Admitting she voted for herself, State Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) strolled into the Christian County courthouse in Taylorville Tuesday morning and participated in early voting. … MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Elected officials approve two solar farms with blessing of local labor unions
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Board on Thursday signed off on construction of two solar farms after receiving assurances that the developers will hire local workers. The board voted unanimously after a leader of the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said unions had reached an agreement with Cypress Creek Renewables. The…… MORE
Bloomington to help Carle go mobile to provide health care for underserved areas
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council agreed to spend some of the money it’s received from the American Rescue Plan to help fund a mobile health unit serving McLean County residents who otherwise wouldn’t have direct assess to medical care. The council voted unanimously Monday night to contribute $150,000 from the federal…… MORE
Republican candidate for governor makes stop in Bloomington
By Dave Dahl BLOOMINGTON – The reported reboot of the Richard Irvin campaign looks a lot like how it started. The Aurora mayor and Republican gubernatorial candidate is back to telling people he is Democrats’ “worst nightmare.” Irvin, speaking with sheriffs in Bloomington Friday, is also back to saying he is intimidating Gov. JB Pritzker…… MORE
Some Downstate Republicans want immediate action to undo the gas tax increase
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Outrage over gas prices made for rich Republican fodder at a campaign announcement starring State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). The senator, one of six Republicans who want to be governor, wants the legislature back in Springfield to do something about the gas tax. The state’s share had been 19 cents…… MORE
GOP Gov. Candidate Sullivan wants to defund teachers’ unions
One of the Republicans running for governor, Jesse Sullivan, told reporters in Springfield Tuesday he wants to defund teachers’ unions, partly by making it easier for teachers to opt out of teachers’ unions.… MORE
Illinois Republican candidates for governor debate Thursday night
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The six men seeking the Republican nomination for governor debated Thursday for ABC-7 in Chicago. Unsurprisingly, guns and school safety were major issues. “Our schools can be soft-armored. Each classroom can become a safe zone,” said State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia). “In our area, law enforcement takes a very active…… MORE
Congressman Davis: Won’t support a law that ‘infringes on the Second Amendment’
Rodney Davis knows something about gun crimes. The Republican Congressman from Taylorville was at a baseball practice near Washington in 2017, when a gunman fired at the players, wounding U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.).… MORE
Tax breaks approved for ex-Bloomington alderman’s downtown rehab plans
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington City Council has signed off on a deal offering tax breaks for a former alderman who wants to expand his downtown business and create space for two other retailers. The council voted unanimously Monday night for an agreement in which local tax incentives would fund approximately 17% of…… MORE
‘Jelani Day Bill’ signed into law
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – The mother of Jelani Day, the late Illinois State University graduate student, is pleased the bill named for her son is now the law in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker has signed legislation requiring local law enforcement notify the FBI within 72 hours after the discovery of a body. Day went…… 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…