By Illinois Radio Network SPRINGFIELD – It’s not just the 177 Illinois state legislators who would need to come back to the Illinois State Capitol to vote on legislation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers would also need staff members, security and other personnel to return to conduct business. Illinois state lawmakers haven’t been in session since…… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Lawmakers weigh in on governor’s plan to reopen Illinois as challenges to executive authority persist
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s five-phased plan to reopen the state was met with mixed reactions from state lawmakers.… MORE
Essential workers only pay $1 a month for daycare during the coronavirus pandemic
Parents with essential jobs can get subsidized daycare for $1 a month – if they can find a center with an opening. … MORE
Pritzker discourages crossing state border for goods, services
As neighboring states begin to loosen restrictions for businesses while Illinois remains under a modified stay-at-home order, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he can’t stop them, although he said he would discourage the practice to limit the spread of COVID-19.… MORE
No word on when Illinois General Assembly will be back in session
There is still no word on when the Illinois General Assembly will be back in session.… MORE
COVID cases in Illinois over sixty thousand
Illinois is up to 61,499 coronavirus cases and 2,628 deaths.… MORE
Clock ticking on latest legal challenge to Pritzker’s stay-at-home order
The clock is ticking on a lawsuit an Illinois state representative filed on behalf of the entire state against the governor to block stay-at-home orders. … MORE
Bloomington businesses to receive partial refund on video gaming fees
Bloomington city government will return some of the money it received from businesses with video gambling machines because the gaming terminals have been shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.… MORE
Attorney expects more lawsuits after state lawmaker successfully challenges Illinois governor’s stay-at-home order
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Monday his office planned to appeal a ruling in a legal fight over the governor’s authority to extend the state’s stay-at-home order.… MORE
Illinois Business Alliance again urges Pritzker to pull progressive tax from ballot
The Illinois Business Alliance, a nonprofit business league, has again urged Gov. J.B. Pritzker to pull the progressive income tax amendment from the November ballot after the governor announced an extension of the state’s stay-at-home order with some modifications.… 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…