A new statewide survey conducted by regional school superintendents finds that the teacher shortage in Illinois schools continues to grow, especially in school districts in the central and southern parts of the state.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Dwight Village Board signs off on immigrant detention center
It was decision day in Dwight as the village board Monday night backed plans for a proposed immigration detention facility.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers looking to improve suicide prevention
Suicide has not necessarily touched State Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), but she’s hearing more about it.… MORE
Pritzker reveals long-awaited details of graduated income tax plan
The numbers Illinois has been waiting for since the gubernatorial campaign are here.… MORE
Police mourn “dedicated” deputy, accused killer surrenders near Lincoln
The McHenry County Sheriff’s deputy who lost his life in Rockford Thursday morning while trying to arrest a man on various warrants, including one from McLean County, was remembered as a dedicated and hardworking officer.… MORE
Suspect in officer’s murder has been wanted here since Christmas for Bloomington home break-ins, high-speed chase
Suspected cop killer Floyd Brown, who’s now in police custody, was not a stranger to local authorities. Bloomington Police have been looking for Brown, 39, of Springfield, since just before Christmas when he led officers on a high-speed chase that ended in a multi-car crash on Veterans Parkway.… MORE
New Bill Seeks to Fix Underperforming Nursing Homes
By A.J. Harris SPRINGFIELD – A recent study ranked Illinois dead last when it comes to providing proper care for seniors in nursing homes, so a group of bipartisan lawmakers have introduced a plan to increase penalties for underperforming facilities. Our news partner WMBD TV reports that one reason for senior home homes underperforming is…… MORE
Dwight mayor defends proposed ICE Detention Center
The mayor of Dwight says he’s disgusted with “false or negative” narratives created by opponents of a proposed 45-million dollar immigrant detention center in the Livingston County community.… MORE
Charges dropped in a “Schock”ing turn of events
By Dave Dahl Tonight might be the best night’s sleep Aaron Schock has had in the last four years. “I’m looking forward to having this weight off my chest and not having it be the first thing I think about every morning and the last thing I think about before I go to bed,”…… MORE
Schock shake up could mean a return to politics
The corruption case of former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock has taken an interesting turn.… 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…