Attorney General Kwame Raoul is being careful in his request to revisit the sentence of former cop Jason Van Dyke.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois lawmakers pitch universal college acceptance for some students
Illinois lawmakers are looking at a plan that could make it easier for some high schoolers in the state to stay here for college, but not everyone is happy about the idea. … MORE
Budget woes deeper than anticipated
As his predecessor, Bruce Rauner, said four years ago, new Gov. JB Pritzker says Illinois is in worse shape than he expected.… MORE
More renewable energy coming to Illinois
The next decade will see more use of renewable energy in Illinois, and even more so if an idea floated at the statehouse comes to fruition.… MORE
Illinois lawmakers again look to add LGBT curriculum
Illinois lawmakers are once again want to require the state’s public schools to teach students about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of the nation and the state of Illinois.… MORE
Illinois Senate passes bill to raise minimum wage
The State Senate is voting to raise the minimum wage in Illinois.… MORE
YWCA award can grow with your help
A big award for the YWCA of McLean County could be even bigger with the public’s help.… MORE
Illinois changing state test for elementary, junior high students
Illinois school leaders are promising younger students in the state a shorter state test, and they’re promising schools in the state that they will get those test scores back faster. … MORE
Illinois coalition pushes ‘people and planet first’ agenda
Closing tax loopholes. Making fracking transparent. Encouraging affordable housing. An announcement Wednesday morning by Fair Economy Illinois covered a lot of ground.… MORE
Teacher’s raise has a chance
To the list of bills which former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed — and are getting another chance under new Gov. JB Pritzker — you can add the “teacher minimum wage” bill.… 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…