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(Ignoring public opinion) Pritzker says of BUILD Plan for homes would not cost taxpayers

April 18, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Image courtesy PridesCrossing

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has ramped up his campaign for new housing in Illinois, and he expects taxpayers to pitch in.

After announcing the Building Up Illinois Developments Plan during his budget address in February, the governor urged support for it Friday at the City Club of Chicago.

Pritzker said the BUILD Plan is ambitious and comprehensive.

“It’s designed to eliminate unnecessary barriers and lower costs for housing construction and renovation, produce a wider range of family-friendly housing types and streamline permitting,” the governor said.

Pritzker said Illinois faces a gap of more than 142,000 housing units and needs to build about 225,000 units over the next five years.

The governor said most of the BUILD Plan would not cost taxpayers anything, but he said there would be an investment.

“The BUILD Plan also includes about $250 million to help spur development of housing and help people to afford housing,” Pritzker said.

Article continues here.

Related: “Gov. JB Pritzker’s ambitious housing plan for Illinois: More four-flats, looser rules,” “Pritzker to propose statewide zoning laws to spur homebuilding, limit local control,” “McLaughlin’s press conference video recording regarding Pritzker’s proposed municipal zoning powers grab posted,” “‘It’s just a bad idea’: Suburban officials oppose Pritzker’s plan to reduce local control over residential It’s just zoning”

Posted in Clown Car, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, FUBAR, Mad Cows, New Normal?, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Topics Of Interest, Zoning Board | Leave a Comment »

Join the BACT for an Earth Day Celebration at Pederson and Rieke Family Preserves

April 18, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Barrington Hills, IL – Located adjacent to Flint Creek at the southwest corner of Lake Cook and Hart Roads, these preserves serve as a vital link between prairies, wetlands, and other conserved lands. They are also valued outdoor classrooms for Barrington High School students and reflect the community’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

Event Highlights:

  • 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM: Drop-in volunteer restoration activities
  • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Short presentation during a student class period (exact time TBD)

Participants are welcome to join at any time throughout the day to assist with planting native species grown by District 220 students. Community volunteers, local officials, D220 faculty and the Barrington Area Conservation Trust will be on site to support the effort.

Melissa Kinast, Executive Director of BACT, shares, “Over the past decade, we’ve watched these preserves come back to life through thoughtful restoration. Today, that work is visible in the return of wildlife, improving water quality in the vernal pools, and the remarkable presence of lightning bugs that light up the landscape on summer evenings. Earth Day is an opportunity to share that progress with the community and continue building on it together.”

All are welcome to participate and experience the impact of conservation at the local level.

For more information, please email bactrust1@gmail.com. (Website under construction; visit our social media for up-to-date information.)

About Barrington Area Conservation Trust:

The Barrington Area Conservation Trust is committed to preserving open land, natural beauty, and biodiversity in the Barrington area, fostering a connection between people and the environment through conservation, education, and stewardship.

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Posted in BACT, Going green, Press Release, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

Village of Barrington posts “E-Mobility Device” reminders

April 17, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

“As the weather warms up, the Village is thrilled to see more people walking and biking around town. As a reminder, under current state law, the use of low-speed e-scooters on any public rights-of-way within the Village remains illegal. Likewise, the use of other e-mobility devices, such as e-bikes and gas bikes, within certain public rights-of-way, including sidewalks, remains illegal.

The use of many of these e-mobility devices is also restricted by age. Low-speed gas bikes and Class 3 low-speed e-bikes may only be used by people who are at least 16 years old. In communities outside of the Village that have authorized low-speed e-scooter use, they may be used only by people who are at least 18 years old.

The Secretary of State is currently prioritizing the coordination of legislation to provide the necessary definitions for these various classes of devices, as well as additional regulations governing their use to ensure consistent regulatory standards throughout the state.

The Village will share more information on that legislation and the associated regulations once they are finalized and approved. Until that time, we remain committed to the safe use of our rights-of-way, including the roadway and sidewalk. The public is encouraged to report the reckless use of e-mobility devices via 911 so our police department can respond and address the situation.”

