The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is overworked and understaffed to the point that it is putting residents’ health in danger, according to a report from the University of Chicago. … MORE
Category Archives: State News
Pritzker lays out priorities for next year, including ethics reforms
Gov. J.B. Pritkzer on Tuesday laid out some of his legislative priorities for next year, including tighter ethics rules for elected officials.… MORE
IFB’s Nielsen: USMCA agreement improvement over NAFTA
House Democrats and Speaker Nancy Pelosi have reached a deal with the White House on the trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.… MORE
Report: Illinois’ cigarette smuggling getting worse
Nearly 20 percent of the cigarettes smoked in Illinois were purchased outside of the state.… MORE
Food stamps in restaurants, gender-neutral bathrooms among 250 new laws coming to Illinois on Jan. 1
More than 250 laws take effect next month in Illinois, changing the rules for everything from vehicle trade-ins to bathroom signs.… MORE
New Study: Certain structures near airports could increase the risk of plane-goose collisions
A new study indicates that certain structures near airports could increase the risk of
plane-goose collisions.
… MORE
IDOT requests feedback regarding state’s transportation system
Illinois residents have the chance to give their feedback regarding the state’s transportation system.… MORE
Several Illinois House GOP members call for special session on ethics
If you have been following the news out of the Capitol at all, you know that “ethics” is the word of the moment.… MORE
Study: Illinois could save state, check recipients, money by modernizing payment methods
When the state of Illinois cuts a check, it’s remitting payment in one of the most expensive and least secure methods possible. Adopting new ways to pay, according to a report from the nonpartisan Illinois Policy Institute, could not only protect against fraud but save people with no relationship with a bank money on check cashing fees.… MORE
Satanic Temple again brings display to Illinois capitol rotunda
By Illinois Radio Network SPRINGFIELD – Some of the temporary displays set up in the rotunda of the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield are getting more attention than others, including a statue from the Satanic Temple of Chicago. Secretary of State Press Secretary Henry Haupt said the tall holiday tree in the rotunda is put up…… 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…