By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A survey of Illinois schools finds that 88 percent of the districts responding have trouble filling vacancies in the classroom. And when we talk about a teacher shortage, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education associate dean Nancy Latham wants to re-frame the discussion. “We do not have a shortage…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 25, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 68.3 degrees, 6.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.88 inches, 0.05 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 11 percent very short, 10 percent short, 64 percent adequate, and 15…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The state Department of Agriculture is shedding a little light on how it came up with this year’s attendance numbers for the Illinois State Fair. It’s a sophisticated formula under industry-accepted standards, says ag director Jerry Costello. “The formula and the standards that are used are formulas and standards that…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A pair of former lawmakers have lost in the Illinois Supreme Court, in an attempt to gain a belated payday. The high court’s unanimous decision gave Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza a chance to take a victory lap. “I think it’s just the height of shamelessness to, once you leave office,…… MORE
Gov. JB Pritzker is calling on State Sens. Emil Jones III (D-Chicago) and Mike Hastings (D-Frankfort) to resign. … MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The winners of the $1.34 billion Mega Millions jackpot have come forward. It took about eight weeks for the claimants to present themselves, which is pretty typical when you’re dealing with this amount of money says Illinois Lottery director Harold Mays. “We were not surprised that in this case it…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The world’s grain buyers have descended upon Illinois. Accompanying forty guests from seven nations on a two-day tour of all things corn and soybeans in the state, Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello answers the question, how does one measure the success of the tour? “The traditional way would…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – This year’s Illinois State Fair set some new records. Nearly 637,000 people visited the State Fair Springfield last month, an all time record says spokesperson Krista Lisser. She says the gorgeous weather was a big factor. “We also had great family entertainment,” said Lisser. “While it all depends on the…… MORE
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 6.1 days suitable for field work during the week ending September 18, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 68.2 degrees, 1.6 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 0.50 inches, 0.35 inches below normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 10 percent very short, 14 percent short, 61 percent adequate, and 15…… MORE
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday called up 75 members of the Illinois National Guard to help organize shelter, food and medical care for migrants arriving by bus from Texas. About 500 people seeking asylum in the United States have been transported from the border by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott since…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…