By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – More wind turbines will be coming to McLean County after the board approved a special use permit Thursday night. One farmer said this felt like another defeat. “We feel like we don’t exist. All these decisions are being made by people who don’t live by them,” said McLean County farmer,…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A labor leader is the newest member of the McLean County Board. The board Thursday night approved Chairman John McIntyre’s appointment of Jim Rogal to represent District 4, covering west and northwest Normal. Rogal replaces Logan Smith, who resigned in June to accept a job out of state. Smith is…… MORE
As Gov. JB Pritzker signed some criminal justice bills into law Thursday, Illinois House Republicans told a different story.… MORE
The feds have signed off on a plan that lets U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) be chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Illinois without doing a major part of the job. As a federal officeholder, Kelly cannot raise money at the state level. … MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The office of legislative inspector general in Illinois does not have as much power as some would like. One of those people is the current inspector general, retired judge Carol Pope, who has submitted her resignation to the Legislative Ethics Commission. Pope called the position a “paper tiger.” “She is…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – 2022 will be a year of change in Illinois politics. The every-ten-years redistricting process will result in a new congressional map and new legislative maps, the latter already having been signed into law by the governor. There is also a later primary election date – June 28, to allow…… MORE
At the end of May, legislators in Springfield were able to preserve the biodiesel sales tax exemption, in what the top leader of the soybean association says will help farmers all across the state.… MORE
Parents — especially parents of babies — you’ll want to pay attention here.… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The timing of governor’s signing of a new law mandating Asian-American history be taught in Illinois classrooms is no coincidence. While the discussion has been ongoing, “it occurred to us that this was the best way for us to respond to the rise in anti-Asian hate and xenophobia that…… MORE
The child tax credit which is part of the American Rescue Plan begins Thursday, July 15.… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…