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IL can’t give cheaper college tuition to illegal immigrants, judge rules

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Immigration, Legal Newsline, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on July 26, 2026| 1 Comment »

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, flanked by Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, left, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, right | Office of the Governor

By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal Newsline

EAST ST. LOUIS — Illinois can’t give illegal immigrants special in-state discounts on college tuition or special grants to attend the state’s public colleges and universities, a federal judge has ruled.

On July 24, U.S. District Judge David W. Dugan ruled Illinois Democratic lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution by enacting laws specifically designed to allow illegal immigrants to attend Illinois public colleges and universities at the same tuition rate normally reserved for U.S. citizens and legal non-citizens who live in Illinois.

In the ruling, Dugan said the Illinois laws, known as the RISE Act and the Illinois DREAM Act, illegally give illegal immigrants state educational benefits that are not also extended to U.S. citizens who live outside Illinois.

“Put simply, U.S. citizens or nationals must be treated no worse than illegal aliens,” Dugan wrote in the ruling.

Following the decision, Steven D. Weinhoeft, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, praised Dugan’s ruling.

“Illinois sought to incentivize illegal immigration on the taxpayer’s dime by treating illegal aliens better than U.S. citizens living in other states, in clear violation of federal law,” said Weinhoeft. “This ruling enforces the statute Congress wrote and stops the State from putting illegal aliens ahead of American citizens.”

The decision marks a big win for Trump administration in their legal campaign to strike down so-called “sanctuary” or “welcoming” laws and policies in Illinois and other states.

Article continues here.

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Sales tax hike to hit Cook, collar counties on Aug. 1

Posted in BOHICA, Commodius Maximus, Cost of Living, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions on July 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

Consumers in six Illinois counties will be soon be paying higher sales taxes.

Transit funding legislation signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last December provided for the 0.25% increase to take effect on Aug. 1 in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

The tax hike is projected to generate $478 million a year as part of the $1.5 billion in annual transit funding provided in Senate Bill 2111.

State Rep. Steven Reick, R-Woodstock, said suburban taxpayers are bailing out the Chicago Transit Authority.

“We’re giving them a lifeline of money that we’re not getting anything in return for,” Reick said.

The Center Square asked Reick if higher taxes might drive people out of the area.

“Here in McHenry County, we’re obviously on the border with Wisconsin. I think people are going to make economic choices to drive up to Walworth, in my case, to buy gas and things like that,” Reick said.

SB 2111 also gave the Illinois Tollway Board the power to raise tolls.

Before the bill passed, state Rep. Dan Ugaste, R-Geneva, said he appreciated the desire for a state-of-the-art mass transit system.

“I don’t know how, though, we justify spending more money than we need after $2 billion of tax increases in the last few years,” Ugaste said.

Report continues here.

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D300 wants tax hike to fund $355M in school improvements, new training center

Posted in 300, Chicago Tribune, County, Elections, Look For The Union Label, McHenry, Politics, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions on July 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Gloria Casas | For the Naperville Sun

Community School District 300, which encompasses all or parts of West Dundee, Carpentersville, Sleepy Hollow and a half dozen other towns, will seek voter approval of a $355.5 million bond referendum in November election.

The D300 school board this week voted 7-0 to place the question on the Nov. 3 ballot. Bonds sold would fund more than 20 projects, including classroom additions to overcrowded schools, repairs to aging buildings, safety updates, entrance security improvements, and a new career and technical education center for hands-on training.

If the measure is approved, the owner of a $400,000 home would see a property tax bill increase of about $8.41 per month, or $101 per year, a news release on the initiative said.

“The referendum question follows a multiyear master facility plan process that examined the condition and capacity of all 27 district schools,” the release said.

“On average, District 300 schools are a half-century old, and roofs, windows, electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems need repairs and updates. Many schools are already overcrowded, and an additional 4,000 students are expected over the next 10 years.”

Article continues here.

 

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Proposed Policy Change Would Strip Anonymous Formal Grievances in Barrington District 220

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, Open Meetings Act, Pension Funding, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 23, 2026| 2 Comments »

 

The Barrington CUSD 220 Board of Education is considering a key amendment to its Policy 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure). The proposed revision would eliminate the ability for parents, staff, and community members to have anonymous reports processed through the formal Uniform Grievance Procedure—a move that directly impacts public oversight of elected Board members and District leadership.

Under current District rules, individuals can file anonymous complaints alleging policy, statutory, or constitutional violations. However, proposed edits to Policy 2:260 explicitly strike out standard formal grievance processing for anonymous claims, introducing strict new requirements recommended by the Policy Committee (highlighted in blue) and edited by the District’s Attorney (stricken in yellow highlights and added in pink highlights):

While the District notes it may still review anonymous reports “as appropriate,” stripped of the formal grievance mechanism, anonymous submissions will no longer trigger mandatory investigation reporting, formal Board findings, or structured appeal rights.

