Illinois House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) announced the morning after the election he would not seek a new term as leader. A spokeswoman said Durkin has no plans to leave the House at the moment.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
Bloomington’s Brady defeated in his bid to become Illinois Secretary of State
By 25 News BLOOMINGTON – State Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) has conceded defeat in his race for Illinois Secretary of State. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias was elected to the post Tuesday night, replacing Jesse White, who’s retiring from the job he’s held since 1999. Giannoulias was Illinois’ youngest Treasurer from 2007 to 2011 during former-Gov. Rod…… MORE
2022 Election Results
Click here for election results from the McLean County Clerk’s Office. Click here for election results from the Bloomington Election Commission’s Office. Click here for other election results from our news partner 25 News. GOVERNORJB Pritzker (D) 2,075,440Darren Bailey (R) 1,638,408Scott Schluter (L) 106,900 IL SECRETARY OF STATEAlexi Giannoulias (D) 2,024,569Dan Brady (R) 1,640,128Jon Stewart…… MORE
State Trooper reminding PTSD support is available for other officers
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – It’s a phrase popularized by Mister Rogers: “Look for the helpers.” But who helps the helpers? The first responders see someone on their worst day, and sometimes on their last day. That’s not for everyone, but Illinois State Police Trooper Elizabeth Clausing says help’s available for her colleagues; she is…… MORE
Cyber era just beginning says National Guard Major General
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The digital world is a primitive one, according to the general who runs the Illinois National Guard. “We’re in the biplane era of cyber,” said Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the state’s adjutant general. “We’re in the early years. Funding, policy, infrastructure that we need in the National Guard is all…… MORE
Republican candidate for governor received a death threat via voicemail this week
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – When news broke of a graphic death threat on State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) and his family, the gubernatorial challenger immediately blamed Democrats. A voicemail says the caller would skin the senator alive and feed members of his family to him. Bailey said the trigger is Gov. JB Pritzker and…… MORE
Durbin reacts to attack on the House Speaker’s husband
By Dave Dahl DECATUR – The hammer attack this week on the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was heartbreaking to U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who says Paul and Nancy Pelosi are friends of his. “There will be more security. I am concerned, because it’s happening too frequently,” Durbin said in Decatur…… MORE
A pre-election labor rally Tuesday was a big Democratic shout of ‘Union Yes’
By Dave Dahl DECATUR – With the Workers’ Rights Amendment on next week’s ballot – promising to strengthen the power of union labor – Democrats turned out Tuesday for a pre-election rally at the IBEW hall in Decatur. Two lawmakers told family stories of how unions carried them. “It’s hard to say this without crying,”…… MORE
Central Illinois Republicans continue push to reinstate cash bail
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The Safe-T Act, the highest profile portion of which being the elimination of cash bail effective Jan. 1, is not on the ballot next week. But, for all the hue and cry Illinois Republicans and law enforcers have raised, it may as well be. “I will demand a repeal of…… MORE
Illinois farmers have caught up on the harvest
By USDA SPRINGFIELD – There were 4.8 days suitable for field work during the week ending October 30, 2022. Statewide, the average temperature was 52.9 degrees, 1.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation averaged 1.43 inches, 0.92 inches above normal. Topsoil moisture supply was rated 13 percent very short, 26 percent short, and 61 percent adequate. Subsoil…… 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…