Former Illinois state Sen. Martin Sandoval, a Chicago Democrat, was charged with bribery and filing a false tax return Monday in a manner that suggested he plans to cooperate with prosecutors. … MORE
Category Archives: State News
Ex-State Sen. Martin Sandoval charged in two-count indictment
The ongoing federal investigation into Illinois government and politics has taken another step. … MORE
Illinois Works program aims to help address construction labor shortage
The state of Illinois has committed $25 million to programs that bring more people into the construction industry.… MORE
Illinois lawmaker raised concerns about automatic voter registration program in 2016
An Illinois state senator raised concerns in 2016 that Illinois’ automatic voter registration program could mistakenly give voter cards to people who weren’t U.S. citizens.… MORE
Ethics, property tax relief, population loss among top concerns for lawmakers as governor prepares State of the State speech
Illinois state lawmakers return to Springfield on Tuesday ahead of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s second State of the State speech on Wednesday.… MORE
Illinois Supreme Court to decide if teachers can take maternity leave months after giving birth
The Illinois Supreme Court will decide a lawsuit filed by a teacher. … MORE
Case of coronavirus confirmed in Chicago
Before an event in Springfield Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker said the state has already been preparing for coronavirus. The news had just broken that a Chicago woman is the second person in the U.S. to be diagnosed.… MORE
New law caps out-of-pocket insulin costs
Eighteen hundred dollars a month for a life-or-death drug is out of reach for many people. Megan Blair, the face of a statehouse bill restricting the cost of insulin, appeared at Friday’s bill-signing at a clinic in Springfield.… MORE
Illinois private school tuition program reports big opening night for applications
Tens of thousands of students hoping to go to the private school of their choice tuition-free signed up in the opening hours of availability at the state’s largest private school tuition granting organization.… MORE
Illinois voter registration mistakes could lead to deportation
A programming error in the state’s automatic voter registration system could result in immigrants in the country legally facing deportation. … 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…