Related: “Illinois Senate Unanimously Passes Giannoulias E-Bike Bill”

Posted in Public Safety, School Districts, Springfield | Leave a Comment »

Illinois Senate Unanimously Passes Giannoulias E-Bike Bill

April 17, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Photo by: Martin Schutt/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

Illinois Senators (Wednesday) approved a sweeping statewide safety initiative spearheaded by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias to address the growing dangers posed by unregulated high-speed e-bikes, e-motos and other powerful electric transportation devices operating on streets, bike lanes and sidewalks across the state.

The initiative focuses on higher-powered, higher-speed devices that fall outside current state definitions or remain largely unregulated, including certain e-bikes, e-motos and electric scooters, skateboards and unicycles. Illinois currently has no laws governing e-bikes and other micromobility devices that exceed 28 mph. Many of these devices have motors that exceed 750 watts and can travel well beyond 28 mph – in some cases over 50 mph – yet are not clearly addressed under existing law.

Illinois will maintain its current three-class e-bike structure, which covers pedal bicycles with electric motor assistance up to 28 mph – a framework already used in 46 other states. Under the proposal, those classifications would remain unchanged except for new age requirements that a rider on a Class 1 or Class 2 must be at least 15 years old.

Under the legislative framework:

  • Riders of e-bikes and e-motos capable of traveling over 28 mph would be required to have a driver’s license, title, registration and insurance.
  • High-speed micromobility devices such as e-scooters, electric skateboards and electric unicycles would be prohibited from operating over 28 mph on roads, bike lanes, bike paths and sidewalks. In addition, riders of any electric micromobility device must be at least 16 years old.
  • The legislation establishes statewide consistency, replacing the current patchwork of local ordinances that vary widely from one municipality to another.

If signed into law, the bill would take effect on January 1, 2027. E-bikes and e-motos purchased prior to that date would be exempt from the title requirement but must still be registered.

Along with the legislation, the Ride Safe, Ride Smart, Ride Ready campaign will deliver:

  • Statewide public awareness outreach for parents, riders and retailers,
  • Updated driver education materials focused on sharing the road safely,
  • Law enforcement guidance and community safety partnerships, and
  • Outreach to schools and municipalities on responsible micromobility use.

The initiative is part of the Secretary of State’s broader effort to modernize transportation safety laws and respond proactively to emerging technologies before preventable injuries and fatalities continue to rise.

The full release can be read here.

Posted in E-bikes, Entertainment, Politics, Press Release, School Districts, Springfield, Topics Of Interest | Leave a Comment »

Editorial: U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros should retry Anne Pramaggiore and Michael McClain

April 16, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore walks to U.S. Dirksen Courthouse for her sentencing on July 21, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

A 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals order to release former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and longtime Springfield lobbyist Michael McClain from prison came as a surprise to many. We too were taken aback, we confess, at the speed at which the three-judge panel moved.

Just hours after the conclusion of their Tuesday hearing on Pramaggiore and McClain’s appeals, they sprung the two from the federal prisons that had held them for more than three months. Both were serving two-year prison sentences.

But we were far less surprised that the appellate judges ordered new trials for these two of the so-called ComEd Four defendants found guilty in 2023 of conspiring to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan in order to win highly lucrative state legislation for ComEd and its corporate parent Exelon. The other two defendants, former ComEd lobbyists John Hooker and Jay Doherty, didn’t appeal and now are serving the remainder of their time in halfway houses.

In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court upended prosecutors’ interpretation of federal law used to convict the ComEd Four. The high court’s ruling in a separate case involving former Portage, Indiana, Mayor James Snyder effectively required an explicit quid-pro-quo arrangement to find an officeholder guilty of bribery, as the ComEd Four were.

Also separately found guilty of bribery, by the way, was Madigan himself, who’s serving a 7.5-year sentence in federal prison and has appealed his 2025 conviction. This ruling may well portend a new trial for Madigan as well.

