Broadband access will be available to more of rural Illinois, with $50 million in capital funds available as matching funds announced by Gov. JB Pritzker.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Legislative Inspector General Office says more autonomy needed to investigate corruption
The person who is supposed to be policing members of the General Assembly says she is hamstrung by the rules the General Assembly created.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of sales tax exemption
The Democrat-controlled General Assembly voted to override Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s veto of a sales tax exemption.… MORE
Proposed constitutional amendment would establish ‘lockbox’ for Illinois’ FOID card funds
An Illinois lawmaker is proposing to change the Illinois Constitution to protect Firearm Owners Identification card fee revenue from being swept into the state’s general fund. … MORE
Bill to ban red-light cameras gets new life after bribe scandal
A bill to ban red-light cameras in some Illinois municipalities moved forward Wednesday shortly after a former state lawmaker pleaded guilty to taking bribes to protect a red-light camera operator.… MORE
Bill to give all local governments ability to levy gas taxes could push pump prices higher in Illinois
The sponsor of a measure that would give local governments the ability to tack on a municipal gas tax on top of state and federal gas taxes said it was designed to level the playing field inside the state’s boundaries, but a group representing convenience stores said it would make Illinois even more of an outlier compared to neighboring states.… MORE
New lawmaker could be kicked out of the Illinois House
A new lawmaker – appointed with the help of her indicted predecessor – could be kicked out of the Illinois House. The argument against State Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado (D-Chicago) is that her appointment is tainted, because former State Rep. Luis Arroyo was involved through his political organization. … MORE
Illinois’ Secretary of State apologizes for automatic voter registration problems
Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White said Wednesday he put his employees on notice over problems with the state’s automatic voter registration program after it was revealed that more than 570 people who said they weren’t U.S. citizens were improperly registered to vote.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker: ‘Illinois would be better choice than Iowa or New Hampshire’ for primary season
Illinois’ population is so diverse that it’s a much better choice than Iowa or New Hampshire to kick off the primary season.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker: ‘Broadband access will be available to more of rual Illinois’
Broadband access will be available to more of rural Illinois, with $50 million in capital funds available as matching funds announced by Gov. JB Pritzker.… 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…