Hundreds of millions of dollars for health care for undocumented immigrants in Illinois is not only out of control, it’s insane, said Illinois Senate Republicans at a Capitol news conference Thursday.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois House Republicans looking ahead to state budget they hope will be different this year
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The next time the legislature is here, it’ll be preparing for Gov. JB Pritzker’s State of the State and budget speech. That’s Feb. 21 -a week from next Wednesday. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) is trying to get out in front of it. She says Republicans will oppose any…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker announces grant money for Historic Route 66
Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on Wednesday announced seven grants totaling $3.3 million coming to the Route 66 Grant Program.… MORE
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association out with 2024 legislative priorities
Illinois’ greatest assets, Mark Denzler says, are its people and its higher education.… MORE
On Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day advocates speak up about funding in Springfield
Black legislators and advocates celebrated Black HIV / AIDS Awareness Day Wednesday by ripping into the Illinois Department of Public Health, accusing the state of inequitable funding, even when Blacks have a disproportionate share of the cases.… MORE
Special Illinois Senate committee looking into prison sentencing
Some numbers-crunchers presented to a special Illinois Senate committee on criminal law and public safety Wednesday, saying one service they offer is to examine bills.… MORE
New bill in Springfield makes mishandling corpse a felony
The allegations of mishandling dozens of corpses at the Heinz Funeral Home in Carlinville have inspired central Illinois lawmakers to draw up a bill making this a felony.… MORE
Illinoisans rally for higher wages as lawmakers return to Springfield
With lawmakers back in Springfield, it’s the season for rallies at the Lincoln statue outside the Capitol.… MORE
Two Illinois Republicans running for Congress visit Southern Border
Two Illinois Republicans, both competing in the March 19 primary, broadcast Monday afternoon from Eagle Pass, Texas, to call for completion of the border wall.… MORE
Illinois State Rep. removes traffic stop bill from consideration
A State Representative is no longer moving a bill forward that would have restricted traffic stops.… 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…