Chicago budget update
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has eliminated property-tax increases from his latest budget proposal for 2025, but at least 15 members of the city council remain opposed to the mayor’s plans.
In a letter sent to the mayor Sunday, the aldermen requested nearly $824 million in spending reductions, saying the mayor’s fourth budget attempt would serve as a delayed, backdoor property tax increase. The council is scheduled to reconvene Monday afternoon.
Former legislator to testify
Federal prosecutors plan to call former state Rep. Eddie Acevedo to the stand as the case against former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan continues into its 11th week.
Prosecutors say AT&T and ComEd paid Acevedo through lobbying firms but he didn’t do any contract lobbyist work. They said the report assigned to Acevedo “was a joke” because it had no value to the company and was only assigned in case someone questioned the arrangement.
Report dead birds
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to report any signs of avian influenza across the state.