Southern Illinois News

These Illinois school districts paid the least in penalties for staff raises

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 27, 2018

School districts in Vienna, Goreville and Elizabethtown were among those in Illinois that paid the least in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.

Records show how much Illinois school districts have paid for spiking teacher pensions ahead of retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 26, 2018

School districts in Metropolis and Anna were among those in Illinois that paid the most in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teacher

From Prairie State Wire

19,560 borrowers in default on student loans after attending Illinois schools

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Devry University in Chicago, American Intercontinental University in Schaumburg, and College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn reported the largest share of borrowers of all higher education institutions who defaulted on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to the latest disclosure from the U.S. Department of Education.

From Metro East Sun

House panel's GOP members question the rush to split SIU campuses

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Four GOP members of the House Higher Education Committee wanted to know why Democrats are trying to split the Southern Illinois University (SIU) campuses.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 2,973 college athletes play baseball in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Illinois is the fifth most-popular state for college baseball, federal data shows.

From SE Illinois News

Windhorst promotes fiscal responsibility, tax reform in 118th House District run

By Glenn Minnis | 6 years ago

Patrick Windhorst wants the residents of the 118th House District to remember what makes their community so special to them.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois House approves spending of $635K on three "lactation and wellness" rooms at State Capitol

By LGIS News Service | 6 years ago

The Illinois House of Representatives voted 91-1 Friday to spend $635,570 to build three "lactation and wellness" rooms at the state capitol in Springfield.

6 offenders paroled in zip code 62952 in October

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 20, 2018

Six offenders released on parole in October live in Illinois zip code 62952, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Southern Illinois News.

Report: 63.9% of Metropolis Police Pension Fund is funded

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 19, 2018

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 63.9 percent of the Metropolis Police Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

Analysis: Anna police pension fund saw 14% shortfall in city contribution in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Apr 19, 2018

Of the 651 fire and police pension funds in Illinois, more than 400 were underfunded by cities in 2016, including a fund serving a city in Southern Illinois.

18 offenders paroled in zip code 62992 in October

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 19, 2018

Eighteen offenders released on parole in October live in Illinois zip code 62992, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Southern Illinois News.

From Prairie State Wire

Public employee tally: Bottom 100 townships in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Champaign City, Niles and Macomb City employ the fewest government workers per capita among townships in Illinois, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.

From Prairie State Wire

GOP Senators say enough is enough with graduated income tax proposal

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Seven Republicans took the podium at an impromptu press conference to reject yet another Democrat imposed tax hike.

Report: 57.3% of Metropolis Firefighters Pension Fund is funded

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 18, 2018

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 57.3 percent of the Metropolis Firefighters Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

56 offenders paroled in zip code 62995 in October

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 18, 2018

Fifty six offenders released on parole in October live in Illinois zip code 62995, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Southern Illinois News.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: These Illinois pension funds sustain themselves without subsidies

By Local Labs News Service | 6 years ago

Pension funds in DeKalb, Buffalo Grove and West Chicago could sustain themselves longest without subsidies from taxpayers and members, according to an analysis of data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance.

From SE Illinois News

118th House District candidate Windhorst starts petition to stop progressive-tax proposal

By Marian Johns | 6 years ago

Patrick Windhorst, Massac County state's attorney and Republican candidate for the Illinois House 118th District, is spearheading a petition against a proposed progressive income tax while taking aim at opponent Rep. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) and other lawmakers for supporting it.

Report: 22.2% of Cairo Police Pension Fund is funded

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 17, 2018

With the amount it's obligated to pay pensioners outpacing the funds it has on hand, 22.2 percent of the Cairo Police Pension Fund fund is funded, according to the latest data reported to the Illinois Department of Insurance Pension Division.

Offender paroled in zip code 62988 in October

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 17, 2018

One offender released on parole in October lives in Illinois zip code 62988, according to Illinois Department of Corrections data obtained by Southern Illinois News.

From Prairie State Wire

Public employee tally: Top 100 townships in Illinois

By LGIS Newsfeed | 6 years ago

Venedy, Rector and Newmansville employ the most government workers per capita among townships in Illinois, according to 2017 Illinois State Comptroller financial reports.