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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:17pm
Thu May 24

Despite Emergency Funding, State Child Care Money Still In Jeopardy

Gov. Pat Quinn successfully worked with state lawmakers to route emergency funding toward child-care providers for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends June 30. But the governor secured the votes needed by extending the wait period for low-income parents to get cash payments from the state.

Also, Quinn’s proposed budget for next fiscal year, which the state legislature is supposed to pass a version of by next week, would make almost $85 million in permanent cuts to child-care providers. This is much to the chagrin of child-care providers who just got done lobbying for the emergency funding. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Michael Sandler
12:34pm
Thu May 24
2 comments

Social Media Password Bill May Soon Be Illinois Law

A bill making it illegal for employers in Illinois to ask employees for their Facebook passwords is one step closer to becoming state law.

HB 3782 was approved by the Illinois Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 55-0. The proposed amendment to the Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act would make it illegal for employers to ask potential and current employees for their social media passwords.

“From a public policy standpoint, employers should not be allowed to look at those passwords,” said State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), a co-sponsor of the bill, in an interview with Progress Illinois. “That information is off limits.”

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Quick Hit
by Brandon Campbell
10:58am
Thu May 24
2 comments

CME Shareholder Meeting Crashed By Community Activists (VIDEO)

Though NATO and its related protests have come and gone, hundreds of Chicago community activists continued to show public outrage through a series of their own protests Wednesday.

On the same day the Chicago Mercantile Exchange held its annual shareholders’ meeting, a group of 60 people from organizations like Arise Chicago, Jane Addams Senior Caucus, and the Lakeview Action Committee, claimed to have legitimately purchased shares from the CME and showed up for the conference.

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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
10:49am
Thu May 24
1 comment

CTU Throws Down The Gauntlet In Fiery Rally (VIDEO)

Teacher union leaders staged a charged rally in downtown Chicago yesterday punctuated by Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis asking the assembled crowd, “What are we here for?” and the crowd chanting back, “Strike!”

Kristie Mayle, financial secretary of CTU, did say that the union is still negotiating with the Chicago Public Schools over a collective bargaining contract that expires June 30. But the clear message yesterday was one of fierce acrimony toward Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Also, speakers portrayed CTU on the front line of a national battle to preserve labor union rights.

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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:06pm
Wed May 23

State Rep Frustrated With Crete Village Board Over Inaction On Controversial ICE Detention Center

With the clock ticking on whether a bill to effectively halt an immigrant detention center in Crete passes the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois House member who represents Crete unloaded on that town’s Village Board for not taking a clear position on the matter.

“They have failed their residents and they have failed me as a representative,” State Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Chicago Heights) told Progress Illinois. “There is a lack of courage and a lack of leadership on the part of village trustees.”

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