Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s recent signing of a bill that expands health care coverage to low-income women seeking abortions has upset many within his party.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Davis suggests taking time to pick next HHS Secretary as Price resigns
Central Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis said he hates to see turnover so soon in the top job at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Health Secretary Tom Price, the man who led the Trump Administration’s efforts to try to repeal the Affordable Care Avt, resigned friday because he used taxpayer money to pay for expense charter plane flights.… MORE
Davis meets with local DACA activists; no clear solution presented
“I’m not willing to comment and commit to a hypothetical support of a bill that may, or may not be, the solution,” said Davis specifically on the Dream Act.… MORE
Free speech safeguarded if Unit 5 kids hold anthem demonstrations
Unit 5 administrators seek to protect the constitutional rights of free speech and expression for students should they stage peaceful demonstrations at school events when the national anthem is played or during the Pledge of Allegiance.… MORE
Comptroller Mendoza endorses Pritzker for governor
Democratic Gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker has a tenacious ally in his corner.… MORE
Mayor Renner: ‘Stuff hitting the fan’ demands his return from medical leave
Even if a month’s medical leave was not long enough, Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said he has no choice but return to his post this weekend because so many critical issues are facing the city.… MORE
Central IL lawmakers seek radical higher education reform
A plan unveiled this week to radically change higher education in Illinois is meant to jumpstart a thoughtful conversation, according to one of two Central Illinois lawmakers who authored the proposal.… MORE
Bloomington sewer fees to rise sharply next year to pay for repairs
Bloomington aldermen have narrowly approved sharply higher sewer rates, rather than imposing more modest increases to repair deteriorating infrastructure.… MORE
Raoul joins race for Attorney General
State Sen. Kwame Raoul is the second Democratic entry in the race for Illinois Attorney General.… MORE
McLean County Board names Bloomington businessman to fill vacancy
A Bloomington businessman wants to bring a business approach to county government.… 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…