Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is entering a new phase: granting two organizations to operate “pre-apprenticeship” programs. … MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois switching to ACT exams for state assessments
High school students to start new exams in spring 2025 By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News [email protected] SPRINGFIELD – When Illinois high school students sit down to take their annual state assessments next year, they will take a different exam than in recent years. The Illinois State Board of Education recently announced that starting next spring, it…… MORE
Pritzker to meet with Biden, Dem governors concerned about president’s campaign
Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and his fellow Democratic governors on Wednesday amid rising worry within the party about the president’s ability to continue running for a second term.… MORE
Pritzker signs election bill to increase party power in primary elections
Changes to primary election fundraising, the electoral college and the state’s voter registration database are now law after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a wide-ranging bill on Monday.… MORE
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear challenge to Illinois’ assault weapons ban, for now
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Tuesday it will not take up any of the pending challenges to the law until the cases have been fully heard in lower courts. … MORE
Illinois treasurer has reunited another Purple Heart with its rightful owner
State treasurer Mike Frerichs used Independence Day week to – for the eleventh time – reunite a Purple Heart medal with its rightful owner.… MORE
Update from Illinois farm fields in this week’s USDA crop report
There were 5.4 days suitable for fieldwork in the week ending June 30, 2024.… MORE
Illinois State Police seeking person of interest in Kewanee homicide
By WMBD-TV KEWANEE – The Illinois State Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a person of interest for a homicide investigation. On June 8, Kewanee police responded to a welfare check on West Division Street near Chautauqua Park, according to an ISP news release. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive man…… MORE
Illinois’ Comptroller showing strong support for the state’s new budget
The state’s fiscal year begins in two weeks. It’s a tight budget year. It’s a tough budget year. It’s a $53.1 billion budget, largest in state history.… MORE
Construction season underway across Illinois
If you complain about all the orange cones around Illinois, Gov. JB Pritzker says he’s here to tell you: “Sorry. Not sorry.”… 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…