ABC7
— Judge rejects anti-abortion groups’ lawsuit against Illinois abortion law HB40
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/judge-rejects-anti-abortion-groups-lawsuit-against-illinois-abortion-law/2834826/
— California doctor develops breathalyzer measuring THC on breath – Corin Hoggard
http://abc7chicago.com/politics/california-doctor-develops-breathalyzer-measuring-thc-on-breath/2834590/
— Fees, fares and taxes: What’s going up in Chicago in 2018 – Sarah Schulte
http://abc7chicago.com/finance/fees-fares-and-taxes-whats-going-up-in-2018/2835304/
WLS AM
— Judge rules against group trying to stop expansion of publicly funded abortions – Bill Cameron
http://www.wlsam.com/2017/12/28/judge-rules-against-group-trying-to-stop-expansion-of-publicly-funded-abortions/
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— Hundreds lining up daily in DuPage, Will counties to prepay taxes before year’s end – Erin Hegarty
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/news/ct-nvs-prepay-property-tax-dupage-will-st-1229-20171228-story.html
— Judge tosses conservative challenge to new Illinois abortion law, which takes effect Monday – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-law-20171228-story.html
— Due to unprecedented interest, Lake County opens up online property tax prepayments – Emily K. Coleman
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/news/ct-lns-lake-county-property-taxes-prepayment-1227-20171227-story.html
— Conservative activists, legislators seek to stop Illinois abortion law from taking effect Monday – AP
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-illinois-abortion-law-20171228-story.html
— School district consolidation proposal has benefits — and messy details – Pat Lenhoff
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/mundelein/news/ct-lmv-lenhoff-tl-0104-20171228-story.html
— 2018’s challenge: Too many jobs, not enough workers – Danielle Paquette
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-not-enough-workers-20171228-story.html
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
— As Cook County residents rush to prepay property taxes, IRS sows confusion – Nader Issa
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-cook-county-residents-rush-to-prepay-property-taxes-irs-sows-confusion/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: In Illinois and elsewhere, local officials had told residents that property taxes due next year could be pre-paid through the end of this year; that way, the full amount paid this year could still be deducted on returns 2017 returns filed next year. But an IRS advisory issued Wednesday appeared to throw a monkey wrench into the works. The directive, which some found confusing, drew a distinction between paying an estimated amount and paying exact amounts on assessments made prior to 2018.)
— Cook County extends office hours for end-of-year rush to pre-pay property taxes – Nader Issa
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/as-cook-county-residents-rush-to-prepay-property-taxes-irs-sows-confusion/
— Some Chicago voters will see rent control on March ballot – Rachel Hinton
https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/some-chicago-voters-will-see-rent-control-on-march-ballot/
— ‘Call it a good day’ and go away, Joe Biden – Jamie Stiehm
https://chicago.suntimes.com/opinion/joe-biden-president-jamie-stiehm/
DAILY HERALD
— Cook County property taxes can be paid at treasurer’s office Sunday
http://www.dailyherald.com/news/20171228/cook-county-property-taxes-can-be-paid-at-treasurers-office-sunday
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
— Despite IRS warning, property tax stampede rolls on – STEVEN R. STRAHLER
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/NEWS02/171229923/despite-irs-warning-property-tax-stampede-rolls-on
— The new tax law maybe isn’t playing the way the GOP planned – GREG HINZ
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/BLOGS02/171229924/the-new-tax-law-maybe-isnt-playing-the-way-the-gop-planned
(FROM THE ARTICLE: More: The rush is on—to pay taxes before cap kicks in I’m not yet in that group, although I’ve been tempted. But I think I can speak for a vast majority of them in saying that this was not how I was expecting to be spending this holiday season. I think I can say something else, too. If the Internal Revenue Service turns thumbs down on this panicky effort to game a system that’s been stacked against average taxpayer here—so far, the IRS has been less than precise—that panic is going to turn to total outrage. All of this was predictable. While there are good things in the tax bill and some changes were needed, it didn’t need to be stacked against relatively high-tax blue states like Illinois just because most Republicans now come from relatively low-tax red states. Yet, every GOP congressman from Illinois voted for this travesty. Randy Hultgren of Plano, Adam Kinzinger of Joliet, Mike Bost of Murphysboro, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Darin LaHood of Peoria, John Shimkus of Collinsville and, of course, Peter Roskam of Wheaton. Every one of them voted to tax money that already had been paid as taxes, something Republicans used to stand against. In case you don’t know, Roskam was one of the prime authors of the tax plan. He keeps saying it will turn out to be an overall plus. Maybe yes, maybe no. Trump promised everyday Americans a “giant tax cut for Christmas.” But for many, many of Roskam’s constituents here in Illinois, this yuletide season has become time to scramble in hopes minimizing the damage from the GOP’s big tax “cut.” Roskam was in a position to do something about that. He was on the conference committee that produced the final bill. But if he did something to help his state and his district to make sure it was treated the same as other states, he sure kept it quiet. What all those headlines and prepayments tell me is that people are prepared to vote their fears and not their hopes this fall. We’ll see if that’s right. Meanwhile, on behalf of Roskam & Co.: Merry Christmas, suckers! And a happy new year.)
