Whether he meant to or not, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Dunlap) said he is running for another term in Congress – as opposed to running for governor or Illinois Supreme Court justice or simply retiring.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Debunking myths, disliking mandates
The variant is new, but the message is the same: get vaccinated. … MORE
U of I student is your official hostess at this year’s Illinois State Fair
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Your hostess at the 2021 Illinois State Fair, Miss Illinois County Fair Queen Kelsi (cq) Kessler, is actually a newcomer to pageants. “Funny story – my county pageant is the very first pageant I went out for. I was going to college the very next month, and I wanted to…… MORE
ISF: Masks indoors for all regardless of vax status
The theme of the 2021 Illinois State Fair is “One Illinois,” but perhaps it should instead be “Safety First,”… MORE
I-Cash program returns $226 million in unclaimed property
By WJBC Staff SPRINGFIELD – One of the state’s oldest consumer-protection initiatives returned $226 million in lost and misplaced money to an estimated 174,000 people last year. The program, often referred to as I-Cash, safeguards unclaimed property such as unpaid life insurance benefits, forgotten bank accounts and unused rebate cards until it can be returned to…… MORE
Secretary of State employees will have to show proof of vaccination
By WJBC Staff SPRINGFIELD – Due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, Secretary of State Jesse White announced that beginning Sept. 1, Secretary of State employees who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be required to submit to repeated COVID-19 testing. “As the pandemic continues to surge nationally, we must do all we can…… MORE
Illinois universities sharing their back-to-school COVID plans with lawmakers
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – It’s back to school time, but it’s college presidents giving a report. Members of two House committees heard reports not just from college leaders, but from the Illinois Department of Public Health. “We consulted with the Board of Higher Education about strongly encouraging institutions of higher education to require all…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker signs new legislation to take aim at “period poverty”
Newly signed legislation takes aim at what they call “Period Poverty” – when women cannot afford or otherwise access feminine hygiene products.… MORE
Illinois Republicans react to governor’s school mask mandate
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Republicans reacted to Gov. JB Pritzker’s mask mandate for schools by deploying phrases such as “power trip,” “go it alone,” and “cut out a co-equal branch of government.” As for State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia), who wants to oust Pritzker: “Gov. Pritzker put his personal political agenda in front of…… MORE
Police and health professionals hold “Opioid Crisis Next Door” conference in Springfield
The scourge of opioids is not going away. … 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…