The U.S. senator who once led the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs is taking measure of how things are going with coronavirus around the state.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Normal Planning Commission Chairman announces town council bid
Still more than two-months away from November’s general election, a candidate has come forward saying he intends to run next spring for a seat on the Normal Town Council.… MORE
McLean county leaders discuss new COVID-19 mitigation’s in a closed-door meeting
With McLean County’s rolling positivity rate over 8%, Bloomington’s top elected official says a closed-door meeting on Tuesday with local school and county leaders discussed how to slow the spread of COVID-19.… MORE
Republican family split on Presidential choice
A former Central Illinois Republican Congressman says he’s supporting former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election.… MORE
Republicans calling for another Ethics meeting after lawmaker indicted
Since the last time the Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform met, a major utility was ensnared in a bribery scandal that resulted in a $200 million fine and implicated House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago). Also, yet another lawmaker – Sen. Terry Link (D-Vernon Hills) hsa been indicted. Republicans on the commission say it’s well past time for another meeting.… MORE
Central Illinois Congressman calling on lawmakers to focus on stimulus not postal service
One Central Illinois congressman says Congress should focus on a new stimulus package instead of the postal service calling the lack of a vote a “tragedy.”… MORE
Durbin: Voting by mail, take care of it sooner rather than later
Fresh off a conference call with the U.S. Postal Service’s director of 2020 election mail, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said its recommendations for voting by mail are days ahead of Illinois law.… MORE
U of I test could help schools across the state
It could have been Gov. JB Pritzker’s happiest coronavirus briefing ever.… MORE
A call for tougher ethics
With a multi-million-dollar influence-peddling case landing a $200 million fine for Commonwealth Edison, and yet another lawmaker being indicted, House Republicans say it’s past time to tighten up on ethics.… MORE
Not everyone wants to talk about Mike Madigan
A member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, State Rep. Andre Thapedi (D-Chicago) says there are far more pressing concerns than the legal problems swirling about House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).… 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…