— Rauner’s Medicaid revamp just became a little less secret – KRISTEN SCHORSCH
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20171228/NEWS03/171229925/rauners-medicaid-revamp-just-became-a-little-less-secret
BLOOMINGTON PANTAGRAPH
— Practices, opinions vary for early tax payments – Edith Brady-Lunny
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/practices-opinions-vary-for-early-tax-payments/article_23949912-1fbd-5331-94cf-b23ec4a0a0e3.html
— Illinois judge dismisses public abortion-funding challenge – AP
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/government-and-politics/illinois-judge-dismisses-public-abortion-funding-challenge/article_e78b9a00-dc87-5b7b-966b-3482a4ba34cf.html
MADISON RECORD
— Reaction to tax bill is as partisan as votes taken to get through Congress – Ann Maher
https://madisonrecord.com/stories/511306119-reaction-to-tax-bill-is-as-partisan-as-votes-taken-to-get-through-congress
NPR ILLINOIS
— Abortion Opponents Lose In Court, But Say They’ll Appeal – BRIAN MACKEY
http://nprillinois.org/post/abortion-opponents-lose-court-say-theyll-appeal#stream/0
— DISGUSTING, TRAGIC: California Prepares For Recreational Marijuana Sales On Jan. 1.
http://nprillinois.org/post/california-prepares-recreational-marijuana-sales-jan-1#stream/0
NORTHERN PUBLIC RADIO
— Illinois Political Expert Predicts ‘Intense’ Election Year – MARK SCHULTZ
http://northernpublicradio.org/post/illinois-political-expert-predicts-intense-election-year
WRAL
— Judge dismisses public-pay abortion challenge, appeal next – AP
http://www.wral.com/activists-seek-injunction-against-illinois-abortion-law/17217026/
MCHENRY COUNTY BLOG
— Challenge of John Reinert’s State Senate Petition Signatures Being Judged by State Board of Elections
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/28/challenge-of-john-reinerts-state-senate-petition-signatures-being-judged-by-state-board-of-elections/
— $11,000 More for John Reinert’s State Senate Campaign as He Faces Petition Challenge
http://mchenrycountyblog.com/2017/12/22/11000-more-for-john-reinerts-state-senate-campaign-as-he-faces-petition-challenge/
CHICAGO CITY WIRE
— Kessem sees reform as way to curb Illinois exodus – Glenn Minnis
https://chicagocitywire.com/stories/511304577-kessem-sees-reform-as-way-to-curb-illinois-exodus
EAST CENTRAL REPORTER
— LaHood waits on gubernatorial endorsement
https://eastcentralreporter.com/stories/511279581-lahood-waits-on-gubernatorial-endorsement
LAKE COUNTY GAZETTE
— Wilcox says halting mass exodus will be his No. 1 priority – Angela Underwood
https://lakecountygazette.com/stories/511301872-wilcox-says-halting-mass-exodus-will-be-his-no-1-priority
LIFE NEWS
— Judge Forces Illinois Taxpayers to Pay for Abortions – STEVEN ERTELT
http://www.lifenews.com/2017/12/28/judge-forces-illinois-taxpayers-to-pay-for-abortions/
FOX NEWS
— VIDEO: FNC Special Report: IL Governor’s Race 12 27 17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3mWMqKS50M&feature=youtu.be
https://ivesforillinois.com/stories/511306297-rauner-makes-fox-news-list-of-the-worst-of-201
BLAZE
— Poll: Fewer Americans say they donated to a religious charity this year – Kate Scanlon
http://www.theblaze.com/news/2017/12/28/poll-fewer-americans-say-they-donated-to-a-religious-charity-this-year
CHRISTIAN POST
— Amazon and Microsoft Employees Caught Buying Sex Workers Through Their Work E-Mails – Shannon Azares
https://www.christianpost.com/news/amazon-and-microsoft-employees-caught-buying-sex-workers-through-their-work-e-mails-211695/
WORLD NET DAILY
— U.S. WOMAN STABBED 14 TIMES BY SOMALI MIGRANT, MEDIA GO DARK 1 more for growing Big List of related crimes being swept under rug – LEO HOHMANN
http://www.wnd.com/2017/12/u-s-woman-stabbed-14-times-by-somali-migrant-media-go-dark/
WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Pew: Trump media three times more negative than for Obama, just 5 percent positive – Paul Bedard
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/pew-trump-media-three-times-more-negative-than-for-obama-just-5-percent-positive/article/2644448
THE HILL
— Confusion reigns as people try to figure out property tax rules – NAOMI JAGODA
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/366719-confusion-reigns-as-people-try-to-figure-out-property-tax-rules
REUTERS
— Illinois judge rejects lawsuit challenging abortion coverage expansion – Chris Kenning
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-abortion/illinois-judge-rejects-lawsuit-challenging-abortion-coverage-expansion-idUSKBN1EM1XW
GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE
— To Transform Government, Start With the People – Michael J. Keegan (DIERSEN: GAO hired me in 1980 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, younger person, or veteran who would take the job. IRS hired me in 1971 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job. The Post Office hired me in 1966 because it could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, or veteran who would take the job.)
http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2017/12/transform-government-start-people/144858/
BLACK ENTERPRISE
— DECLINE IN HIRING OF BLACK MANAGERS IN FINANCIAL INDUSTRY ‘UNACCEPTABLE,’ SAYS MAXINE WATERS – Jeffrey McKinney (DIERSEN: Of course, Waters wants financial firms to stop hiring Whites. In 1971, when I was 22 years old, Oldsmobile withdrew a job offer that I had accepted saying that it had just agreed to stop hiring Whites to settle an EEOC complaint.)
http://www.blackenterprise.com/decline-hiring-black-managers-financial-industry/
