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.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
State pension costs are not the only thing tying up the budgets
State pension costs are not the only thing tying up the budgets. It’s also local pension costs.… MORE
Congressman LaHood calls former President Trump’s Facebook ban a ‘terrible precedent’
According to one Central Illinois lawmaker, Facebook’s Oversight Board decided to continue the network’s ban of former President Donald Trump’s social media accounts set’s a ‘terrible precedent.’… MORE
State Senator sponsoring a bill to outlaw school dress codes which pertain to hair
Almost sixty years after music’s British Invasion inspired teenagers to test the boundaries with their hairstyles, schoolchildren are still finding the rules oppressive.… MORE
Mwilambwe be sworn in Saturday as Bloomington’s mayor, Normal and Peoria leaders take their oaths next week
History will be made in Bloomington Saturday morning when the city’s next mayor officially takes office.… MORE
Sen. Durbin says American Rescue Plan already paying dividends
The American Rescue Plan is already paying dividends, according to Illinois’ Senior Senator as President Joe Biden crosses 100-day’s in office.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker’s proposed budgetary nip-and-tucks not going over well with retailers
One of the Pritzker administration’s proposed budgetary nip-and-tucks is not going over well with retailers.… MORE
Illinois House committee looking into year-round daylight savings time
Depending on whom you believe, life would be easier if we were on Standard Time, or Daylight Saving Time, year-round.… MORE
Governor introduces the “Consumers and Climate First Act”
What’s billed as a climate-friendly, consumer-friendly proposal is Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Consumers and Climate First Act,” promising a path to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 and greater accountability for Big Energy.… MORE
First in-person leaders’ meeting of the year has left Illinois Republicans wanting
Most of the actors have changed recently, but it looks like the same movie to Illinois Republicans.… 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…