In fiscal year 2018, Illinois didn’t have a budget due to the ongoing feud between former Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democratically-controlled General Assembly. In the months before a tenuous general election, the two sides agreed on a 2019 budget that the nonprofit Volcker Alliance now says was, in some ways, just as bad as not having a budget at all.… MORE
It may not come as a surprise to residents that a new report again found Illinois’ property taxes were the second-highest in the nation, but the debate about how to address the problem continues, including among members of the Illinois Property Tax Relief Task Force.… MORE
A law enforcement group and Republican legislative leaders said a recent Illinois Department of Corrections policy change means convicted felons who aren’t U.S. citizens are being released from prison in communities with no notice to local law enforcement, a practice they said raises public safety concerns.… MORE
A state board would decide what the right price to pay for your prescriptions would be, under a bill introduced at the Capitol.… MORE
Statehouse Republicans and the Illinois Sheriffs’ Association are mad about prisoners who have done their time NOT being deported.… MORE
After a long-term investigation, four people were arrested and charged with alleged child sex trafficking crimes.… MORE
Scientists, including one from the University of Illinois, have for the first time been able to quantify the effects of seeding clouds with silver iodide to produce more snow using sophisticated radar technology.… MORE
Illinois’ governor is reacting to adult-use cannabis sales and the tax revenue generated during the first month.… MORE
Administrators of the Wonsook College of Fine Arts at Illinois State University have been planning for a huge renovation project for years and now they have $52.3 million to get it done.… MORE
A McLean County jury found a Bollingbrook man guilty last week of sexual assault in a February 2018 incident when the victim reported to be drugged and sexually assaulted.… MORE
By Mike Matejka Every community has its home-town pride; Bloomington-Normal is proud to claim Steak n’ Shake and MASH TV star McLean Stevenson. We’ve also had a moment of contention and conflict. Sometimes these are uplifting stories of human progress. At other times, they cause us to shake our heads and wonder why. The McLean…
With winter upon us, consider what it takes to catch a northbound train at Amtrak’s Normal Uptown Station.
Periodically, and always at unexpected times, I get real insights from my son, Kyle, who lives in the Denver area.
In our hardened political atmosphere, rising above a defensive (or offensive) reaction, is going to take great skill.