By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is announcing his transition team’s recommendations for improving the office. Ideas came from group members and the general public and cover a wide range of areas says Giannoulias. “When it comes to improving driver services, I want to make our driver service facilities among…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Human Services says enhanced benefits in the “SNAP” program are ending next month. Under new federal policy, the extra funds going to SNAP, or food stamp recipients, will stop February 28. So, starting March 1, customers will receive a smaller amount says IDHS Secretary Grace Hou.…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – With some states prosecuting people involved in abortions, a bill awaiting the governor’s action would provide some shelter. “There is language protecting patients from being charged out-of-network costs when a provider invokes the Health Care Right of Conscience Act,” said State Rep. Kelly Cassidy (D-Chicago), the House sponsor. “It explicitly…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – If you have a cervix, you need to get a PAP smear. That’s what a number of women lawmakers said during a news conference promoting preventive health during this Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. “Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the cervix grow out of control. but changes in the…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A history-soaked pair of inaugurations seated the 103rd Illinois General Assembly Wednesday in Springfield. Illinois’ first Black speaker of the House, Chris Welch (D-Hillside), took the oath of office a second time, as did the first woman to lead a caucus in the House, Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). The…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The assault weapons ban – which has the support of the House and Senate Democrats – was signed into law Tuesday night by Gov. JB Pritzker. Supermajority Democrats say it’s vital. “2023 has just barely begun but already there have been 1,151 gun violence deaths in our country,” said State…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The December death of a Springfield man has drawn the attention of the NAACP. Teresa Haley, the organization’s president in Springfield and in Illinois, says the case of Earl Moore, Jr., 35, shows the disparities in health care for Blacks and whites. Moore, who was Black, was hallucinating when a…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Hours after a Highland Park mother played a recording of a six-year-old shrieking away from gunfire, members of the Illinois Senate Monday okayed an assault weapons ban. It came after Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) slammed the House version, one endorsed by Gov. JB Pritzker. The new agreement is…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker ran down what mostly amounted to a “greatest hits” album of his first four years in office. In his second inaugural address Monday afternoon at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, the victories he declared included: “We legalized cannabis,” then added, to cheers, “Oh, I see…… MORE
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – Local Republican leaders have chosen who will replace outgoing State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington). Barickman chose to resign after winning re-election in the new 53rd District. Current 106th State Rep. Tom Bennett (R-Gibson City) will now take his place, receiving 87% of the vote from party chairmen. Normal Town Council…… MORE
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.” …
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…
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…
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…