Gov. JB Pritzker is making his stance on school masking clear.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Gleason: Hope we don’t have to impose a vaccine mandate
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – More businesses and organizations are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the is no vaccine requirement for employees who work for the City of Bloomington. City Manager Tim Gleason says things could change if the numbers get worse. “I’m hoping that I do not get to a point to where we have to…… MORE
Second Democrat in race to unseat Rep. Rodney Davis
By HOI ABC SPRINGFIELD – A Peoria native is the second Democrat to announce a challenge to 13th District Republican Congressman Rodney Davis. Nikki Budzinski is a labor activist, former senior advisor to Gov. JB Pritzker, and most recently worked at the Office of Management and Budget in the Biden Administration. “Rodney Davis isn’t getting the…… MORE
New laws protecting the victims of domestic violence
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – More people than you would probably guess are victims of domestic violence. Lt. Gov. Juliana Strattion runs down the numbers: “According to the Illinois Coalition against Domestic Violence, in 2019, there were 43,318 adult survivors of domestic violence living in Illinois. These survivors and their children received 52,000 hours of…… MORE
GOP MC targets Speaker Pelosi and Gov. Pritzker in Republican rally speech at Illinois State Fair
For a few minutes on Republican Day Thursday at the Illinois State Fair, the party’s “brand” was making fun of how Democrats look. … MORE
Republicans hold a rally at the Illinois State Fair
Three Republicans have declared for next June’s gubernatorial primary in Illinois. There could be more.… MORE
Illinois’ two U.S. Senators share their views on the Taliban in Afghanistan
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Neither of Illinois’ two U.S. senators is blaming President Biden for the abrupt turn of events in Afghanistan. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) notes U.S. involvement started in the aftermath of 9/11. “Staying beyond that purpose has cost us dearly as a nation. But I’m not going to hold Joe…… MORE
Normal limits alcohol sales at One Normal Plaza, backs Trail East plan to save Uptown mural
By HOI ABC NORMAL – Opponents of alcohol sales at One Normal Plaza scored a partial victory Monday night, as the town council adopted an amended zoning code that does not include liquor or wine shops. The council also accepted plans for a downsized development in Uptown Normal which keeps a popular mural at its current…… MORE
Divided Bloomington council narrowly agrees to consider financial aid for flood victims
By HOi ABC BLOOMINGTON – A narrow Bloomington City Council majority favors continued discussions about providing near-term financial help to flood victims even as elected leaders look at longer-term flood-related repairs costing many millions of dollars. At a committee-of-the-whole meeting Monday night, five of the nine council members backed Mollie Ward’s proposal directing staff to come…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker signs package of bills to fight against Alzheimer’s disease
Illinois is trying to strengthen its fight against Alzheimer’s disease, as part of a package of bills Gov. JB Pritzker signed Monday, Senior Day at the Illinois State Fair.… 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…