Dupage Policy Journal

Wood Dale mayor concerned with possible LGDF cuts

By Mark Reccek | Apr 30, 2015

City of Wood Dale Mayor Nunzio Pulice in April warned residents of Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal to cut the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) by 50 percent, saying the city would lose $681,615.

Attorney Rabin elected secretary of NAMI DuPage

By Mark Reccek | Apr 30, 2015

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of DuPage County recently elected attorney Jeffrey Rabin secretary.

Lisle to swear in three trustees this Sunday

By Mark Reccek | Apr 30, 2015

The Village of Lisle will swear in three re-elected trustees -- Cathy Cawiezel, Mark Boyle and Bob Mande -- this Sunday at noon.

Quincy Airport awarded $1.1 million grant by DOT

By Mark Reccek | Apr 29, 2015

The City of Quincy, Illinois, has received a $1.1 million grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Quincy Regional-Baldwin Field Airport, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced April 28.

Durbin blasts Education Department over recommendation to Corinthian College students

By Mark Reccek | Apr 29, 2015

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) on Tuesday criticized the Department of Education for recommending students who have been adversely impacted by the fall of Corinthian Colleges Inc. transfer to other for-profit companies that are under investigation at the federal and state levels.

Warrenville mayor expresses concerns about losing state tax source

By Amanda Rupp | Apr 29, 2015

Warrenville Mayor David Brummel and other mayors from Chicagoland suburbs recently voiced their concerns about Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal to reduce the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) by 50 percent, saying cutting the state-shared income tax could negatively impact their areas.

FAA study will review aircraft noise metrics

By Mark Reccek | Apr 29, 2015

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has given the go ahead for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) study to re-examine the current metric used to determine acceptable aircraft noise pollution, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) announced Monday.

Durbin, other senators seek living wage for Senate employees

By Mark Reccek | Apr 28, 2015

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and eight of his colleagues from the Democratic caucus sent a letter Monday to Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO) urging contractors who do business with the U.S. Senate to pay their employees a living wage and provide fair health care and other benefits.

Ill. House passes Ives' bill limiting community college severance, buyout deals

By Mark Reccek | Apr 28, 2015

H.B. 3593 would limit the amount of future agreements to no more than one year of salary and benefits.

Cullerton proposes suicide prevention bill

By Carol Ostrow | Apr 28, 2015

Bill would require suicide awareness and prevention training every five years for teachers.

State Senate passes bill to put school board, national races in same election cycle

By Mark Reccek | Apr 27, 2015

State Sen. Tom Cullerton's (D-Dist. 23) legislation to let voters choose school board members alongside candidates for the White House and Congress passed the state Senate with bipartisan support last week. “Good schools mean good businesses in our communities," Cullerton said.

State prisons official urges changes to increase efficiency, cut costs

By Mark Reccek | Apr 27, 2015

Donald Stolworthy, the Illinois Department of Corrections' (DOC) acting director, recently sent a memo to Gov. Bruce Rauner, identifying several problem areas within the state prison system. Currently, the state spends an estimated $38,268 per inmate per year. For many years, Illinois Senate Republicans have sought reforms to reduce costs, improve safety and increase efficiency within the prison system.

Woodbridge calls on residents to protest proposed budget cuts

By Mark Reccek | Apr 27, 2015

Governor proposing 50 percent reduction in revenue from state income tax

Durbin, Will County Board discuss infrastructure, development issues

By Allyson Beasecker | Apr 27, 2015

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with members of the Will County Board last week, while they were in Washington, D.C., for their annual fly-in, to discuss economic-development issues, transportation priorities and manufacturing partnerships that involve the county.

Hultgren's 'sunset' bill aims to eliminate onerous regulations

By Allyson Beasecker | Apr 27, 2015

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) reintroduced his bill, the Regulatory Review and Sunset Act of 2015, H.R. 2010, on Thursday, calling for a process in which federal agencies can “sunset” outdated, duplicative and conflicting regulations that weigh on U.S. businesses and families.

Durbin 'relieved' landfill, aquifer plans in Illinois abandoned

By Mark Reccek | Apr 27, 2015

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued a statement on Thursday after learning Area Disposal has abandoned plans to locate an industrial waste facility at the Clinton Landfill in Clinton, Illinois, and to dispose of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) above the Mahomet Aquifer.

Woodridge launches new community emergency alert system

By Mark Reccek | Apr 26, 2015

Woodridge residents are invited to sign up for a new emergency notification system that allows the village to dispatch messages to particular geographic areas in town and utilize an automated phone system to provide emergency or other information concerning the community, the village said on Thursday.

Bensenville speaks out after O'Hare strays from Fly Quiet runways at night

By Mark Reccek | Apr 26, 2015

Story CopyThe City of Bensenville recently expressed its disappointment in a letter and statement to the City of Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that O’Hare International Airport is no longer complying with its Fly Quiet Program.

Kotowski guides senate passage of plan to undo social service cuts

By Barry Cohen | Apr 24, 2015

Illinois state Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) led passage Wednesday of a bipartisan plan to reverse social services cuts recently enacted by Gov. Bruce Rauner and restore funding for autism, epilepsy and substance abuse prevention.