New legislation in Illinois anticipates a day in which most of us are driving electric cars.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
State launches new COVID-19 vaccine campaign
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The state is launching a new COVID-19 vaccine campaign in hopes of reaching those still on the fence about getting the shots. The initial rollout features four videos from Illinoisans who were initially hestitant about getting the vaccine. That includes Ken, a pastor from Danville who, along with his wife,…… MORE
Area sheriff warns local taxpayers will bear burden as state stops taking inmates from county jails
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Department of Corrections is again declining to accept inmates from county jails because of COVID-19 outbreaks at state prisons, a move a local sheriff said is forcing local taxpayers to foot the bill to house those prisoners. The state calls it a temporary pause, but McLean County Sheriff…… MORE
House Speaker Chris Welch looks back on a year in the role
A lot’s happened in the past year, but it seems more has happened to Chris Welch.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers discuss cannabis licenses
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Lawmakers are looking after the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew grants. State Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (D-Chicago) quizzed Karl Brinson, president of the Chicago Westside NAACP. “What are the reasons we are experiencing this heartbreaking uptick in gun violence since March 2020?” LaPointe asked. “People follow data,” said Brinson, “but you have…… MORE
Sen. Durbin: Biden administration is ‘way behind’ on distributing at-home COVID tests
Illinois’ Senior Senator says President Biden’s plan of sending at-home COVID-19 test kits to Americans is ‘way behind,’ as cases of Omicron skyrocket.… MORE
New bill makes assaulting a DCFS worker a more serious crime
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – With the memory of the Jan. 4 stabbing death of an Illinois Department of Children and Family Services investigator still fresh, two Springfield lawmakers are trying to make an attack on DCFS workers a more serious crime than it is now. “It allows for a person that causes great bodily…… MORE
Consumers and manufacturers in Illinois are debating Right to Repair
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Right to Repair movement – allowing customers and repair shops to bypass the manufacturer in fixing their electronics – is coming to Illinois. The movement, says Illinois Public Interest Research Group director Abe Scarr, is “diverse, bipartisan, and growing: we just want to fix our stuff. But, increasingly, manufacturers…… MORE
Illinois Republicans blaming Democrats for the lack of a legislative inspector general
With another resignation, the Republican who chairs the Legislative Ethics Commission is bemoaning the lack of a legislative inspector general – and blaming the Democrats.… MORE
Sen. Durbin: Looking back on Capitol Insurrection “makes me sick to my stomach”
On the first anniversary of the U.S. Capitol Insurrection, Illinois’ Senior Senator says he still can’t get past the images and pictures of that day.… 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…