The latest reaction to the Commonwealth Edison bribery allegations, to which the utility has admitted, is a House Republican call for a special session.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Juneteenth might become a Bloomington city holiday
Bloomington is a step closer to declaring Juneteenth a city holiday.… MORE
Libertarians celebrate ballot access
Candidates on the Libertarian Party ticket filed their paperwork at the Illinois State Board of Elections Monday, then they took a victory lap at the Capitol.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker calls for educational hybrid
In much of Illinois, students, parents, and teachers are still waiting for details about what they’re supposed to do this fall.… MORE
Illinois Senate’s top Republican says ComED fine is evidence enough
The Illinois Senate’s top Republican says regardless of whether House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is charged in the bribery investigation announced Friday, we know quite enough about what happened.… MORE
Pritzker: Illinois speaker ‘must resign’ if allegations true
Gov. J.B. Pritzker says Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan “must resign” if allegations of corruption are true against the fellow Democrat long considered the state’s most powerful lawmaker.… MORE
Where does State Sen. Jason Barickman fall in the mask debate?
While Gov. Pritzker has called for a national mask mandate, one local lawmaker says he supports wearing facial coverings.… MORE
Mayor pushes back on council member’s Facebook video
Normal town council member Stan Nord is getting some push back for a video he posted on social media.… MORE
Safety fears expressed as McLean County Board considers resumption of in-person committee meetings
Elected leaders in McLean County found it’s hard to reach an agreement about what the new normal will look like when it comes to conducting government meetings during COVID-19.… MORE
Will Renner run in 2021?
While local elections are still months away, Bloomington’s top elected official contemplates a re-election bid.… 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…