It’s never a bad time to learn about election security.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Big Ten Conference commissioner explains NIL to lawmakers on Capitol Hill
“Name / image / likeness” is a legal way for college athletes to make money; say, by turning up on a car dealer’s television commercial, or when the campus bookstore sells a jersey with his or her name on it.… MORE
Central Illinoisans won’t have the best view of Saturday’s partial solar eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurs around midday Saturday, but central and northern Illinois will not have the best view.… MORE
Central Illinois Congresswoman: We need to stand by Israel
With nothing to do in Washington with no speaker, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) shared her thoughts about the nation’s top stories with reporters in Decatur Monday.… MORE
IMA hosting “Makers on the Move” statewide bus tour
You just might see a big, 56-foot bus wrapped in blue and green, festooned with the logos of Illinois manufacturers.… MORE
Durbin: Finalizing budget must be bipartisan
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) expressed hope that future federal budget discussions will be bipartisan, even after the House vote that removed California representative Kevin McCarthy from the speakership. … MORE
New “bio hub” coming to Chicago to eradicated diseases
The Pritzker administration is bragging about a big “get” – a research “biohub” in Chicago that’s part of a Mark Zuckerberg project. … MORE
Illinois DCFS director resigning at end of year
Illinois DCFS director Marc Smith has announced his resignation, effective Dec. 31.… MORE
Local college rolling out free tuition and fees for qualifying students
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield campus of the University of Illinois is rolling out the “Prairie Promise.” It’s a waiver of tuition and fees for qualifying students. In addition to qualifying for the MAP grant program, UIS vice chancellor for enrollment and retention management Vickie Cook says there are other requirements: “Students need…… MORE
Illinois celebrating book bans during Banned Books Week
The first state to ban book bans is celebrating Banned Books Week. … 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…