Jim Dey | Illinois’ policies at least partly to blame for exodus

It’s time as soon as once more to dive in to a different spherical of fast takes on the folks, locations and occasions that have been being talked about over the previous week:

Exit stage left

Gov. J. B. Pritzker likes to characterize Illinois as a affluent, profitable state the place its residents must be proud to stay.

However current inhabitants knowledge gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals not everybody shares his sunny viewpoint.

Census Bureau numbers for 2022 reveal Illinois’ inhabitants dropped by 104,000 between 2021 and 2022. Solely New York and California had a worse decline.

On the identical time, all of the states surrounding Illinois — besides Michigan — loved inhabitants will increase.

Florida and Texas — two widespread locations for folks on the transfer — had inhabitants will increase in extra of 400,000.

Illinois loved a pure inhabitants enhance of practically 5,000 and in-migration of one other 31,000. However roughly 140,000 extra folks moved out of the state than in.

Previous surveys present folks depart Illinois for a wide range of causes, together with a want for extra average climate. However the major causes for leaving, the surveys present, are a want for higher job alternatives and decrease taxes.

Illinois’ inhabitants is roughly 12.5 million.

It’s not over until …

Though it seems to be like Republican state Rep. Deanna Mazzochi of Elmhurst was gerrymandered out of her Illinois Home seat, she has refused to concede defeat.

The DuPage County clerk’s workplace this week started a partial recount of chosen precincts within the new Home District 45, and there’s no telling when will probably be finished.

The clerk’s workplace started the recount Tuesday however suspended it Thursday due to climate considerations. The workplace will likely be closed till Dec. 28.

Mazzochi mentioned the depend is “not even shut” to being finished as a result of she has requested voter data related to the depend that has not been supplied.

Mazzochi was the topic of a number of Information-Gazette columns on how a gerrymander goal responds to being solid for political extinction. She misplaced her re-election bid by 365 votes out of greater than 40,000 solid.

Now Mazzochi is pursuing a partial recount of 29 chosen precincts to assist her determine whether or not to pursue a full recount. That will be an advanced, time-consuming and prolonged authorized course of, one that will eat up a lot of the two-year time period received by the licensed winner, Democrat Jenn Douglass of Elmhurst.

The price of a partial recount is nominal — $10 a precinct. Initially, county officers mentioned the partial recount could be accomplished on Wednesday.

Democrats elevated their pre-existing super-majority within the Illinois Home by fastidiously redrawing a number of districts to place the GOP opposition at an obstacle.

Constitutional, schmonstitutional

Rival legal professionals Tuesday slugged it out in a Kankakee County courtroom over the difficulty of the controversial SAFE-T Act’s constitutionality.

Professional-SAFE-T legal professionals got here out blazing. They argued that prosecutors who filed the lawsuit haven’t any standing to problem the authorized viability of bond abolition that goes into impact on Jan. 1.

Assistant Legal professional Common Darren Kinkead argued that authorized proper belongs solely to felony defendants.

Kinkead characterised prosecutors’ objections as “coverage” associated, not authorized.

Kankakee County State’s Legal professional James Rowe countered that the 700-plus web page legislation handed in January 2021 is rife with deadly flaws. He charged it infringes on the authority of the judiciary, violates the Illinois Structure’s “one-subject rule” and opens the door to permitting violent criminals to stroll free.

The arguments have been nothing that followers of this political controversy haven’t heard earlier than.

The court docket can strike down the legislation or components of it. Decide Thomas Cunnington promised a ruling by Dec. 28, and an enchantment to the Illinois Supreme Courtroom appears sure to comply with.

Previous to oral arguments, legal professionals submitted prolonged written arguments for the court docket to think about.

Beneath the legislation, the bond system in Illinois is abolished, which means felony defendants both will likely be launched after arrest or held till trial.

Critics charged the legislation opens the door to rampant lawlessness as a result of too many people charged with severe crimes will likely be launched. Gov. Pritzker just lately signed a modification of the legislation broadening the class of felonies for which a defendant could also be held. However prosecutors stay sad with the legislation and afraid of its impression if allowed to face.

Distress loves firm

Not too long ago launched Illinois State Board of Schooling knowledge revealed horrible attendance issues within the Champaign-Urbana colleges.

However there’s excellent news. Colleges all through Illinois even have horrible attendance issues.

Statistics present that continual absenteeism statewide elevated to almost 30 % final 12 months, climbing from 21.1 % in 2021.

Persistent absenteeism, to not be confused with truancy, is outlined as lacking greater than 10 % of the college 12 months, with or and not using a legitimate excuse. The college 12 months lasts for at least 185 days.

On-line publication Chalkbeat mentioned state knowledge reveals 228 of the state’s 852 colleges have greater continual absenteeism charges than the state common. Some colleges have charges as excessive as 80 %.

Colleges with the best absenteeism charges function largely low-income and/or minority pupil populations.

In a blinding glimpse of the apparent, one educator famous that “attendance is the primary predictive issue associated to a pupil being profitable at school.” It additionally exacerbates the oft-discussed pupil achievement hole.

Prepared, set, hike

’Tis the season for soccer recruiting, bowl video games and the mass motion of assistant coaches.

One who simply took a step up is former College of Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase. He’s the brand new offensive coordinator at Iowa State.

Head coach Matt Campbell referred to as Scheelhaase “one of many rising stars in faculty soccer teaching circles” and an “excellent recruiter who makes a distinction within the lives of our student-athletes day-after-day.”

A 2012 UI graduate and a four-year starter, Scheelhaase completed his profession right here because the Preventing Illini’s all-time chief in whole offense (10,634 yards). That determine ranks “seventh in Huge Ten historical past,” Iowa State officers mentioned.

Scheelhaase was a member of the UI soccer employees from 2015-2017 earlier than becoming a member of Campbell at Ames as an offensive assistant.

One other former Illini assistant coach who made the transfer to Ames with Scheelhaase is Alex Golesh.

Offfensive coordinator on the College of Tennessee this previous season, Golesh just lately was named head coach on the College of South Florida.