If it doesn’t have a motor, people soon won’t need a state sticker to float it on an Illinois lake, river, or pond.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
State Police boost patrols during Memorial Day weekend
Illinois State Police will be watching drivers closely on highways this weekend.… MORE
Illinois opens voting for the state’s best museums
Illinois’ latest bicentennial-best-of-list once again pits the world famous against the locally famous.… MORE
Illinois House passes legislature to legalize industrial hemp
Hemp may be on the comeback trail in Illinois.… MORE
Elections board to revisit auditor general’s alleged misuse of campaign funds
The Illinois Board of Elections must revisit allegations that Illinois’ head governmental investigator misused nearly a half a million dollars in campaign funds during his time as a state lawmaker.… MORE
County Board’s vice chair thinks he knows Rauner’s view on Rivian
McLean County Board vice chairman Jim Soeldner said he suspects Governor Rauner supports Rivian Automotive, and recent comments about the automaker were critical of Illinois’ business climate but not Rivian.… MORE
Lawmakers debate Rauner’s death penalty idea
Is it justice or revenge or politics? Opponents and proponents of bringing back the death penalty in Illinois for cop killers and mass murderers said their piece Monday in committee.… MORE
Illinois House to hold Wednesday hearing on remainder of Rauner’s public safety plan
The Illinois House is set to hear testimony about a slew of measures Gov. Bruce Rauner has raised to enhance public safety.… MORE
Illinois representatives sound off on failure of federal farm bill
A new farm bill faces an uncertain future after conservative House Republicans wanting a vote on an unrelated immigration bill joined Democrats in defeating the legislation.… MORE
Rauners move back into Governor’s Mansion in Springfield
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s family have a “This Old House” story to tell in officially moving back into the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, and one thing they’re looking forward to most is being able to cook their own meals again.… 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…