There were 5.6 days suitable for field work during the week ending October 1, 2023. … MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois lawmakers could vote this fall to allow legislative staffers to unionize
Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers this fall could vote to allow their staff members to unionize
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize. About twenty members of House Democratic staff said last spring they wanted to organize. Speaker Chris Welch (D-Hillside), strongly pro-labor, has been silent until filing a bill this week. “It was a bit of…… MORE
Illinois Senate Public Health Committee hears about long covid
Covid commands your attention. That’s what state senators on the Public Health Committee heard Tuesday.… MORE
This week’s USDA crop report
Corn harvested reached 10 percent, compared to the 5-year average of 13 percent.… MORE
New “learning center” in the Illinois Supreme Court building
There’s another educational thing to see when you’re in Springfield.… MORE
Some Illinois Lawmakers want to rein in social media used by children
Stories of teen suicide fueled by social media fueled an Illinois Senate hearing Tuesday.… MORE
Pretrial Fairness Act now in effect
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Community groups representing the Springfield area and the state celebrated Monday at the state Capitol – as the new law ending cash bail took effect. State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) has a response for those who criticize the new law as putting counties into a financial crunch. “We’ve put additional…… MORE
Southern Illinois company will supply combat boots to the U.S. Army
When soldiers put their boots on the ground … those boots will soon be coming from Illinois.… MORE
Illinois’ second-in-command return from Japan
A delegation led by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is back from Japan, and she believes the trade mission met its goal.… 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…