Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to make Illinois the best place for raising young children, but one state lawmaker said before putting in more taxpayer resources, the state needs to clean up its act.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Memorial service for the homeless in Springfield
Springfield Thursday night joined the cities commemorating Homeless Persons Memorial Day, held on or about the first day of winter.… MORE
Illinois unemployment rate drops to record low, but remains above national rate
Illinois continues to see a trend of record-low unemployment levels statewide, but the state’s unemployment rate remains above the national average.… MORE
IRMA President: ‘not just businesses which will be affected’ with pay hike
One of the New Laws in the New Year will have some workers happy … and some employers not.… MORE
Illinois’ congressional delegation along party lines on impeachment
Illinois’ congressional representatives were split along party lines about whether President Donald Trump should be impeached for allegations he abused his office and obstructed congress in the Ukraine scandal.… MORE
Report: Illinois’ transparency on economic subsidies gets a middling grade
About 700 people shared their successes and challenges after the first hemp growing season on Tuesday at the inaugural Illinois Hemp Summit in Springfield. … MORE
Illinois Comptroller: ‘the future of our country is at stake’ when it comes to impeaching President Trump
One voice for impeachment comes from the office of … the Illinois comptroller. … MORE
Group looks for substantive plans from Illinois ethics reforms commission
Attempts to change ethics rules in Springfield have been slow to develop at the Illinois statehouse, but not for a lack of trying, according to an analyst who said lawmakers have filed dozens of ethics bills, but few have advanced.… MORE
Report: Illinois home price growth slowest in nation, Northwest Indiana one of the fastest
Illinois home prices, especially in the Chicago area, appreciated at the slowest pace in the nation last year, growing just below the rate of inflation.… MORE
IDOA hosts ‘Hemp Summit’ in Springfield
The first year of legalized hemp growing in Illinois was not without hiccups. And there’s plenty to learn, as the state hosted about 700 people for a “hemp summit” in Springfield Tuesday.… 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…