The proposed restriction on anonymous grievances follows two separate formal grievance investigations involving Board Member Erin Chan Ding, both of which resulted in official Board determinations that she violated Board policy:

  1. First Complaint (November 2025): Following an anonymous parent complaint regarding Chan Ding’s campaign for Illinois State Representative, an independent investigation by legal counsel found she had violated Policy 2:105 (Ethics and Gift Ban) and Policy 2:80 (Board Member Code of Conduct). The violations involved circulating campaign nominating petitions at District events and displaying District resources on campaign social media channels. The Board voted 6-1 to uphold the findings and required her to undergo remedial policy training.
  2.  Second Complaint (June/July 2026): A second formal grievance led to a Board decision on July 1, 2026, where the Board accepted investigator findings that Chan Ding again violated Policy 2:80. The Board cited her failure to recuse herself during the vote on her initial grievance—creating an appearance of impropriety—and her continued use of District achievements on active campaign platforms. The Board directed her to remove the content, requested a letter of apology, and asked her to seek independent ethics counseling

The effort to change the grievance policy also comes as the Board navigates additional formal complaints brought against other sitting Board members, including Board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford, Vice President Barry Altshuler, and Board Member Leah Collister-Lazzari.

Ending formal anonymous grievances creates a chilling effect on community members, parents, and District personnel who may fear professional or political retaliation if forced to attach their names to a complaint.

When complaints involve elected officials who wield significant authority over District personnel, policy, and budget decisions, anonymous grievance channels have historically served as a critical whistleblower mechanism. Stripping anonymous claims from formal procedure effectively raises the threshold for public scrutiny—at a time when Board members themselves are subject to active grievance findings.

The proposed edits to Policy 2:260 are currently undergoing Board review and are on the Agenda for discussion at today’s meeting, July 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., Item 6.01. Community members wishing to comment on the proposed changes to the Uniform Grievance Procedure or Board oversight standards can submit public comments or attend tonight’s District 220 Board of Education meeting.

Related: “Reminder: CUSD 220 Board of Education meeting tonight,” “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

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Reminder: CUSD 220 Board of Education meeting tonight

Posted in 220, Agendas, Barrington Education Association, Board of Education, Clown Car, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Elections, Ethics, His Master's Voice, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Lipstick On A Pig, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, Resident Spotlights, School Districts, Snowflake Effect, Taxes, Transparency, Unions, Video Streaming, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on July 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

CUSD 220 Board President Sandra Ficke-Bradford, Vice President Barry Altshuler and member Leah Collister-Lazzari.

The CUSD 220 Board of Education meets this evening at 6:00 PM at the District Administration Center, 515 W. Main Street. Items of most interest on the agenda are:

  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Barry Altshuler
  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Sandra Bradford
  • Consideration to Approve Written Decision Regarding Uniform Grievance Procedure Complaint Concerning Leah Collister-Lazzari
  • Consideration to Approve the Public Release of the July 17, 2026, Uniform Grievance Procedure Investigation Report and Findings
  • First Reading of Board Policy, 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure

A copy of the agenda can be viewed here. The meeting will be live streamed on the district YouTube channel.

Related: “CUSD 220 Board delivers second (slappier) slap on the wrist to member Erin Chan Ding,” “CUSD 220 Board of Education public comments we applaud,” “Special District 220 Board of Education meeting Monday,” “Over $100,000 in Special Interest Funding gifted to 220 Board member’s campaign in failed bid for State Rep job,” “New Evidence of Chan Ding’s Policy Violations and Conflicts of Interest,” “The D220 Board of Ed gets another ‘F’ in accountability & transparency,” “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS – Part 2,” “BOARD OF ED VOTES, MEMBER CHAN DING MADE FLAGRANT POLICY VIOLATIONS,” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency (Updated),” “District 220’s Lack of Transparency” and “Change.org Petition: ‘For the Resignation of Erin Chan Ding ~ D220 Resources are Not for Political Campaigns’”

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Drivers have less than 2 weeks to weigh in on endless toll hikes, years of congestion

Posted in BOHICA, Clown Car, Cost of Living, IDOT, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, Overhead, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Traffic, Unions on July 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Illinois drivers have only a short window to comment on a $26.5 billion capital plan that includes the largest passenger tollway hike in state history.

By Shaw Carlson | Illinois Policy Institute

Drivers face up to 15 years of additional construction and congestion on Illinois toll roads under the system’s proposed capital plan.

