University of Illinois professor Fred Giertz says his figures show Illinois is in positive territory for the first time since before the pandemic began.
Local Sports
IHSA Director: ‘It is our intention that we start all of our fall sports on time’
Week 6: Normal Community squares off against Normal West for third place in Big 12 Conference
Week 5: U-High looking for their second win in a matchup against Champaign Centennial
Politics
Congressman LaHood hopes Illinois losing congressional seat is a ‘wake-up call’
Illinois will lose a seat in Congress after the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent population data shows a decline in the number of residents.
Illinois State Redbirds
ISU graduate workers approve strike authorization
Illinois State University issued a statement late Wednesday on the graduate workers’ strike authorization vote, indicating it believes the two sides can make progress on a contract.
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National News
Political News
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Lawyers for family of Andrew Brown Jr. ask district attorney to recuse himself
Louisiana unveils civil rights markers honoring the courage of activists and the places they organized and boycotted for change
Georgia joins states allowing college athletes to be paid
Cyberattack forces major US fuel pipeline to shut down
Ron DeSantis is on a path to 2024. Democrats hope to head him off.
Attorneys of alleged insurrectionists are given tours of US Capitol
Headlines
Lawyers for family of Andrew Brown Jr. ask district attorney to recuse himself
Louisiana unveils civil rights markers honoring the courage of activists and the places they organized and boycotted for change
Voices
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…