Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Speaker of the Illinois House leads contingent to Israel
The Speaker of the Illinois House led a contingent to Israel this month. State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), chairman of the Illinois Legislative Jewish Caucus, says there were about eight House Democrats on the trip. … MORE
Some Illinois Lawmakers want to rein in social media used by children
Stories of teen suicide fueled by social media fueled an Illinois Senate hearing Tuesday.… MORE
Illinois’ second-in-command return from Japan
A delegation led by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is back from Japan, and she believes the trade mission met its goal.… MORE
Giannoulias testifies during Senate hearing on book banning
Senate Judiciary Committee chair U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) wanted to show his colleagues what’s being done in Illinois to ban book bans… MORE
Former central Illinois lawmaker has died
A longtime Downstate lawmaker known for his fiery floor speeches and piercing wit has passed away.… MORE
Head of Illinois Emergency Management blaming climate change for severity of weather
Whether you believe in it or not, the head of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency blames climate change for the frequency and severity of the weather the last several years.… MORE
Illinois Republican react to conviction of Tim Mapes
Republicans were swift to react to the conviction Thursday of Tim Mapes, longtime chief of staff to then-Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.… MORE
Wednesday marks Governor’s Day at the Illinois State Fair
The Governor’s Day brunch at the BOS Center Wednesday morning was a Democratic love fest.… MORE
Illinois Capitol is a giant construction zone these days
Coming to work to supervise a $240 million renovation of the north wing of the state Capitol is quite a rush for Andrea Aggertt.… 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…