Category Archives: State News

Vendors suffer without state budget

Vendors suffer without state budget

By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ state government spending authority has lapsed with six months left in the current fiscal year; and the Secretary of State’s office says it is vendors, not drivers, who will feel the pinch. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has been here before with operations continuing without a way to pay…MORE

Illinois AirBnB hosts make over $73M in 2016

Illinois AirBnB hosts make over $73M in 2016

Homesharing company AirBnB said that their Illinois hosts pulled in $73 million in supplemental income as of December in the year 2016, hosting more than 430,000 bookings.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…