Which in part is why Andrew Boutros, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, quickly ought to green-light a retrial of Pramaggiore and McClain.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, April 3, 2026. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

For better or for worse, the Supreme Court has clarified how — and how not — to prosecute public officials caught corruptly conspiring with favor-granting and clout-heavy players, as ComEd was during that era. Best to test out now what sort of evidence and trial approach will be convincing to a jury faced with complex public-corruption charges in this new legal landscape.

Editorial continues here.

Related: “Appeals court says it will reverse convictions, orders two ‘ComEd Four’ defendants released from prison”

Posted in Chicago Tribune, ComEd Four, OP/Ed, Politics, Resident Spotlights, Springfield | Leave a Comment »

Illinois lawmakers grill diversity commission over lack of progress

April 16, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

From Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook, R-Shelbyville, references an investigation by The Center Square

By Jared Strong | The Center Square

State lawmakers expressed public, bipartisan concern again Wednesday over an Illinois commission’s efforts to increase access to state contract money for businesses that are owned by racial minorities, women and people with disabilities.

The lawmakers’ concerns are largely based on the reporting of The Center Square in recent months, which has found that the commissioners have fewer responsibilities than their counterparts elsewhere in government and that their decisions have led to a dramatic decline in businesses that are certified for contract preference.

“It seems to be in shambles,” said state Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Shelbyville Republican.

Halbrook made the remark and fired numerous questions at staff of the Commission on Equity and Inclusion during a committee budget hearing Wednesday night. He questioned the pay of the seven commissioners who lead the agency — who each make about $150,000 a year — and their switch to a new computer system nearly two years ago that has effectively blocked more than 2,000 businesses from enhanced access to the contracts.

Other lawmakers had their own concerns, which led them to request that the commission’s staff return to the Capitol for further questioning before they decide whether to approve their $5.6 million budget request for the next fiscal year.

None of the six other agencies that were also subjects of the Wednesday budget hearing were asked to return. The commission’s next appearance before the committee has not yet been scheduled.

Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, a Chicago Democrat, was “taken aback” that the commission had failed for a year to coordinate with the Secretary of State’s Office to contact businesses that might be eligible for certification, as she has previously requested.

Article continues here.

Posted in Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Girlie man, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square | Leave a Comment »

Pritzker could unlock $1 billion for Illinois students

April 16, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The governor should say yes to a program that would provide donated education money for Illinois families.

By Lilly Rossi | Illinois Policy Institute

A billion dollars for Illinois students is on the line.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker can opt into a new program and allow Illinois families and students access to almost that much in donated education money.

Or he can watch the money flow to other states.

A new program allows donors to take a tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualified donations. If just 30% of filers in Illinois took the full credit, the state could gain nearly $1 billion a year in new education resources to be used for millions of students.

The money would help students afford a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition or fees, get special education services or assist with other academic needs.

Starting next year, any taxpayer can get the credit for a qualified contribution up to $1,700 to a scholarship-granting organization.

The only cost of the program is minimal foregone income tax revenue to the federal government. There is no cost to participating states, only the benefit of more help flowing directly to students.

A number of taxpayer-participation scenarios show that “even modest taxpayer engagement could translate into significant resources,” according to an analysis from Education Reform Now. Based on an estimated participation rate of taxpayers eligible to receive the full $1,700 tax credit in Illinois, students in the state could see as much as $1 billion.

Article continues here.

Posted in Education, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | 1 Comment »

Editorial: Before adding new rules on homelessness, let’s enforce the ones we have

April 15, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Tents sit near a burned section of ground in a homeless person encampment in Legion Park in the North Park neighborhood on March 4, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Homelessness is punishing in itself without the fear of being fined or arrested simply for surviving outdoors. On the other hand, abandoning public spaces — such as parks — to lawless tent encampments isn’t fair to residents, either.

That’s why we’re concerned about a bill making its way through the statehouse. While well intentioned, House Bill 1429 would restrict when governments can impose fines or criminal penalties on unhoused people for certain “life-sustaining activities” on public property — and in doing so may actually make it harder to address encampments in public parks.

