The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s appeal to overturn his conviction on disorderly conduct charges for falsifying a hate crime.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Testimony continues in 2nd Amendment challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban
An engineer who spent decades designing weapons for one of the world’s leading gun manufacturers testified Tuesday that the assault-style weapons now banned in Illinois are intended only for civilian use and cannot be easily converted into military-grade firearms.… MORE
Contractor’s unsecured databases exposed sensitive voter data in over a dozen Illinois counties
Around 4.6 million records associated with Illinoisans in over a dozen counties – including voting records, registrations and death certificates – were temporarily available on the open internet, according to a security researcher who identified the vulnerability in July. … MORE
Illinois House Minority Leader discusses upcoming election
A top Republican in Springfield is optimistic of gaining ground on supermajority Democrats this election year.… MORE
Trial begins in challenge to assault weapons ban
The owner of a gun store testified Monday that Illinois’ ban on the sale of assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines has had a significant impact on his business and prevented his customers from buying items they would normally use for self-defense, hunting, target shooting or other legal activities.… MORE
Faith Coalition for the Common Good in Springfield calls for repeal of 1994 Crime Bill
With criminal justice and the disproportionate arrests of people of color in the news the last several years, you have to go back thirty years to see the legislation a Springfield interfaith group wants to repeal.… MORE
New mobile app brings changes to state’s Bright Start college savings program
A new mobile app, lower fees, and management by TIAA are the changes to the state’s 529 college savings program, Bright Start, announced Thursday by the treasurer’s office.… MORE
Calculated bribe or ‘kiss up’ to Madigan? Corruption trial kicks off for former AT&T boss
As the federal corruption trial of former AT&T Illinois president Paul La Schiazza formally kicked off on Wednesday, prosecutors and defense attorneys painted two very different pictures of a political hire the telecom giant made in 2017.… MORE
Secretary of State announces digital wallet payments at Illinois DMVs
By WJBC Staff CHICAGO – DMVs throughout Illinois are now accepting contactless payments as part of the Secretary of State’s push to modernize technology and offer more convenient service for customers. “Allowing for digital wallet payments like Apple, Google and Samsung Pay reinforces our steadfast commitment to improving the customer experience at the DMV by…… MORE
Supreme Court hears cases pertaining to detention under the SAFE-T Act
The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a pair of cases that test the authority of local courts to hold criminal suspects behind bars while they await trial.… 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…