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Tom Butala

RTA Board chairman: Raise Illinois’ gas tax

Mon, 05/04/2015 - 4:41pm

Regional Transportation Authority Board Chairman Kirk Dillard during a Monday City Club of Chicago event called for an increase to Illinois’ motor fuel tax as a way to generate revenue for the transportation infrastructure updates. The RTA is charged with administering funding for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace.

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Advocates to lobby state to allow medical marijuana for PTSD

Fri, 05/01/2015 - 4:21pm

Advocates for the use of medical marijuana to help alleviate symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder will lobby the state on Monday to add the condition to the list of ailments for which the drug can be administered under Illinois’ medical marijuana pilot program.

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Cronin: DuPage County an example for local governments in face of Rauner’s budget cuts

Thu, 04/30/2015 - 4:22pm

DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin said his county can serve as an example for Illinois local government officials who are bracing for budget cuts Gov. Bruce Rauner proposed in his 2016 budget.

During a Thursday City Club of Chicago event, Cronin detailed his efforts to eliminate redundancies and streamline DuPage County government. He suggested other counties and municipalities struggling to figure out how to adjust to potential funding cuts in the state’s 2016 budget should emulate reforms DuPage County has already implemented.

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County board passes anti-sweatshop measure

Wed, 04/29/2015 - 4:25pm

Cook County Board members on Wednesday unanimously endorsed a measure sponsored by Commissioner John Fritchey (D-Chicago) that aims to deter the use of sweatshop labor overseas by placing new controls on county procurement. The ordinance creates new guidelines vendors must follow to be eligible to provide the county uniforms for health care, criminal justice and other workers.

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Frerichs places hold on paid internships in Treasurer’s Office

Tue, 04/28/2015 - 4:37pm

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced an indefinite halt on hiring for paid internships in his office after he released the results of an audit of his office on Monday, his 100th day as the state’s treasurer.  

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Union officials criticize ‘right-to-work’ zones in council committee hearing

Tue, 04/28/2015 - 4:20pm

Local labor leaders spoke out against Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed “right-to-work” zones during a Tuesday City Council Workforce Development Committee hearing.

Rauner has touted right-to-work zones as a way to make Illinois more attractive to new businesses and help it compete economically with other Midwestern states. Right-to-work policies ban union-security agreements, which require employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement to pay union dues as a condition of their employment.

Rep. Dold talks economic development at City Club

Mon, 04/27/2015 - 4:32pm

U.S. Congressman Bob Dold (R-Ill.) highlighted a number of proposed Chicago-area economic development initiatives that he said would help grow the middle class while speaking during a Monday City Club of Chicago event.

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CCHHS exceeding CountyCare enrollment goal

Fri, 04/24/2015 - 4:33pm

Cook County Health and Hospitals System released new figures showing the system is exceeding enrollment goals for its CountyCare managed care program.

On Friday, CCHHS Executive Director of Managed Care Steven Glass presented a report to the health system’s board showing 179,393 patients had enrolled in CountyCare as of the beginning of this month, a 17.2 percent increase from the beginning of March. CCHHS had previously set a goal of reaching 156,396 CountyCare enrollees by the beginning of April.

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Ald. Pawar: Transit-oriented development vital on Northwest Side

Thu, 04/23/2015 - 4:48pm

Alderman Ameya Pawar (47th) advocated for transit-oriented development on the city’s Northwest Side while speaking during a meeting of the City Council Zoning Committee on Thursday.

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City’s tourism bureau aims to draw more international visitors

Wed, 04/22/2015 - 2:47pm

After hitting key tourism benchmarks last year, the Choose Chicago tourism bureau is looking to attract more visitors from international markets in 2015.

During a Wednesday City Club of Chicago event, Choose Chicago President and CEO Don Welsh noted that the organization recently opened its fourth Chinese tourism office in Chengdu – one of China’s largest cities. Chicago’s tourism bureau is also working closely with government, media and tourism agencies in Mexico and Canada to draw international visitors.

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