Illinois Democrats liked what they heard from the governor, while Republicans react with guarded optimism.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois real estate transfer tax money goes to 85 park projects in matching state grant funds
More than 85 communities from across the state will receive matching grants totaling nearly $30 million to add to or improve their parks and outdoor recreation spaces.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers push to give dogs, cats legal representation in abuse cases
Illinois lawmakers want to allow for abused cats and dogs to have legal representation in court. … MORE
Sandoval pleads guilty as some lawmakers seek to end ‘corrupt’ red-light camera industry
Former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleaded guilty Tuesday to accepting $250,000 in bribes over several years to protect the state’s red-light camera industry while some lawmakers at the statehouse want to ban the cameras altogether. … MORE
Lawmakers hope to see governor address ethics, property taxes, pensions in State of the State address
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to deliver his State of the State address Wednesday and lawmakers from parties want the governor to highlight issues important for their constituents.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers seek truce with other states to end business poaching
Illinois lawmakers want a truce with other states to stop the practice of poaching businesses with tax breaks.… MORE
Groups push for Clean Energy Jobs Act in Illinois
A bill to promote renewable energy and preserve jobs – as Illinois phases out coal – was the subject of a rally in the Capitol Rotunda Monday. A couple of dozen environmentalists representing such groups as the Faith Coalition for the Common Good, Illinois Environmental Council, and Citizens Utility Board, took 23,000 signatures to Gov. Pritzker’s office.… MORE
IRS warns of ‘ghost tax preparers’ who could get taxpayers fined, arrested
The Internal Revenue Service is warning of “ghost” tax preparers who promise big returns.… MORE
Gov. Pritzker again opposes suspending auto voter program that erroneously registered 500 people who said they weren’t U.S. citizens
Gov. J.B. Pritzker again said that temporarily suspending the state’s automatic voter registration program wasn’t necessary despite a programming error that led to more than 500 people who said they weren’t U.S. citizens being improperly registered to vote.… MORE
Republicans look to address firearm owner ID delays, fund sweeps, mandatory fingerprinting proposal
As lawmakers prepare to come back to the Illinois State Capitol this week, some Republicans want to address delays in renewing Firearm Owners’ Identification cards.… 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…