The economic slump brought on by the pandemic will end; it’s just a matter of when.… MORE
![State leaders trying to figure out how much money to expect for fiscal year beginning July 1](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/389/2021/03/09133733/Revenue-e1615318664471.jpeg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
The economic slump brought on by the pandemic will end; it’s just a matter of when.… MORE
Suddenly, Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) has more seniority among legislative leaders than the Speaker of the House and the Senate Minority Leader. And he is just beginning his second year.… MORE
A Bloomington alderwoman is calling for a debate about reducing police funding even as elected leaders and staff approach the final stages of a multi-month budget process for the next fiscal year.… MORE
Cities would have an easier time getting bike lanes and sidewalks put in, under a bill advancing in the Illinois House.… MORE
Ah, the innocent days of a lemonade stand. A card table on the sidewalk, a pitcher, ice, paper cups – and the public health department getting all up in your business.… MORE
Illinois Democrats chose U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Matteson) to be their new state party chairwoman. … MORE
Two of the three candidates for Bloomington mayor believe economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic pose the most serious challenge for leaders in the Twin-Cities, while the other mayoral hopeful sees political polarization as the most difficult problem.… MORE
Assuming Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White makes good – this time – on his retirement plans, there’s no shortage of candidates.… MORE
A woman of color from the Chicago area will succeed Mike Madigan as Democratic Party chair in Illinois. We’ll know Wednesday night which one.… MORE
A four-hour Normal Town Council meeting Monday night included disagreement whether Mayor Chris Koos’ neighborhood has rusty water.… 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…