A student at Manual High School was arrested Friday for allegedly bringing a gun to school.… MORE
Feds pull grant funding from Illinois fair housing orgs that investigate discrimination
John Petruszak opened his email Feb. 27 to find a message he called “shocking”: the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development had rescinded two grants it had awarded to his advocacy organization, the South Suburban Housing Center.… MORE
Democratic lawmaker grows concerned with use of AI in health care
Illinois lawmakers are growing concerned with the use of artificial intelligence in health care. … MORE
Two firefighters suffer minor injuries in Thursday Bloomington fire at strip mall
The cause of a fire Thursday night that destroyed business at a Bloomington strip mall remains under investigation.… MORE
Federal judge Jim Shadid to become Bradley University’s next president
Federal judge and Bradley University graduate James Shadid has been picked to be the school’s next president.… MORE
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation updated lawmakers Wednesday on its new online licensing system to streamline the process and eliminate backlogs. … MORE
In remarks to teachers union, Pritzker lashes out at Trump’s education cuts
Gov. JB Pritzker on Thursday delivered more harsh criticism against President Donald Trump’s administration over attempts to drastically downsize, and possibly eliminate, the U.S. Department of Education.… MORE
Man hospitalized after car crashes into pond on State Farm’s south campus
A man was hospitalized early Thursday after his car crashed into a pond at the State Farm Corporate South campus. … MORE
‘You are flying.’ Inside the harrowing 100-mile police chase in Sangamon County
When Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Pearce saw a white pickup spotted outside a motorcycle shop that had been burglarized earlier that night, he punched the gas and chased the fleeing truck, reaching race car speeds and screeching his tires through hairpin turns.… MORE
‘Right to Play’ bill that would affect high school athletes advances in House
A House committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would give high school student athletes the right to participate in both school-sponsored teams and nonschool teams in the same sport at the same time, despite concerns that such a policy could create friction between coaches and jeopardize students’ safety.… 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…