Illinois State University is banking on low interest rates to save tens of millions of dollars. ISU’s governing board has approved selling bonds next year to refinance debt for Cardinal Court student housing and the Student Fitness Center.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Suspicious items force evacuation of Amtrak train near Lincoln
Almost 200 Amtrak riders were evacuated from a train near Lincoln and held-up for more than three hours Friday while authorities examined some suspicious items left behind by a passenger.… MORE
UPDATE: ISU trustees adopt budget, send construction wish list to Springfield
Following almost two years of uncertain state funding, Illinois State University’s Board of Trustees has approved a spending plan for the fiscal year that’s well underway.… MORE
More questions than answers in announced Illinois Innovation Network
The devil’s in the details of a new public-private higher education network the state announced Thursday, but a timeline for the project isn’t expected until sometime next year.
… MORE
Durbin, Duckworth slam ‘irresponsible’ budget
Democratic U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois have slammed the $4 trillion budget blueprint which passed the Senate Thursday in a 51-49 vote.… MORE
State jobless rate remains steady, number of jobs drops
The Illinois unemployment remained steady from August to September according to the latest figures released Thursday.… MORE
Durbin continues push for stricter gun laws
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is continuing pressure on other lawmakers to pass gun-control legislation in the wake of the shooting in Las Vegas that left dozens dead and hundreds injured. … MORE
New entry in Democratic Attorney General race
Three’s company, four’s a crowd.… MORE
Duckworth says she’s seen Obama meeting Gold Star families
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth is firing back at President Donald Trump for his comments about what other presidents haven’t done when it come to contacting family members of fallen soldiers.… MORE
Grand jury indicts man for ‘sextorting’ minors in Central Illinois
A federal grand jury in Peoria has indicted a Texas man on charges he sexually exploited four youngsters in Central Illinois by producing videos or taking pictures of them having sex.… 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…