By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – During a review of the week at the state Capitol, House Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago) said the budgeting process would include working with Republicans, specifically with the GOP’s House “budgeteer,” State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon). As a lack of bipartisanship has been a standing complaint of the superminority Republicans,…… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2018 death of Trevonte Kirkwood. Jordyn Thornton, 22, was found guilty Thursday on the six different counts. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of North Oak Street on October 30, 2018. Kirkwood’s death was the 10th homicide…… MORE
By IIS Radio CHICAGO – Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is announcing final approval of the national $26 billion opioid settlement agreement. Illinois’ share is $760 million, with the money going out to state and local governments covered by the deal during the second quarter of this year. Raoul says the funds will be used…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – Education bureaucracy has left parents behind, say Illinois Senate Republicans who want kids’ moms and dads to have more of a voice in what happens in the classroom. But they would not provide an example of a subject they didn’t want taught to their kids and instead presented their ideas…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – A Black teenager from Waukegan – Martell Williams, 15 – was reportedly detained for two days after police allegedly squeezed a false confession out of him for a shooting. The story is that officers bribed him with food from McDonald’s. And it led to a lengthy speech Wednesday on the…… MORE
By Dave Dahl SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) was on his way out of Eastern Europe as Russia invaded Ukraine. And, in a Zoom call with reporters from O’Hare International Airport, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin would be on the receiving end of some economic hurt. “We’re just beginning a massive sanctions…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have an economic impact locally, according to an Illinois State University professor. Dr. Mike Hendricks is an assistant professor in the Department of Politics at ISU. He spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. “Gas prices just already went up to over $100 a barrel as soon…… MORE
A Lincoln woman has been arrested after a 20-month old sustained life-threatening injuries and later died.… MORE
Prices at the pump could pass $4 per gallon in the coming weeks, as oil passed $90 a barrel for the first time since 2014.… MORE
By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington woman may soon face a new charge of concealing a death as an infant is still missing. The McLean County Jail and Bloomington Police say that charge was added Wednesday against Kimberlee Burton, 29. A formal criminal charge is pending review by the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.…… 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…