It’s now clean-up time for one local nonprofit after a pip bursts flooded several rooms. … MORE
Illinois lawmakers offer opposing views on the migrant crisis
Lawmakers from opposing parties have opposing views of how to ease the migrant crisis. … MORE
Koehler sponsors bill to address escalating costs of prescription drugs
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria) has sponsored a bill that will help address the rising cost of prescription drugs in Illinois. According to a news release from the Coalition for Prescription Drug Affordability, Koehler and Illinois Rep. Nabeela Syed (D-Inverness) sponsored Illinois House Bill 4472. The bill would create a Prescription…… MORE
Illinois Supreme Court announces task force for elimination of bail
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court, on Tuesday, announced the creation of a task force to review appeals of inmates contesting their detention, as allowed by the Pretrial Fairness Act. The Pretrial Release Appeals Task Force will review pretrial release appeals across the five Illinois Appellate Court districts. In addition, they will consult…… MORE
Springfield FBI Office warns of sextortion schemes involving minors
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – The FBI is sending a warning out to parents and guardians of online solicitation schemes aimed at kids. A Springfield FBI news release states that “sextortion” involves the predator coercing the minor to produce sexually explicit images or video before threatening to release the material unless the victim produces even more.…… MORE
Task force for Illinois Underground Railroad holds first meeting
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – On Tuesday, the Illinois Underground Railroad Task Force held its first meeting in Springfield. The purpose of the task force is to create a cohesive statewide history of the Underground Railroad within the state. The task force was created last year through Senate Bill 1623. State Senator Dave Koehler introduced the…… MORE
ECHL hockey league announces expansion team for Bloomington
A new professional hockey team is coming to the City of Bloomington.… MORE
New rules for governing how people can register their assault weapons with ISP
The wait is over – for now, anyway – for Illinois police and prosecutors to now have rules by which the state’s new assault weapons registry is supposed to work.… MORE
Some Illinois House and Senate Republicans frustrated about state resources going to migrants
A New Year’s Eve airlift of more than 300 migrants, landing at the airport in Rockford, is cause for concern to four Republicans who represent that area.… MORE
IBHE approves ISU’s College of Engineering programs
The Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) has approved Illinois State University’s College of Engineering programs and the new School of Creative Technologies, the school announced Tuesday.… 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…