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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

Illinois Lawmakers Say Wage Increase 'Unlikely'

Illinois lawmakers won't consider increasing the state's minimum wage to $11 as they wind down their fall session. 

The Associated Press reports the House Speaker’s spokesman Steve Brown said "complications" made it unlikely for a wage hike to be passed this year.

Sen. Kim Lightford, a Maywood Democrat, is the plan's sponsor.

"We're trying to find a balance to allow for a wage increase, to support the business community, and to keep the city of Chicago thriving."

Chicago passed its own $13-an-hour wage hike yesterday.

The Illinois Restaurant Association's Sam Toia says his members came around on the idea of a minimum wage hike after last month's statewide referendum showed popular support for it. But he says it's paramount that there be one standard for all of Illinois.
 

"Because the business community likes to see uniform, you know what I mean? They don’t want to see it piecemeal, you know what I mean. Granted they would love to see it at the federal level. But we're not going to get there. So we want to see it as the state level. It's just much easier for the business community to do business."

 
Editor's Note: WUIS's Amanda Vinicky contributed to this story.