Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

Illinois Quick Hits: Chicago pays OT to potentially ineligible workers

January 22, 2026/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Chicago’s inspector general has advised the city’s human resources and finance departments that from 2020 through 2024, the city paid $26.5 million in overtime to potentially ineligible employees.

According to the advisory, Chicago paid the overtime to workers in 24 city departments, the elections board, city clerk’s office and city council.

The inspector general’s office said the human resources and finance departments have committed to collaborate and ensure that the city would no longer pay overtime to ineligible employees.

AIRMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN

A former airman stationed in Illinois has pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor and distribution of child pornography.

The federal charges followed execution of a search warrant at 32-year-old Michael E. McCay’s residence on Scott Air Force Base in February 2023.

Prosecutors say McCay was sexually exploiting at least two minor victims through online applications, including Roblox and Snapchat.

ALEC EDUCATION

The American Legislative Exchange Council has released its annual Index of State Education Freedom.

Illinois ranks 44th out of 50 states, down from 38th one year ago. ALEC gave the Land of Lincoln a D grade, partly due to failing grades for student-centered funding programs and open enrollment.

Top-ranked Florida earned an A+. Iowa ranked 4th overall with an A, and Indiana was 6th with an A-. Kentucky finished below Illinois at #48.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Congress begins two-week battle over DHS funding bill

Congress begins two-week battle over DHS funding bill

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square U.S. lawmakers face a rocky path forward as they begin negotiations over the last remaining appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026. During the next two...
Chicago mayor defends ICE order, calls for progressive revenue from state taxpayers

Chicago mayor defends ICE order, calls for progressive revenue from state taxpayers

By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has clarified his stance about the Cook County State’s Attorney’s support for his executive order directing police to refer federal immigration...
Unrealized Education Department cuts cost taxpayers up to $38 million

Unrealized Education Department cuts cost taxpayers up to $38 million

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A watchdog report found that an unrealized plan to cut U.S. Department of Education staff cost taxpayers up to $38 million, as many workers were...
Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois to join WHO's alert network

Illinois Quick Hits: Illinois to join WHO’s alert network

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois is joining the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network....
GOP candidates for Illinois governor challenge Pritzker on state finances

GOP candidates for Illinois governor challenge Pritzker on state finances

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed ways for Illinois to better fund pensions, but one of the governor’s...
Date set for Clintons to appear before House committee

Date set for Clintons to appear before House committee

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will appear before the House Oversight Committee later this month, after being threatened with...
Lawmaker says adopting federal ‘no tax on tips’ would help workers

Lawmaker says adopting federal ‘no tax on tips’ would help workers

By Catrina BarkerThe Center Square A growing debate over how tipped income is taxed in Illinois has resurfaced as state Rep. Regan Deering, R-Decatur, introduced legislation aiming to align Illinois...
AGs request probe into climate activists’ influence on Federal Judicial Center

AGs request probe into climate activists’ influence on Federal Judicial Center

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Twenty-two state attorneys general sent a letter to chairmen of the House and Senate Judiciary Committee, requesting that an investigation concerning improper influence on judges...
Detroit judge among four charged with exploiting vulnerable adults

Detroit judge among four charged with exploiting vulnerable adults

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Four Michiganders, including a sitting judge, have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with embezzlement-related charges. All four are residents of Detroit and...
Govt. funding bills pass House on razor-thin margins, head to Trump's desk

Govt. funding bills pass House on razor-thin margins, head to Trump’s desk

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House passed a critical government funding package along bipartisan lines in a nail-biter Tuesday vote, sending it to the president’s desk. Once President...
DOJ announces more arrests in St. Paul church protest, nine total

DOJ announces more arrests in St. Paul church protest, nine total

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Federal officials have made nine arrests in connection with a protest that disrupted a Sunday morning church service in St. Paul on Jan. 18. That...

WATCH: Dems call for Noem’s impeachment, dismantling DHS

By Emily Rodriguez and Andrew RiceThe Center Square A coalition of Democrat lawmakers called for the impeachment of Kristi Noem, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary, on Tuesday. The...
WATCH: Los Angeles area robotics team starts 25th season

WATCH: Los Angeles area robotics team starts 25th season

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Culver City High School’s California-based robotics team - known as the Bagel Bytes - has begun its 25th season of competition with this year's challenge...
Miller: Illinois ‘dragging its feet’ on voter rolls as election nears

Miller: Illinois ‘dragging its feet’ on voter rolls as election nears

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Congresswoman Mary Miller, R-Oakland, slammed the Illinois State Board of Elections on Monday for what she...
Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker wants to extend pension buyout program

Illinois Quick Hits: Pritzker wants to extend pension buyout program

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois’ unfunded public sector pension liability hovering around $140 billion, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed an...