They’ll also pay toll hikes continuing long after that.

The Driving Connections plan, announced in June, would spur projects on the Illinois Tollway system until 2042. The $26.5 billion plan would be funded with proposed toll hikes that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on six months before the plan was released.

Former Tollway board member and state Sen. Bill Morris told the Daily Herald that “it appears they decided to raise tolls, and then they threw this together quickly for justification.”

The Tollway proposes raising tolls starting Jan. 1 by about 45 cents per toll for passenger drivers and 30% for commercial drivers. It would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.

You can tell the Tollway Board to reject the tax hike here.

The board is hosting public meetings until July 24 and taking public comments online until noon Aug. 3. The next regular board meeting at which the hike could be approved is Aug. 19.

Lawmakers driven by road needs or union politics?

The proposed toll hike is tied to politics around last year’s mass-transit bailout. Lawmakers redirected about $1 billion a year from the Road Fund toward Chicago-area public transportation, a move opposed by construction unions objecting to losing that road money. The toll hike became the price for labor union support.

House Speaker Chris Welch said unions wanted something to point to that would “help keep working people working and keep roads getting repaired.”

Pritzker appoints the tollway board, and two of its members hold leadership positions in construction unions.

The Driving Connections plan would fund road-widening, reconstruction, bridge work and congestion relief across interstates 355, 88, 294, 80, 94, 90 and the Route 390/I-490 O’Hare-area projects.

Many of those toll roads have recently seen extended periods of construction.

I-294 remains tied up in Central Tri-State work, I-90 was modernized during the previous capital plan and Route 390/I-490 work has been going on for years.

Illinois spent $90,400 per lane-mile in 2023 on state-owned roads — about $16,700 more than the Reason Foundation’s model calculated it should have cost.

Article continues here.

Once again, you can tell the Tollway Board to reject the tax hike here.

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Illinois lawmaker salaries rise 34% faster than their constituents’ paychecks under Pritzker

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Ethics, Fools and their money, Illinois Policy Institute, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Snowflake Effect, Springfield, Taxes, Transparency on July 22, 2026| 1 Comment »

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state lawmakers have increased lawmaker pay while approving budgets that raised taxes on Illinoisans.

By Shaw Carlson | Illinois Policy Institute

Lawmakers’ pay has grown much faster than the average Illinois salary during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s time in office.

Since 2019, the base salary for members of the General Assembly has risen 44.9%, to $98,304 in 2026.

In the same period, the average Illinois salary rose 33.7%, to about $79,779.

That base salary for lawmakers is set to rise to six figures under the newly enacted fiscal 2027 budget and doesn’t include the additional compensation they get for leadership positions and per diems for items such as lodging.

Pritzker signed the record-high $55.9 billion budget that included more than $800 million in business tax increases and rise to lawmakers.

While lawmaker compensation climbs, voters’ priorities are tossed aside

Illinoisans have made clear what they want state leaders to address.

A recent poll found high taxes were the top concern among Illinois voters, with 52.8% choosing it as one of the biggest issues facing the state. The economy ranked second, with about 41% naming it a top one or two issue out of seven.

Report continues here.

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Illinois may bring early warning of toll costs ahead of proposed rate hike

Posted in Fat Bastard, Illinois Tollway, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, The Chicago Way on July 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A roadside sign reads “Welcome to Illinois, The Land of Lincoln,” next to highway signs for Chicago and Indianapolis. | Photo: Sarah Roderick-Fitch / The Center Square

By Sean Reed | The Center Square

While Illinois contemplates raising prices on tollways across the state, one state lawmaker wants increased transparency for drivers.

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, announced he plans to introduce the “Truth in Toll Transparency Act,” which he said will give drivers on Illinois tollways a more advanced warning of the cost to enter a toll.

He told The Center Square he wanted to bring the measure forward because drivers often aren’t made aware of the actual cost of a toll until it’s too late to turn around.

“You will see a sign that says ‘toll ahead’ or ‘paid toll,’ but it does not define what the cost of that toll is going to be on the majority of tollways,” McLaughlin said. “If you’re going to continue to charge us for the tolls, the least you should expect would be to get an exact exact dollar amount before you enter a toll point, and that’s not happening today.”

McLaughlin said the proposed law may come at a small cost to update and place new signage near tollways, but he said that cost would come alongside the tollway already needing to update signs if it approves a rate hike.

McLaughlin noted he doesn’t feel proposed toll increases, which are set to be voted on by Illinois Tollway officials in the coming months, are necessary right now. The increase would be 45 cents per toll for IPASS users and a 30% rate hike for commercial IPASS users.

