Stories | McLean County Times

These Illinois school districts paid the least in penalties for staff raises

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 27, 2018

School districts in Saunemin, Odell and Pontiac were among those in Illinois that paid the least in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.

From Prairie State Wire

Bennett introduces pension code reform measure

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-Gibson City) recently introduced a bill in the House that would alter the Public Pension Funds Article of the Illinois Pension Code to require the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance to make resources available to assist each municipality.

Top 24 Chenoa home sales for 2017

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 26, 2018

A home buyer who paid $190,000 to purchase a home on March 3 paid the top home sale price for Chenoa in 2017.

Records show how much Illinois school districts have paid for spiking teacher pensions ahead of retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 26, 2018

School districts in Normal, Bloomington and Fairbury were among those in Illinois that paid the most in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teacher

From Prairie State Wire

19,560 borrowers in default on student loans after attending Illinois schools

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Devry University in Chicago, American Intercontinental University in Schaumburg, and College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn reported the largest share of borrowers of all higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

From Chambana Sun

Caulkins calls Raoul's slip on economic interest statement inexcusable

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

Dan Caulkins finds the failure of Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago), who is running for attorney general, to properly fill out a statement of economic interest (SEI) form inexcusable.

From Chambana Sun

Caulkins worries that Harvey pension crisis may become the new normal across state

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

Dan Caulkins worries that the city of Harvey being forced to lay off at least 30 police officers and firefighters as its pension system woes continue to mount may be the start of the new normal across the state.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 2,973 college athletes play baseball in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Illinois is the fifth most-popular state for college baseball, federal data shows.

From Kankakee Times

Bennett presents proposed inmate-training program to House panel

By Angela Underwood | 7 years ago

Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Gibson City) is trying to open prison doors a bit wider for newly released inmates.

From Illinois Valley Times

Let voters have say in consolidating school district staff, Rezin says

By Angela Underwood | 7 years ago

Consolidating school district administration is one way to save taxpayers' money, according to Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris).

Top 22 Downs home sales for 2017

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 24, 2018

A home buyer who paid $2,400,000 to purchase a home on Nov. 16 paid the top home sale price for Downs in 2017.

Top 21 Twin Grove home sales for 2017

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 24, 2018

A home buyer who paid $440,000 to purchase a home on June 19 paid the top home sale price for Twin Grove in 2017.

Public employee tally: Top townships in McLean County

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 24, 2018

Lawndale, Charlotte and Waldo employ the most government workers per capita in McLean County, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

Regional Office of Education No. 17 improperly used grant funds to buy printers, report finds

By Robert Hadley | Apr 23, 2018

The Illinois Auditor General's office has released its financial audit of the Regional Office of Education No. 17 (ROE) for DeWitt, Livingston, Logan and McLean counties for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2017.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois House approves spending of $635K on three "lactation and wellness" rooms at State Capitol

By LGIS News Service | 7 years ago

The Illinois House of Representatives voted 91-1 Friday to spend $635,570 to build three "lactation and wellness" rooms at the state capitol in Springfield.

Offender paroled in zip code 61752 in October

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 20, 2018

One offender released on parole in October lives in Illinois zip code 61752, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by McLean County Times.