How did a retired brigadier general get roped into becoming director of the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs?… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Illinois Top 200 voters are picking the state’s best musicians
Illinois’ bicentennial best-of voters are picking the state’s best musicians.… MORE
Gov. Rauner signs two bills to help Veterans’ Home in Quincy after 13 deaths
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – There’s finally progress in the rebuilding of the Illinois Veterans’ Home in Quincy, where 13 residents died of Legionnaires’ disease in recent years. Gov. Rauner Tuesday signed two bills that help make it happen: one starts the $53 million project; the other incorporates a recently purchased former nursing home –…… MORE
Gov. Rauner: No need to leave voter crosscheck program
Gov. Rauner says he sees no need to exit a national voter database program. … MORE
Gov. Rauner signs gun control measures
Illinois lawmakers say the state’s newest gun control law could stop a mentally ill or violent person from going on a shooting rampage.… MORE
Madigan asks court to declare ‘sanctuary state’ law in compliance with feds
Illinois’ attorney general is asking the courts to rule that a controversial Illinois law about immigration policies complies with federal law.… MORE
Recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling could hurt Democratic candidates
The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling ending forced union fees from government employees could hurt the pocket books of Democratic candidates.… MORE
Illinois examining law regarding recorded conversations
A 13-year-old boy’s felony charge for recording his middle school principal begs the question: When is it OK to record someone without breaking Illinois state law?… MORE
After Independence Day lawmakers moving towards legalizing fireworks
If a suburban lawmaker has her way, this would be the last year that Illinoisans celebrated America’s independence with little more than snakes and sparklers.… MORE
U of I student shot by police said to be armed with air pellet pistol
Authorities investigating an officer-involved shooting near the University of Illinois say the man shot by police Thursday evening was carrying a Beretta air pellet pistol, which looks like a real handgun.… 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…