Summer Games is an unforgettable weekend celebrating the athletic achievements of Special Olympics Illinois athletes in various sports on June 20-22, 2025!… MORE
Local food pantries brace for SNAP benefit cuts
Millions of Americans may soon lose food assistance program benefits as the reconciliation bill moves through Congress, while local food pantries are already seeing a lot of new faces.… MORE
Bill banning carbon sequestration near Mahomet Aquifer clears General Assembly
A bill that bans carbon sequestration over, under or through portions of the Mahomet Aquifer passed out of the Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers push to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighter gear due to cancer risk
By REILLY COOK & GRACE FRIEDMAN Medill Illinois News Bureau [email protected] SPRINGFIELD — A bill to ban the sale of firefighter protective gear containing “forever chemicals” is gaining momentum in the Illinois General Assembly, as lawmakers, union leaders and firefighters themselves warn that the very equipment designed to save lives may be silently endangering them.…… MORE
In the fight for youth transgender health care, Illinois remains at the forefront
In June 2021, Connie Kathary asked her mom to go on a walk. Though she knew she’d be accepted, it took the then 14-year-old more than 20 minutes to work up the courage to tell her mom that she’s transgender.… MORE
Sewage in the Illinois River has caused a Combined Sewer Overflow in Peoria
Due to the rain, the city of Peoria has issued a Combined Sewer Overflow Alert for Monday.… MORE
Multifamily housing plans met with public disapproval at Normal Town Council
On Monday, new housing in Normal caused a lengthy town council meeting.… MORE
Lawmakers seek to reverse Illinois law penalizing companies that boycott Israel
A growing number of state lawmakers are moving to repeal a 2015 Illinois law penalizing companies that boycott Israel to protest its policies toward Palestinians.… MORE
Native ancestors’ return to rest: A paperwork-laden process underway in Illinois
By BRIDGETTE FOX Capitol News Illinois [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – Two of the country’s largest collections of Native American human remains are held by museums in Illinois. To the director of one of the museums, the work to rebury those remains at the behest of a tribal nation or send them to the tribe is an…… MORE
Community remembers former Richwoods High Football player after tragic drowning
Family, friends, and former teammates are mourning the loss of Santonio Wallace, a former Richwoods High School football player who tragically drowned on Easter Sunday while swimming at Navarre Beach in Florida. He was just 17 years old.… 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…