

By LGIS News Service | Jul 27, 2017

State bureaucrats will dictate how many teachers Illinois school districts must hire and how much to pay them if a school funding bill is signed into law this month.

Mounting tax burden called no match for soaring pension debt in Illinois

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 27, 2017

Illinois ranks third in the nation in unfunded pension liability despite being saddled with some of the most stifling tax burdens in the country.

Brady tells Democrats to send education funding bill 'today'

By Hoang Tran | Jul 26, 2017

Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) called on Democrats on Wednesday to stop sitting on the state's education funding bill and send it immediately to Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Pontiac City Council met July 3.

By Noddy A. Fernandez | Jul 26, 2017

Pontiac City Council met at 7 p.m. Monday, July 3.

Village of Cullom Board of Trustees met July 25.

By Noddy A. Fernandez | Jul 26, 2017

Village of Cullom Board of Trustees met at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 25.

Brady, Barickman push Senate to send school funding bill to Rauner

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 26, 2017

Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady and Jason Barickman, both Bloomington Republicans, are calling on Senate Democrats to take the parliamentary hold off on the state public school funding bill and send it to Gov. Bruce Rauner to make the change it needs, according to a press release.

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Brady says it's 'time to solve crisis' of public education funding

By Hoang Tran | Jul 25, 2017

Illinois Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) commended Gov. Bruce Rauner for calling legislators back to the Capitol to hammer out a school funding bill and said lawmakers should be ready to work.

Washington Elementary School post test results

By Local Labs News Service | Jul 22, 2017

Washington Elementary School's 2016 standardized test scores increased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Letting pension system fail described as tough love for Illinois

By Hoang Tran | Jul 21, 2017

Mike “Mish” Shedlock, who runs the blog “MishTalk.com,” believes imposing more taxes on Illinoisans with the biggest pensions can solve the pension crisis.

Journalists say cuts keep Capitol coverage thin, brainstorming necessary

By John Revak | Jul 21, 2017

A group of journalists got together at a Springfield forum recently to discuss the future of ... a group of journalists.

Budget described as no solution to Illinois insolvency

By Karen Kidd | Jul 21, 2017

While state lawmakers ended a two-year budget impasse, the measures adopted by the Illinois Legislature will not fix the state's fiscal mess, an analyst who co-wrote a paper that places the state 49th in long-run solvency told the Sangamon Sun.

Rauner shake-up follows in wake of perceived political defeat

By Hoang Tran | Jul 21, 2017

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Mitchell targeted by Americans for Prosperity over veto vote

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jul 21, 2017

The Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity is launching an accountability campaign targeting several state representatives, including state Rep. Bill Mitchell (R-Forsyth) over their vote to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto on the recently passed budget.

Stevenson Elementary School post test results

By Local Labs News Service | Jul 21, 2017

Stevenson Elementary School's 2016 standardized test scores decreased compared to scores from 2015, according to a report recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).