“To me this is just another opportunity to demand transparency from those in Illinois that have a spending addiction, but have a transparency problem and if you’re going to hit up me and my neighbors for these numbers, let us know in advance before we enter into the toll,” McLaughlin said.

Report continues here.

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Media Mistrust and Why Illinois and California are Failing

Posted in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), John Kass News, News Media, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes on July 19, 2026| Leave a Comment »

By Drew Hayes | John Kass News

Editors Note: This commentary was written by my old boss at WLS AM radio Drew Hayes for his new website: onlaca.com  It is posted here with his permission. He understood the media was collapsing and with its collapse would come lost creditability that is needed by a civil society. JK

John Kass, the legendary Chicago columnist, has a website where he publishes commentary–that often, sadly–are on the sorry state of Illinois. Recently, guest columnist Paul Vallas–who was CEO of the Chicago Public Schools and ran for Mayor in 2023–wrote about Illinois’ horrendous financial problems and the virtue-signaling, DSA-mandated pursuit of ‘equity’.

Vallas brought the receipts, claiming that the Land of Lincoln is the least equitable state in the country. With their failed Governor, J.B. Pritzker, likely to face off with our failed Governor in the 2028 Democrat presidential race, the piece seems to merit a head-to-head comparison between the two states. For the sake of ‘equity,’ we asked ChatGPT to do a side-by-side comparison:

As you can see, both Pritzker and Newsom’s ‘progressive’ policies are deeply inequitable, crushing their states’ economies and making residents’ lives miserable. California, however, is in way worse shape on almost every count. Congratulations, Gavin: You have made California way more inequitable than Illinois. This is something you can actually hang your hat on in the socialist-dominated 2028 Democrat presidential primary.

You can read Paul Vallas’ analysis on the excellent website JohnKass.com here.

“Believe none of what you read or hear and only half of what you see” goes the old adage. The “read” part was added over time, with the evolution of the news media, to a quote from Edgar Allan Poe. Suffice it say, it is no surprise that people increasingly don’t trust the information they receive. And the media bears the blame.

As political discourse becomes ever more fractured and media choices become more diverse, the ability to uncover the truth becomes more challenging. JFK must have seen the explosion of media as an issue when he noted, “The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie, deliberate, contrived, and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic.” Having access to news 24/7 from whatever perspective you choose has rendered the truth a fungible concept.

It is so easy to say the media lies, which it does. That it is hardly worth the debate. But the public—which is not required to do research or even to employ the lost art of critical thinking—judges the truth as they make their media choices.

Commentary continues here.

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Editorial: Our neighbors are rethinking income taxes. How about it, Illinois?

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Chicago Tribune, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Fat Bastard, Girlie man, IDOT, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois Tollway, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, OP/Ed, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Springfield, Taxes, The Chicago Way, Transparency, Unions on July 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Lawmakers work in the Missouri House chamber on April 21, 2026, in Jefferson City, Missouri. Missouri is asking voters whether to gradually eliminate its income tax and shift more toward taxing consumption. (David A. Lieb/AP)

Missouri, Iowa, Indiana and Wisconsin all are thinking creatively about taxes

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Illinoisans often assume high taxes are simply the unavoidable cost of living in the Land of Lincoln. But just across our borders, states are making some very different choices.

Missouri is asking voters whether to gradually eliminate its income tax and shift more toward taxing consumption. Indiana continues to emphasize fiscal restraint and has approved further tax reductions. Wisconsin used part of a multibillion-dollar surplus to enact income tax cuts and has continued debating additional relief. Iowa phased out its graduated individual income tax in favor of a flat rate of 3.8%.

Maybe you think Missouri is making a mistake or Iowa has gone too far. Maybe Wisconsin will reverse course. That’s not our point here. What stands out for us is that our Midwestern neighbors are at least practicing some creative taxation thinking.

Take what is going on in Missouri. On Aug. 4, voters get the chance to weigh in on whether Missouri should fundamentally rethink how it taxes its citizens; specifically whether the Show-Me State should gradually shift its tax burden away from income and toward consumption.

Ironically, Missouri currently has the very tax structure Illinois progressives have long sought: a graduated income tax. Even so, its top marginal income tax rate (4.7%) is lower than Illinois’ flat rate (4.95%).

Missouri’s average combined state and local sales tax rate also remains far below the rate in Illinois. Approval of the amendment could eventually narrow that gap, depending on how lawmakers implement the shift. Even then, Missouri would have a long way to go to match Chicago’s 10.25%.

Article continues here.

Related: “(Meanwhile) Income tax CUT on Missouri ballot; Illinois may see more outmigration”

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