Jhatayn "Jay" Travis, a community organizer who is challenging incumbent state Rep. Christian Mitchell in the 26th District Democratic primary, took jabs Monday at her opponent during a press conference with members of the Chicago Teachers Union and a few elected officials.
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (7th) joined Chicago Alds. Susan Sadlowski Garza (10th) and Brendan Reilly (42nd) at the press conference, held at the Billy Goat Tavern on Michigan Avenue, to tout their support of Travis, who made an unsuccessful bid to unseat Mitchell in 2014.
Travis' campaign is calling Mitchell a "Rauner Democrat," because the incumbent allegedly shares "elite donors and a political agenda" with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.
"He receives over $200,000 from the very same interests he claims to be fighting against, and these are also the very same interests that back a governor who has held the needs of families and the services that they need hostage in this indefensible budget impasse," said Travis, former executive director of the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (KOCO). "So I would say to you, it's time that we have representation in the 26th District that stands with the people and not with corporate interests."
A report from Auditor General William Holland's office finds overtime regulations have allegedly been violated by Illinois Department of Corrections prison guards.
As part of its Medicaid program, the state shelled out $12.3 million in medical costs for 2,850 dead individuals, according to a report released Thursday from the office of Auditor General Bill Holland.
Gov. Pat Quinn's $36.8 billion spending blueprint for fiscal year 2015 contains some notable proposals that did not receive much attention last week after the governor's budget address.
An audit released Tuesday states that a program meant to address violence in Chicago and Cook County was "hastily implemented" and, as a result, did not touch some of the highest-crime communities in the area.
A new audit issued by the Illinois Auditor General Tuesday reveals that most of the state's road fund during eight of the last 10 fiscal years has not gone to direct road construction costs, such as maintenance and repairs.
Gov. Pat Quinn's budget proposal lays the groundwork for the hiring of 75 more auditors at
the Illinois Department of Revenue who will work to collect lost taxes
from people who have shortchanged the state tax system.