Some Chicago neighbors who have been fighting to resolve sprawling tent cities compassionately view this seemingly well-intentioned legislation — House Bill 1429 — as another potential obstacle. The bill wouldn’t bar cities from clearing encampments or moving people, but it does prohibit ticketing or arresting unsheltered individuals for basic survival activities, broadly termed “life-sustaining activities” in the legislation.

It defines “life-sustaining activities” expansively to cover essentially all basic human behaviors required to survive outdoors, such as sleeping and eating. But it also goes beyond basic survival to include storing personal property, which in practice is how encampments form and persist, as well as “protecting oneself from the elements,” which is incredibly broad and could create ambiguity around enforcement of activities like using propane tanks or open flames in the parks.

The bill also would require advance notice (generally seven days) and outreach before enforcement, absent an emergency, creating “a system where action can only be taken after a problem occurs, instead of allowing communities to prevent issues before they escalate,” said Restore Gompers Park Coalition’s Lynn Burmeister, whose group has long advocated for housing and services for people living in the encampments in addition to safety for neighbors.

Meanwhile, the encampment problem on the Northwest Side has become unsafe, untenable and unchanging. When the city clears one encampment, another pops up, often nearby.

With these settlements come reports of unsanitary and dangerous conditions, including reports of public sex, drug and alcohol use, and fecal matter in the parks.

Editorial continues here.

Related: “Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks”

 

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Chicago Tribune, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes | Leave a Comment »

Happy April 15th: Illinois property taxes up 27% under Pritzker

April 15, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

The governor pins the issue on local governments, but state law and decisions contribute to the problem.

By LyLena Estabine | Illinois Policy Institute

Gov. J.B. Pritzker isn’t as innocent as he wants us to think when it comes to Illinois’ property tax woes.

“I want to remind you that property taxes are not determined by the state of Illinois, but rather by local governments…including school boards, park boards, library boards, municipalities, etc.,” he said last month.

He put special emphasis on school boards.

Pritzker is right that local taxing bodies set levies, but suggesting those decisions have nothing to do with him is naive at best and dishonest at worst. State mandates, pension obligations and funding choices he oversees play a significant role.

Under the governor, property taxes have risen nearly 27% — from $31.8 billion in 2018 just before he took office to $40.37 billion in 2024.

State decisions shape some of the largest pressures behind those tax bills.

Illinois public schools are primarily funded by property taxes. But school districts are forced to rely so heavily on those taxes in part because the state diverts a growing share of its education spending to pensions instead of classrooms.

Article continues here.

Posted in Barrington Education Association, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Policy Institute, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? | Leave a Comment »

Appeals court says it will reverse convictions, orders two ‘ComEd Four’ defendants released from prison

April 14, 2026 by Barrington Hills Observer

Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore leaves the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse after being sentenced to two years in prison on July 21, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

By Jason Meisner | Chicago Tribune

Just hours after hearing arguments, a Chicago federal appeals court on Tuesday announced it will grant new trials to former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain and ordered them released from prison on bond.

The extraordinary development comes nearly three years after Pramaggiore and McClain were convicted as part of the landmark “ComEd Four” case alleging a conspiracy to bribe then-House Speaker Michael Madigan.

“Both Pramaggiore and McClain are entitled to release,” the order from the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said. “The United States must make arrangements to release Pramaggiore and McClain from federal custody forthwith.”

The appeals court said a written opinion on the order for a new trial will be filed at a later date. It’s unclear whether the U.S. attorney’s office would go forward with the case, given the new legal landscape and the age of the defendants.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office had no immediate comment.

In an emailed statement, Pramaggiore’s spokesperson, Mark Herr, thanked the 7th Circuit for its swift decision to order her release pending the written opinion.

“It has never made sense that Ms. Pramaggiore has served a single day in prison, much less the three months she has served — for ‘crimes’ the Supreme Court said did not exist,” Herr said.

Report continues here.

Posted in Chicago Tribune, ComEd Four, Politics, Resident Spotlights | 1 Comment »

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