Karen Kidd Stories | North Cook News

Chicago airport-area residents raise stink over foul-smelling windows

By Karen Kidd | Oct 19, 2017

Residents in neighborhoods around Chicago's airports who are concerned about foul odors coming from noise replacement windows are invited to a meeting on Monday for what one area group's spokeswoman says is an attempt to figure out how serious the problem might be.

Morask leadership comes under fire in Maine Township

By Karen Kidd | Oct 2, 2017

Something is rotten in Maine Township, board trustee Susan Kelly Sweeney told the North Cook News recently.

Budget described as no solution to Illinois insolvency

By Karen Kidd | Jul 21, 2017

While state lawmakers ended a two-year budget impasse, the measures adopted by the Illinois Legislature will not fix the state's fiscal mess, an analyst who co-wrote a paper that places the state 49th in long-run solvency told the Sangamon Sun.

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Madigan, Moylan need to go if Illinois is to grow, GOP opponent says

By Karen Kidd | Jul 14, 2017

House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and Rep. Marty Moylan (D-Des Plaines) must be ousted in next year's elections to ensure a better future for the state, a one-time campaign opponent of Moylan said recently.

Democrats told to take 'privilege tax' out of playbook

By Karen Kidd | Jul 2, 2017

The so-called "privilege tax" on Illinois investment firms that passed the Senate in May but now appears stalled in the House needs to be put out of its -- and our -- misery, the co-host of a Chicago-area radio show said recently.

Economist says something's got to give: pensions or public schools

By Karen Kidd | Jul 2, 2017

Public sector employees and retirees could accept less than their constitutionally protected pensions if they understand it's them or public education, an economist said during an appearance on a recent Chicago-based radio show.

Madigan seen as pulling Martwick's strings on property tax vote

By Karen Kidd | Jun 29, 2017

Rep. Robert Martwick (D-Chicago) wasn't being sincere when he explained his 'yes' vote on a property tax freeze he hates, a high-ranking Northwest GOP Club official told the North Cook News recently.

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'Panicked' Democrats fear House downfall after approving school funding bill, radio host says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2017

Democratic state lawmakers showed their true colors in May when they demanded an investigation into an article about apparently doomed school funding reform legislation, a radio show co-host said recently.

Taxpayers say 'reform,' but lawmakers hear 'more taxes,' policy pro says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 17, 2017

Illinois lawmakers betray their ignorance of the needs and opinions of taxpayers when they pass huge tax increases as a way out of the ongoing budget impasse, a policy expert said on a radio program recently.

New Trier hailed for calling off future 'white privilege' seminars

By Karen Kidd | Jun 12, 2017

Free speech and common sense prevailed over nonsense and nastiness at New Trier High School, a nonprofit litigation center president said on a radio show recently.

Morrison calls abortion bill 'outrageously extreme'

By Karen Kidd | May 29, 2017

A bill to expand Illinoisans' rights to end pregnancies on demand, including because of the sex of the fetus, and force taxpayers to foot the bill goes way too far, Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) said on a radio talk show recently.

Wage discrimination bill described as government butting in where there's no need

By Karen Kidd | May 21, 2017

Legislation that has passed the House and is now under review by the Senate would hamstring employers from paying reasonable wages in the name of fighting pay discrimination against women, a Chicago-based public-interest group’s leader said on a radio program recently.

'Absurd' math used to calculate 'Comeback Agenda,' financial pro says

By Karen Kidd | May 18, 2017

There won't be any coming back for high-wage earners who will exit Illinois in a hurry if the so-called "Illinois Comeback Agenda" passes, a financial services professional said.

Medicaid, education must be key budget planks, former senator says

By Karen Kidd | Apr 4, 2017

Lawmakers in Springfield hammering out the so-called Grand Bargain need to restore the faith of business in Illinois, a former state senator turned technology and manufacturing advocate said during a recent Chicago-based radio talk show appearance.

Tax system 'stealing' equity from homeowners, Illinois Opportunity Project co-founder says

By Karen Kidd | Mar 27, 2017

If suburban Chicago property tax owners don't revolt over falling home values and rising property taxes, they won't revolt at all, the co-founder of a liberty-minded advocacy group said.

Liberty Justice Center president looks into legality of New Trier school's racial seminar

By Karen Kidd | Mar 6, 2017

A controversial day-long racial seminar, "Understanding Today’s Struggles for Racial Civil Rights," at New Trier High School, has caught the attention of a Chicago-based public-interest litigation center's president.

Republican Women of Park Ridge VP: Support for school board candidate personal, not partisan

By Karen Kidd | Jan 29, 2017

The vice president of a Park Ridge club for women Republicans says her support for a local school board candidate is personal and not an attempt to interject partisanship into an officially nonpartisan race.

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Term limits keep politicians from feeling comfortable and complacent, new state senator says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 1, 2017

The incoming state senator representing Illinois' 27th District has said he agrees with term limits, though a University of Illinois political scientist maintains that term limits have not turned out the way supporters or opponents expected.

Illinois taxpayers must demand that legislators reform pension system, analyst says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 7, 2016

Illinois taxpayers need to send a clear message to the General Assembly to work with the governor and tackle the state's trillions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities, the president of a government advisory group said during a recent radio interview.

If Illinois Dems win big, they risk owning way more than just victory