By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The big “pharmacy benefit managers” like Express Scripts and CVS Caremark have almost 100 percent of the market already. Chad Worz told an Illinois House health care committee he is frustrated. “A recent FTC report shows the abuses and powers of PBM’s is a national challenge. It accurately depicts that…… MORE
Two new lawsuits allege decades of sexual abuse at a Chicago juvenile detention center. … MORE
By Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois lawmaker heading a child welfare committee said the state must strengthen its laws and policies to protect homeschooled children facing inadequate education, abuse and neglect. Rep. Terra Costa Howard, the chair of the Adoption and Child Welfare Committee in the Illinois House, called for action following a…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois leaders maintain optimism that the state can continue pushing back against gun violence. “We are all acutely aware of mass shootings, school shootings, they offend our sensibility,” said Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park). “I remind people regularly that there is a mass shooting every weekend in the…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – On just her third day as chairwoman of the Illinois Republican Party, Kathy Salvi sees only good things for Republican nominee and former president Donald Trump in Sunday’s announcement that President Biden will not continue his re-election campaign. “There is a very angry vote that will be coming and will…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A University of Illinois professor says the police shooting of a woman who called 9-1-1 for help is an outlier. Ryan Williams teaches criminology and criminal justice in Springfield and says … the story of now-former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson killing Sonya Massey is a rarity of rarities.…… MORE
The two largest privately owned water utilities in Illinois are seeking to raise rates for a combined 1.5 million customers around the state. … MORE
President Joe Biden returns to the campaign trail next week after battling a case of COVID-19.… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy accused of first-degree murder was in court Thursday afternoon, a day after his indictment and arrest. Loved ones of Sonya Massey of Springfield would not comment after the hearing but applauded when Judge Ryan Cadigan ordered Sean Grayson, 30, held without bond. Prosecutors say…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The July 6 shooting death by police of a 36-year-old Springfield woman has been ruled not justified. Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson is jailed on a five-count murder indictment and has been fired from his job. “Those of us who have been born and raised in Springfield know that…… 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…