As Gov. Pritzker signed a sweeping criminal justice reform bill on Tuesday, one state lawmaker says some areas of the legislation “concern him greatly.”… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
LaHood heading to Washington hoping to secure more vaccines and funding
Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-18) toured Grossinger Motors Arena vaccine distribution center Monday afternoon before his trip to Washington DC and said his top priority headed there is securing more vaccines.… MORE
Bloomington’s mayor blasts blogger’s claims of police misconduct
Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is angrily denying claims city leaders covered up alleged misconduct by a former police officer.… MORE
Senator Barickman “stunned” by Gov. Pritzker’s “harsh political rhetoric” during the budget address
Just days removed from Gov. Pritzker’s budget address, one state senator says he was “stunned” by the Governors’ “harsh political rhetoric” during his speech.… MORE
Madigan leaving the Illinois House at month’s end
An old nemesis says the resignation of longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is “one of the best birthday presents ever.”… MORE
“Culturally responsive teaching” has moved forward at the Illinois State Board of Education
A controversial proposal for “culturally responsive” teaching standards has made it through a legislative rule-making board. This will now be part of teacher training.… MORE
Reaction to the governor’s budget speech
Reacting to Wednesday’s budget speech, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) called it a good faith effort.… MORE
Governor to give his budget speech Wednesday
A political science professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Springfield campus looks ahead to Gov. JB Pritzker’s budget address Wednesday.… MORE
Durbin: Another stimulus package is needed
Illinois’ senior U.S. Senator says another stimulus package could be passed in the coming weeks.… MORE
HGOP’s Durkin decries “imaginary money”
The top Republican in the Illinois House has plenty of skepticism about Wednesday’s budget address from Gov. JB Pritzker.… 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…