By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Your hostess for the Illinois State Fair – and, later in the month, the Du Quoin State Fair – is Addisyn Calloni, who is from Royalton, in Franklin County. Since Franklin County has no pageant – her high school does not even have an FFA chapter – she came out…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Back-to-school shopping brings mixed feelings for kids, with summer almost over and the first day of school looming closer. The state intends to make it a less painful time of year for families, rolling back the state’s portion of the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 1.25 percent for school-related…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – You’ll see and experience some new things at the Illinois State Fair this year. Illinois Department of Agriculture director Jerry Costello says the ongoing infrastructure projects – and their results – dominate. “Livestock exhibitors will definitely notice the difference on Eighth Street,” said Costello during Thursday’s fair preview for reporters.…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – “Manufacturing Matters” is the name of a tour the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is on to promote a new study which shows things are better than many people believe. IMA’s president and CEO, Mark Denzler, said, “Education workforce is probably the Number One challenge that manufacturers face. Before the covid pandemic,…… MORE
Illinois Senior Senator Dick Durbin is warning investors to stay away from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.… MORE
State Treasurer Mike Frerichs’ office is holding a live auction of unclaimed property at the Illinois State Fair.… MORE
Secretary of State Jesse White’s office encourages more minorities to consider organ donation.… MORE
According to a state climatologist, July was wetter than usual.… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A new leader is in place for Illinois Democrats. State Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) succeeds U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson), as some in the party – including Gov. JB Pritzker – said Kelly’s fund-raising abilities have been hampered by her status as a federal officeholder. “This past week has been…… MORE
Illinois is on deck to receive $760 million to fight the opioid epidemic.… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…