A former DCFS worker says – absolutely – caseworkers need more protection. … MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Senator Durbin: Russia appears to be pulling some troops back, calls Putin a ‘thug’
According to Illinois’ Senior Senator, Russia appears to be pulling back some troops from the Ukraine border, but he does not know what that means.… MORE
Senator Durbin calling on President Biden to ‘hurry up’ in finding SCOTUS replacement
Illinois’ Senior Senator is pushing the nation’s President to act swiftly to find a replacement for Justice Stephen Breyer from the Supreme Court.… MORE
Republicans respond to Gov. Pritzker’s announcement of state lifting mask mandate
Reaction to Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandate rollback announcement was, for Republicans, negative.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker announces statewide mask mandate to end Feb. 28
Those of you ready to unmask: circle Feb. 28 on your calendar.… MORE
Congressman Davis: Lifting of the mask mandate is ‘way past time’
As the state is set to lift the mask mandate at the end of the month, a central Illinois Congressman said the move was needed a long time ago.… MORE
U.S. Transportation Secretary to visit Bloomington-Normal
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is coming to Bloomington-Normal this weekend to highlight work the Department of Transportation is doing to make electric vehicles more accessible to more Americans. According to a news release, that includes launching a new Rural EV Toolkit and announcing historic infrastructure funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law.…… MORE
Illinois Municipal League announces wish list for General Assembly
The voice of Illinois cities, towns, and villages at the statehouse again has a wish list for the General Assembly.… MORE
New proposal aims to fight “organized retail crime”
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is taking another step against what’s called “organized retail crime.” It’s the department store smash-n-grab and also the looting of trucks and trains, much of it captured on video. State Attorney General Kwame Raoul says it can happen just about anywhere. “This type of crime does not restrict itself…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker calling for a freeze of the state’s gas tax
Less than a year after saying the tax on gasoline needed to be doubled and then indexed to inflation, Gov. JB Pritzker says the infrastructure projects it pays for can afford a freeze.… 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…