A law requiring Illinois homes to have an updated smoke detector – with a sealed, ten-year battery – is not in effect until the end of 2022, but fire professionals are promoting it now. This coincides with Fire Prevention Month.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
ISBE to hold budget hearing at Bloomington High School
The Illinois State Board of Education will hold a hearing later this month in Bloomington to gather community input on the state’s budget for public education.… MORE
Brady seeking re-election in 105th District
State Rep. Dan Brady has announced he will seek re-election for his seat in the 105th District.… MORE
Investigators looking into allegations of Sandoval steering business in exchange for kickbacks
A Republican lawmaker is asking federal investigators to release more details after they raided the offices and home of state Sen. Martin Sandoval, the chief negotiator of the state’s $45 billion Rebuild Illinois plan, in a probe involving kickbacks.… MORE
Illinois financial report card not favorable
State government finances in Illinois have continued to deteriorate during a decade of national economic growth, according to the latest analysis from Truth In Accounting.… MORE
The Eternal Indian restoration underway
Work is now underway to restore a northern Illinois landmark.
… MORE
Illinois Women in Leadership conference sharing encouragement, motivation
Women need to feel good about themselves before they can help others.… MORE
Unemployment down, jobs up over the year in Twin-Cities
Jobs were up over the year in Bloomington-Normal and all 14 Illinois metro areas saw a decline in the jobless rate.… MORE
Illinois residents still have questions about REAL ID
Starting October of next year, Illinoisans wishing to fly or enter a military base will need the REAL ID or have a valid passport.… MORE
Remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice
There’s one more thing to see in Springfield. A World War I monument now stands among the other war memorials, not far from Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery.… 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…