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New law cuts red tape for real estate professionals, businesses; takes additional bill...

Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation to reduce burdensome licensing requirements for real estate businesses. The new licensing program is expected to save the state money by reducing a duplicative and unnecessary licensure structure that provides no benefit to the public and discourages business creation and growth.

Flood Insurance Must Protect Homeowners and Taxpayers Alike, says Hultgren

U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) urged reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to ensure taxpayers are shielded from unnecessary risk at a hearing today on “Flood Insurance Reform: A Taxpayer’s Perspective.” Many Illinois homeowners and businesses rely on NFIP to protect themselves from disaster after a flood, so the program must be changed so it benefits those who need it most. Reliable data and accurate mapping are essential to reflect the risks to communities located on flood plains.

Governor Discusses Changes to Move Illinois Forward

Governor Bruce Rauner today toured Phibro Animal Health, an animal health and nutrition company, and discussed changes the state needs to get Illinois back on track

Governor Rauner Signs Bipartisan Legislation to Extend the Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credit

Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Executive Director Audra Hamernik today applauded Governor Bruce Rauner for signing Senate Bill 2921, legislation that preserves an incentive for private investment in affordable housing throughout Illinois by extending the Affordable Housing Tax Credit for an additional five years.

Governor Signs Legislation to Protect Jobs, Ratepayers and Taxpayers

Governor Bruce Rauner today signed Senate Bill 2814, the Future Energy Jobs bill, at a ceremony at Riverdale High School in Port Byron. The bipartisan legislation ensures the Quad Cities and Clinton power facilities remain open for another 10 years, saving thousands of good-paying jobs, while protecting working families, seniors, and thousands of other high-quality, good-paying jobs throughout the state by capping residential and business energy rates

Statement from Governor Rauner on Property Tax Bills

Governor Rauner issued the following statement as many homeowners throughout Illinois face a deadline today to pay property taxes: "Illinois residents are being hit with record property tax increases in communities all around the state even though they already pay the highest property taxes in the nation.

Governor Announces Appointments

Currently, Karahalios is the Chief Legal Counsel and Sworn Deputy Treasurer in the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. He oversees the compliance of state statutes and county ordinances on real estate tax collection and coordinates litigation with the Cook County State’s Attorney and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Durbin: Senate’s Long-Term Transportation Bill Provides Certainty Needed To Create Jobs And Improve Infrastructure

Businesses and state governments would have the certainty they need to plan critical infrastructure projects if the long-term bi-partisan transportation bill passed by the U.S. Senate becomes law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today following a tour of the Midwest Inland Port in Decatur. Since 2009, Congress has passed 34 stop-gap measures to keep the country’s major transportation and infrastructure programs from shutting down, with the most recent vote in late July– the third extension this year alone

Schakowsky Statement on the Responsible Estate Tax Act

"I stood with Senator Bernie Sanders last week to introduce the Responsible Estate Tax Act. The Senator is true progressive champion and I am proud to again work with him to make our tax code more fair. This country is the richest on the face of the earth - and we've never been richer. But this period of extreme wealth is also one of extreme inequality: the richest one-tenth of one percent of Americans has as much wealth as the least affluent 90 percent of us

Hultgren Votes to Protect Illinois Farmers, Family-Owned Businesses with Repeal of Death Tax

U.S. Representatives Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported House passage of a bill he cosponsored, H.R. 1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which permanently repeals the estate, or “death,” tax on family-owned farms and businesses.

Pircher, Nichols & Meeks Hires C.J. Loos As New Associate

CHICAGO - March 25, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pircher, Nichols & Meeks, a national real estate law firm with offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, announced that C.J. Loos has joined the firm as a new associate in the Chicago office. Ms. Loos’ background includes a variety of legal projects, with emphasis on corporate and real estate law

Governor Quinn Signs Law to Strengthen Protections for Illinois Renters

CHICAGO - August 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed a new law protecting Illinois renters in foreclosed multifamily properties. The new law requires those acquiring foreclosed residential property to honor existing leases or give tenants adequate time to make a safe move. This legislation is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to protecting Illinois families and helping them fight foreclosure

Kirk Stresses Key Role of Community Banks

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 24, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Following a Senate Banking Subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today released a statement on the role of community banks in the housing finance system, and expressed his support for winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

Governor Quinn Signs Property Tax Relief Law

CHICAGO - April 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation that will reduce property tax bills for seniors across Illinois. Senate Bill 1894 raises the senior homestead exemption from $4,000 to $5,000 – potentially saving seniors up to more than $200 annually. This new exemption for seniors takes effect for Cook County this year

Former Madison County Treasurer Guilty of Structuring Property Tax Sales to Reward Campaign Contributors

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The former treasurer of Madison County, Illinois pled guilty in U.S. District Court on February 5, 2013, to violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Fred Bathon, 58, was convicted of structuring Madison County property tax sales in a way that increased prices and rewarded campaign contributors.

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Investigation by CHA and HUD Inspectors General ends with guilty plea...

The Chicago Housing Authority will receive restitution for money stolen by a former contractor and her husband after the pair pleaded guilty to stealing funds intended for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, a crime that was exposed following an investigation by the CHA’s Office of the Inspector General.

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Make Your Garage Door Quieter

How to Make Your Garage Door Quieter

Did you know that the structural noise from a garage can be anywhere from 5 decibels to 20 decibels above the background noise levels? And if you are wondering how much change would a 20-decibel increase make, then consider this – with a rise of 20 decibels, the sound energy increases by a factor of 100!