Illinois State Police officials are working on a new service to reduce a backlog of more than 60,000 new, changed, or renewal requests for Firearm Owners’ Identification cards, but it’s expensive and will take time.… MORE
Category Archives: Local News
Father of Rica Rountree arrested for circumstances surrounding her death
Normal Police have arrested Richard Rountree for circumstances surrounding the death of his 8-year-old daughter Rica Rountree.… MORE
Illinois officials promote student financial aid for undocumented, transgender students
Illinois officials are promoting an education grant program designed to provide financial aid to undocumented students and transgender students.… MORE
Warm December broke records across Illinois
Grilling and golfing aren’t normal holiday traditions for residents across the state, but the spike in temperatures and lack of precipitation late last month made outdoor conditions unusually hospitable. … MORE
Some cannabis dispensaries pause recreational sales amid product shortages, wait times at other stores decline
There wasn’t much of a line Monday midday at the recreational cannabis dispensary in Springfield, despite some Chicago-area dispensaries that closed amid labor and product shortages. This after the state announced more than $10.8 million in sales from more than 271,000 transactions in the first five days cannabis has been legal in Illinois. … MORE
Republicans won’t support draft report of Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force
The Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force has missed its deadline to file recommendations and minority Republicans say they can’t sign off on a draft report.… MORE
Rivian to include Amazon Alexa in electric vehicles
Rivian will be integrating Amazon Alexa into its first two all-electric vehicles.… MORE
State Comptroller: ‘red light cameras are pretty much a scam’
Count Illinois’ “checkwriter-in-chief” among those who are displeased with the practice of cameras at red lights generating tickets.… MORE
A decade of positive financial growth for Illinois
The financial picture for Illinois is pretty good, as we enter a new year.… MORE
McLean County native sworn in as Georgia’s newest senator
McLean County native Kelly Loeffler was officially sworn in Monday as Georgia’s newest U.S. Senator.… MORE
Blogs
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…