You just might see a big, 56-foot bus wrapped in blue and green, festooned with the logos of Illinois manufacturers.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
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
Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus rally in Manteno
“I’ve got a feeling that Manteno’s not for sale!”… MORE
Illinois farmers are ready for October
There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending October 1, 2023. … MORE
Illinois lawmakers could vote this fall to allow legislative staffers to unionize
Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers this fall could vote to allow their staff members to unionize
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize. About twenty members of House Democratic staff said last spring they wanted to organize. Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), strongly pro-labor, has been silent until filing a bill this week. “It was a bit of…… 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…