The Midway Marauders Indoor Football team announced their new home will be Grossinger Motors Arena starting in March of 2020.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Deer harvest down compared to last year
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says the second firearm deer-hunting weekend saw 25,000 deer harvested, 3,000 more than the same period last year.… MORE
Amid federal probe, Illinois lawmakers back bill to repeal Exelon subsidies
With support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, an Illinois state lawmaker has filed legislation to repeal much of the Future Energy Jobs Act, including provisions that would strip the state’s largest utility of a ratepayer subsidy as federal investigators probe the company’s lobbying practices.… MORE
Watchdog: Illinois taxpayers owe $68 billion for subsidized state retiree healthcare
Every Illinois household would have to pay $11,000 to cover the cost of taxpayer-subsidized healthcare benefits for retired state workers, a figure that is expected to grow, according to a new report from public finance watchdog Wirepoints.… MORE
Lightfoot: Illinois lawmakers seeking ‘tinsel on the Christmas tree’ perks killed Chicago casino compromise
Illinois lawmakers were only five voters away from reaching a deal to build a Chicago casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said this week in a discussion about her lobbying trip to Springfield last month. … MORE
Sangamon County man arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot Congressman Davis
A Rochester man has been arrested and charged for allegedly making a threat to shoot central Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis.… MORE
Illinois Attorney General files lawsuit against Juul Labs
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul was joined Thursday by physicians and public health advocates to announce a lawsuit the Attorney General’s office filed against JUUL Labs, Inc., the nation’s largest manufacturer of e-cigarettes.… MORE
ISBE draws for first and last on ballot
In another old-fashioned Illinois custom, someone draws Ping Pong balls out of a wooden box to determine who appears first and who appears last on the March 17 primary ballot.… MORE
State Rep. Zalewski: “It would make it a fun March” in hopes to have sports betting running by March Maddness
The legislature’s point man on sports betting says he hopes things will be up and running by March Madness. Along with the Super Bowl, State Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-Riverside) says the NCAA basketball tournament is a tentpole of sports wagering.… MORE
Illinois’ congressional delegation split along party lines over impeachment
Illinois’ Congressional delegation appears to be split along party lines after the U.S. House announced articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.… 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…