If life were a Nat King Cole song, the upcoming days of summer would be lazy, hazy, crazy, and be saturated in soda, pretzels, and beer.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
New bill could waive building permit fees for disabled veterans in Illinois
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – A new bill that is heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would help disabled veterans who need to modify their homes. Illinois Senate Bill 2751, will amend the codes in Illinois counties, townships and municipalities so that disabled veterans or their caretakers will not be charged any building permit fee. The…… MORE
Illinois FBI Special Agent in Charge leaving for position at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The Illinois Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigations leader plans to leave the state for a position at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. … MORE
Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service honors Chief of Maroa Countryside Fire Protection
Tuesday’s annual Illinois fallen firefighters memorial service honored those who died in the line of duty in 2023: four from the Chicago Fire Department and the chief of the Maroa Countryside Fire Protection District.… MORE
More than $20 million returned to Illinoisans in lost assets for April
By WMBD-TV SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced on Monday the state’s missing money program, I-Cash, has returned $20.6 million to residents for the month of April. A news release from Frerichs’ office stated that 16,662 Illinoisians were given the missing money. “Putting money back in people’s pockets helps families and our state’s…… MORE
House gives OK to new state agency focused on early childhood programs
The Illinois House gave final passage Thursday to a bill establishing a new cabinet-level state agency whose mission will be to provide a kind of one-stop shop for services focusing on early childhood development and education.… MORE
Illinois Senate bill would require insurers to cover continuous glucose monitors
Diabetics today are prescribed continuous glucose monitors. A bill would require insurers to cover more of them.… MORE
Secretary of State encouraging Illinoisans to get the REAL ID
With the federal deadline less than one year away, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is encouraging Illinoisans to “Get Real” and obtain a REAL ID.… MORE
Chicago mayor visits Illinois Capitol to meet with governor and legislative leaders
The goal was to lay the groundwork for some state dollars – maybe up to $1 billion.… MORE
Illinois saw massive increase in tourism in 2023
By WMBD-TV CHICAGO – Illinois saw 39% more international tourists in 2023 compared to the previous year, according to an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity news release. Roughly 2.16 million were welcomed into the Land of Lincoln, brining with them nearly $2.7 billion into the Illinois economy. “This significant achievement highlights the growing…… 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…