Senate president supports raises
Senate President Emil Jones says Illinois lawmakers deserve the pay raises they’re scheduled to receive over the next two years. Jones wouldn’t say Thursday whether he would let lawmakers vote on whether to reject the proposed raises. Unless legislators formally reject the money, the raises take effect automatically. The state Compensation Review Board has recommended a $7,000 increase for lawmakers by next summer. Legislators just got about a 10 percent raise last year.
State worker faces charges
A data-input worker for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has been charged with pocketing bribes in exchange for providing personal information about car owners and their vehicles to a confidential informant of the federal government. Yvette Beler, 46, of Springfield has been placed on unpaid leave as she faces federal fraud charges, officials said Thursday. White said he believed that Beler’s alleged misdeeds are an “isolated case.”
Man accused of shooting at police
A man has been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a police officer after police say he shot at officers near his home on the Far South Side early Wednesday. Juan Lewis, 26, of the 12300 block of South Lowe Avenue was held in lieu of $350,000 bail when he appeared Thursday before a Cook County judge. An officer fired back at him, but no one was injured.
