After the Illinois Senate adjourned its spring session – one day late – it was time Tuesday evening to hit the spin room, and Republicans wasted no time hammering on the supermajority Democrats.… MORE
![Spring legislative session comes to a close](https://cdn.socast.io/6616/sites/389/2021/04/28132742/McConchie-e1619637941218.jpeg#aqua_resizer_image_not_local)
After the Illinois Senate adjourned its spring session – one day late – it was time Tuesday evening to hit the spin room, and Republicans wasted no time hammering on the supermajority Democrats.… MORE
Illinois is ready to enter Phase 5 of the COVID-19 reopening plan next week.… MORE
Primary election day will be in late June in 2022, if Gov. JB Pritzker signs the bill the legislature sent him in the waning hours of session.… MORE
Before a long day of legislating, Illinois Senate Republicans hosted their annual Memorial Day remembrance, this time featuring a Gold Star mother from Bloomington.… MORE
While Illinois lawmakers are waiting to consider a budget, other bills are out there to vote on.… MORE
A final proposed budget for the twelve months beginning July First should burst onto the scene at the Capitol Monday, but negotiations on energy legislation have flickered out.… MORE
In case the governor’s listening, in case he’s not aware, Illinois Republicans have a message for him: please veto the maps.… MORE
The recreational cannabis market will soon expand to include more retailers.… MORE
By the end of Monday, Illinois could have new legislative maps to the governor’s desk. And superminority Republicans hope Gov. JB Pritzker, if he sees them, vetoes them.… MORE
With the redistricting debate taking up so much of the oxygen in Springfield, don’t forget about the state budget.… 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…