Illinois Valley Times

Which Illinois Valley school districts benefit most from state pension subsidies?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Mar 20, 2018

Ohio CHSD 505 in Ohio receives $1,299 per student from the state to fund pensions for public school teachers and administrators – the most in Illinois Valley, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

From Prairie State Wire

Wirepoints: Poor Illinois school districts get smallest portion of state pension subsidies

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Earlville CUSD 9 in LaSalle County receives just $230 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, the lowest of all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

From Prairie State Wire

Wirepoints: Analysis reveals which Illinois school districts benefit most from state pension subsidies

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Rondout SD 72 in Lake County receives $1,579 per student from the state to fund pensions for teachers and administrators, leading all other districts, according to a Wirepoints analysis of Teacher Retirement System data.

Watchdogs: Was your property tax illegally assessed?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Mar 8, 2018

In the last election, 55 assessors in 36 counties, including one in LaSalle County, were illegally placed on the ballot and elected, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs.

Illinois Valley Community College spent $259K per graduate in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Mar 6, 2018

With an annual budget of $37,405,462 and 144 graduates in 2016, Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby spent $259,274 per graduate in 2016, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of data tracking the performance and spending at 48 Illinois community colleges.

From Prairie State Wire

House committee passes bill banning kids under 12 from playing on tackle football teams

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With 11 yes votes, a bill banning youth younger than 12 years old from playing on organized tackle football teams passed the House Mental Health Committee on Thursday.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: 15% of Illinois residents enrolled in food stamps program

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

Approximately 1.9 million Illinoisans – or about 15 percent of the state’s population – were on food stamp rolls in January 2017, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

Analysis: Illinois Valley SNAP participation costs fell 1.77 percent over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 23, 2018

Welfare offices in Princeton and Ottawa saw food stamp costs drop by an average of 1.77 percent from January 2015 to January 2017, according to an Illinois Valley Times analysis of 66 Illinois welfare offices.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: On campuses of all sizes, Illinoisans pay higher in-state tuition than Midwest peers

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

An Illinoisan attending the University of Illinois will spend nearly $8,000 more per year than a Missourian at Missouri State University-Springfield, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of 116 four-year public universities in 10 Midwestern states based on enrollment.

Analysis: 298 people in Illinois Valley added to food stamp rolls over two years

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 9, 2018

The number of people receiving food stamps in two Illinois Valley locations rose by 1.1 percent as President Trump entered office, according to an Illinois Valley Times analysis of federal data.

From Prairie State Wire

Analysis: U of I in-state tuition tops list of 115 Midwest schools spanning 10 states

By LGIS Newsfeed | 7 years ago

With an annual price tag of $15,058, the University of Illinois charged the highest in-state tuition for 2016-17, according to Higher Education Tribune.

Analysis: 150,000+ Illinoisans left food stamp rolls as Trump entered office

By LGIS Newsfeed | Feb 2, 2018

The number of food stamp recipients fell over two years at 54 of 66 Illinois welfare offices analyzed by Prairie State Wire.

Analysis: Proposed K-12 budget would cost Illinois Valley residents $71.1M more in income taxes

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 31, 2018

Illinois Valley residents would pay $71,139,208 more in state income taxes if the state agrees to increase school funding by $7.2 billion, according to a Illinois Valley Times analysis of Illinois Department of Revenue data.

Pleasant View Luther Home hit with health violations

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 24, 2018

Pleasant View Luther Home, a 90-bed skilled care facility in Ottawa, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2017.

La Salle has 14th highest abortion rate among largest Illinois counties in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 17, 2018

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, La Salle County ranked No. 14 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Report: La Salle ranks 16th among largest Illinois counties for abortions performed in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 16, 2018

La Salle County accounted for 141 of the 38,382 abortions performed statewide in 2016, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Analysis: Putnam County HS tops rankings with highest rate of students who fail annual tests, still graduate

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 12, 2017

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, high school graduation rates remain high across the region, according to a Illinois Valley Times analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

CORRECTION At bottom-ranked La Salle SD 122, 91.7 percent fail annual exams

By LGIS Newsfeed | Nov 15, 2017

La Salle Elementary School District 122 had the highest rate of students in the area - 91.7 percent - who fell below standards on the annual state assessments this year, according to an Illinois Valley Times analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data.

30 state lawmakers, including Bivins, leaving office

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 9, 2017

The Illinois General Assembly will see 30 lawmakers not return, including Sen. Tim Bivins (R-Dixon) from the Illinois Valley area.

Putnam County awarded $24,998 by IEMA

By LGIS Newsfeed | Oct 2, 2017

Putnam County recently received a $24,998 grant from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).