By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Applications for rental assistance in Illinois are now being accepted. State Housing Development Authority executive director Kristin Faust says those still struggling to pay their rent due to the pandemic can now apply for grants online at IllinoisHousingHelp.org. “They are up to $25,000 and if people need additional help applying…… MORE
A two-hour online town hall is an example of what Gov. JB Pritzker wants to see from a rejuvenated Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes – even if some of the students had tough talk for what they believe are schools not doing enough.… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Police are announcing a significant decrease in the backlog of FOID cards that need to be processed. ISP Trooper Jason Wilson says the FOID card backlog in November of last year reached nearly 139,000, but has now been whittled down to 7,800. Processing times currently average about 38…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Gas prices in Illinois are down three cents this week, averaging $3.49 a gallon, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 4,378 stations in Illinois. According to GasBuddy price reports, the cheapest station in Illinois is priced at $2.79 while the most expensive is $4.52. Gas prices in the state are…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Here’s a twist on the “labor shortage” story. A recent report showed a sixteen percent jump in costs related to hiring people and other HR-related matters. And that’s if you can find people to hire. Illinois Manufacturers’ Association president and CEO Mark Denzler says there’s more to manufacturing than simply…… MORE
By Dave Dahl CHICAGO – In announcing the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of stolen goods – enough to fill eight storage units, or four semi-trailers – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul says it does not stop here. Raoul told reporters in Chicago Friday that the incident “hopefully keeps us from making the mistake…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Illinois’ economic performance continues. A monthly reading of the state’s activity, the Flash index, is up a tick from 105.4 to 105.5 as of the first of December. The index, authored by University of Illinois economics professor Fred Giertz, considers consumer spending, corporate earnings, and personal income. The month’s rise,…… MORE
By IIS Radio CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and CVS Health are announcing a new safety measure to help reduce pharmacy robberies statewide. The attorney general says the installation of time delay safes in CVS pharmacies across the state will make it much more difficult for thieves, often part of a gang operation,…… MORE
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Fall has been warmer than normal in Illinois this year. Even though temperatures were pretty cold in November, a warm September and October pushed fall totals above average says state climatologist Trent Ford. Chicago, Rockford, East Saint Louis, Moline and Quincy are wrapping up one of the top five warmest…… MORE
By RFD Radio CHICAGO – The omicron variant hasn’t been detected yet in Illinois, but Gov. JB Pritzker says its only a matter of time before it’s here – if it isn’t already. He says mitigations like indoor mask mandates aren’t going away anytime soon. “We are not lifting that, especially not now,” said Pritzker…… 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…