The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Chicago mayor visits Illinois Capitol to meet with governor and legislative leaders
The goal was to lay the groundwork for some state dollars – maybe up to $1 billion.… MORE
Central Illinois lawmaker wants to revive ACP to bring discounted internet to eligible participants
A Central Illinois lawmaker wants to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program after its expiration at the end of April.… MORE
Bill would require state to regulate and tax hemp-derived products
A bill at the Illinois Capitol would end the days of hemp being in a Wild West.… MORE
Central Illinois Congressman LaHood addresses campus protests
Hundreds of protesters across the country continue to use college campuses to voice their opinions about supporting the war in Gaza. … MORE
Longtime Bloomington politician plans to run for Mayor
A former McLean County Coroner wants to become Bloomington’s next mayor. … MORE
Anti-Semitism on the rise across the state
Anti-Semitism is not just going up in Illinois – it’s going up and up, according to the organization which keeps track.… MORE
Moms Demand Action rallies at the state capitol for gun control legislation
Alexandra Burgos lives on through her parents’ work. Rafael and Milagros Burgos attended a Moms Demand Action rally on the Capitol steps in Springfield Tuesday. … MORE
Health care workers rally at state capitol for safe staffing issues
Health care workers crowded the Capitol Thursday, hoping for some listening ears – and some more co-workers.… MORE
Leaders in Springfield provide contrasting views of Illinois to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce
It was a tale of two states Wednesday, when the four legislative leaders – one at a time – addressed members of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce at a conference in Springfield.… 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…