Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Spread the love

(The Center Square) – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, say more than 90 pieces of budget legislation will be consolidated and introduced as House Bill 131 and Senate Bill 2512.

Welch and Harmon issued a joint statement saying the compiled language would ensure that all interested parties have time to review and offer thoughtful feedback.

In previous years, Welch and Harmon have sponsored shell bills that were stuffed with line items and passed during the final hours of session.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXAMS POSTPONED DUE TO CYBER ATTACK

The University of Illinois has postponed all final exams and assignments through Sunday due to a global cyber attack on the school’s Canvas learning management system.

A university statement said the vendor that operates Canvas, Instructure, disclosed the incident May 1 and it remains under investigation.

IL FEDERATION OF TEACHERS MEGAPROJECTS CALCULATOR

The Illinois Federation of Teachers has released a “Mega Project, Mega Loss” calculator it says quantifies how much towns and schools stand to lose under megaprojects legislation in the General Assembly.

The teachers union said the current bill signifies the largest transfer of responsibility for revenue to fund schools and services from private developers to individual property owners in the state’s history.

AAA FUEL PRICES

Illinois fuel prices dipped slightly on Friday, according to AAA.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $4.99, down less than a penny from the day before. The average price for diesel is $5.98.

The national averages are $4.55 for unleaded and $5.67 for diesel.

POPE 1 YEAR

On the one-year anniversary of Illinois native Pope Leo XIV’s election as pope, Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich offered thanked for the pontiff’s leadership and his call to unity and peace.

In a social media post, Cupich asked all to join him in praying for the Holy Father.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Solutions differ for Chicago Public Schools' potential $1B deficit

Solutions differ for Chicago Public Schools’ potential $1B deficit

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicago Teachers Union says the city’s public schools could face a $1 billion budget deficit if...
U.S. Supreme Court rules against trucking industry

U.S. Supreme Court rules against trucking industry

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision Thursday, agreed that states can protect individuals injured in trucking accidents. The case, Montgomery v. Caribe Transport,...
Exclusive: AGO speculated WA Supreme Court might ‘punt’ on millionaire’s tax

Exclusive: AGO speculated WA Supreme Court might ‘punt’ on millionaire’s tax

By TJ MartinellThe Center Square Washington Attorney General's Office officials described the state Supreme Court as “favorable a venue as we’re likely to get” to thwart a referendum on a...
Illinois Quick Hits: Dems look at Chicago for national conventions

Illinois Quick Hits: Dems look at Chicago for national conventions

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Democrat National Convention’s committee on site selection visited Chicago this week, again considered the city for...
Paramount-Warner merger could create 40,000 jobs, report says

Paramount-Warner merger could create 40,000 jobs, report says

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square A proposed merger between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery could create thousands of jobs and inject nearly $1 billion annually into Hollywood movie production,...
Powell secures Democrat nomination in key swing district

Powell secures Democrat nomination in key swing district

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Denise Powell won the Democratic nomination in Nebraska's second congressional district, according to projections from multiple media outlets. Powell edged out state Sen. John Cavanaugh...
Canadian border crimes: Multi-million grandparent, crypto scam; human smuggling

Canadian border crimes: Multi-million grandparent, crypto scam; human smuggling

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Northern border crimes continue to be prosecuted against Canadian citizens for a range of multi-million-dollar scams targeting Americans nationwide. The U.S. investigations are being led...
Will County Board Graphic.04

Access Will County Dial-A-Ride Reports Massive Growth After Consolidating Paratransit Services

Will County Board Public Works & Transportation Committee Meeting | May 5, 2026 Article SummaryThe Access Will County Dial-a-Ride program has seen explosive growth in ridership following a major consolidation...
Trade, Taiwan top priorities for Trump, Xi as two leaders wrap first meeting

Trade, Taiwan top priorities for Trump, Xi as two leaders wrap first meeting

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump’s first visit to China in nearly 10 years has been met with pomp and circumstance as Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping...
Critics question unions after $1B in political spending

Critics question unions after $1B in political spending

By Esther WickhamThe Center Square Following a report by Defending Education revealing that the nation’s largest teachers unions spent more than $1 billion on political activities, education experts are questioning...
Judge sets up high stakes baby formula NEC trial vs Mead Johnson

Judge sets up high stakes baby formula NEC trial vs Mead Johnson

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square A federal judge has potentially cleared the way for another trial against pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement maker Mead Johnson & Co. over...
Trade court to rule on tariff stay by next week

Trade court to rule on tariff stay by next week

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Two small businesses that won a ruling against President Donald Trump's 10% tariff must continue paying it while courts decide whether to pause the decision...
New Lenox Village Board Graphic.1

New Lenox Village Board Approves Resident-Only Parking to Ease Late-Night Disruptions Near True Country

Village of New Lenox Meeting | May 11, 2026 Article Summary: The Village Board suspended its normal rules to immediately pass an ordinance establishing resident-only parking on segments of Oak and...
Johnson defends Trump ballroom as 'a donation to the country'

Johnson defends Trump ballroom as ‘a donation to the country’

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Despite public condemnation from Democrats, House Republicans are confident that the $1 billion earmark for security upgrades to President Donald Trump’s ballroom will remain in...
Vance cuts $1.3 billion in California Medicaid, pauses hospice care

Vance cuts $1.3 billion in California Medicaid, pauses hospice care

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The Trump administration will defer $1.3 billion in Medicaid funds to California, due to concerns over fraud, Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday. Vance, alongside...