With all they have going on, medical students in Springfield can still take time to volunteer.… MORE
Category Archives: State News
I-74 bridge in the Quad Cities is almost complete
By IIS Radio MOLINE – The new I-74 bridge over the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities is nearly complete. Construction of the bridge connecting Bettendorf, Iowa to Moline, Illinois has been underway for more than four years. The structure features two large arches and four lanes in each direction says State Department of Transportation…… MORE
Gov. Pritzker announces $94 million in funding to improve public airports
By IIS Radio MOLINE – Gov. JB Pritzker is announcing $94 million in funding to improve public airports throughout Illinois. The money represents the largest capital investment program for airports in state history says the governor, providing funding to locations statewide. “That includes funding at St. Louis Regional in Alton, Central Illinois Regional in Bloomington,…… MORE
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum launches new membership campaign
One of the state’s biggest tourist attractions has to rebuild its membership base. That is because the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, after a series of dramatic and controversial episodes, is no longer affiliated with the foundation which, among other things, ran the membership campaign… MORE
Halfway through Illinois’ firearm deer season
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Halfway through Illinois’ firearm deer season, hunters are slightly ahead of last year’s pace. For Nov. 19-21, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources reports a preliminary total of 50,300 deer “harvested,” compared to 47,147 for the first weekend of 2020’s season. That difference of just over 3,000 is “not terribly…… MORE
IDPH director on the omicron variant
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Like everyone else in the medical community, Dr. Ngozi Ezike is learning all she can as fast as she can about the fast-moving omicron variant of coronavirus. “We know that it’s not a matter of if but when we will confirm cases in the United States and in Illinois,” said…… MORE
State lawmakers hear from nursing home officials at this stage of the pandemic
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – The state of nursing homes at this stage of the pandemic faced an Illinois Senate committee. From the Health Care Council of Illinois, Matt Pickering says his members are hurting. “With the inadequate Medicaid funding, coupled with extraordinary expenses from the pandemic, many facilities in Illinois are in financial freefall,”…… MORE
Annual parking sting at shopping malls statewide
By IIS Radio SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office is launching its annual disability parking sting at malls across the state. The message of the operation is simple says secretary of state spokesperson Beth Kaufman: “If you don’t belong there, don’t park there.” “It’s a statewide shopping mall effort and we will…… MORE
Illinois Tollway expects 9 million vehicles throughout the holiday weekend
By WJBC Staff CHICAGO – The Illinois Tollway expects as many as nine million vehicles with Thanksgiving travelers to drive the tollway system during this year’s extended holiday. Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend the heaviest travel is expected on Wednesday when nearly 1.8 million vehicles are projected to use the 294-mile tollway system. On an…… MORE
Illinois House Republicans are responding to the inflation numbers
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Some Republicans think your bank account would be a good place for some Covid relief dollars. State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) announced the plan to give taxpayers up to a $400 credit. “We expect the overall cost of this proposal to be about $1.4 billion,” Demmer said at a Zoom…… 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…