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Saturday, September 22, 2018
Congressional candidate unveils plan to restore faith in political system
Candidates--Federal (13)
The Democratic Party’s candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives 12th Congressional District seat made a campaign stop in Union County Friday afternoon, Aug. 31. Brendan Kelly of Swansea paid a visit to the Dixie Bar-B-Q in Jonesboro. He was accompanied by judicial candidate and Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds. The candidate’s stop in Union C...
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
Appellate court punts on lawsuit over Illinois taxpayer-funded abortion law
Abortion (1)
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Governor (44)
Breen, Peter--State House, 48
It could be up to the Illinois Supreme Court to determine if lawmakers violated the state Constitution in approving spending without an official revenue estimate, and whether lawmakers abused the legislative process in passing a controversial abortion law. House Bill 40 allows the use of tax dollars to pay for Medicaid recipients’ and state employees’ elective abortions. In th...
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
With a booming economy, Illinois may not be able to escape SNAP work requirement again
Governor (44)
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Public Aid (75)
Mitchell, Bill--State House, 101
As the time nears for Illinois to decide whether it will request a waiver to exempt work requirements for federal food assistance, a central Illinois Republican and the candidate running to replace him are asking Gov. Bruce Rauner to forgo the waiver request. In previous years, Rauner’s office has successfully received a federal waiver for all counties but DuPage, citing a lack of j...
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
Retired Episcopalian priest who served in Alton facing deportation
Election Issues (not candidates) (39)
A retired Episcopalian priest is facing deportation to his native England, and supporters are rallying to help him stay in the Alton area as a hearing in immigration court looms next week. The Rev. David Boase is accused of voting illegally in one federal election while in the United States — something he said he didn’t know was against the law at the time. The vote wa...
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Wednesday, September 19, 2018
Labor leader at Caseyville rally: 'Vote often, vote early...whatever you can get away with'
Election Issues (not candidates) (39)
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Metro East (65)
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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Investigaton continues into three inmate deaths last week at Menard Correctional Center
Corrections (74)
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Prisons (74)
The Illinois Department of Corrections and the Randolph County Coroner's office are investigating what killed three inmates last week at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, who died on three consecutive days. According to Randolph County Coroner Carlos J. Barbour, the inmates died Sept. 5, 6 and 7. He said he does not suspect foul play. "The Randolph County Coroner's office and...
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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Three inmates die within 3 days at Illinois prison; authorities investigating
Corrections (74)
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Prisons (74)
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Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Trial lawyer cash making its way into Fifth District race
Candidates--Judicial (27b)
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Ethics, Campaign Reform, Transparency (12a)
The race to fill an open seat on the Fifth District Appellate Court has se...
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Saturday, September 15, 2018
Rauner: Budget impasse was a fight for reforms
Budget--State (8)
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Governor (44)
Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a campaign speech Thursday that the two-and-a-half year budget impasse was a fight for reforms. His opponents have called it a failure. While touting success like school funding reform, school choice expansion and criminal justice reforms, Rauner said he’s learned a lot in his first term, including that changing government is tough. “I und...
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Saturday, September 15, 2018
Rauner: Budget impasse was a fight for reforms
Budget--State (8)
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Candidates--Statewide (12)
Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a campaign speech Thursday that the two-and-a-half year budget impasse was a fight for reforms. His opponents have called it a failure. While touting success like school funding reform, school choice expansion and criminal justice reforms, Rauner said he’s learned a lot in his first term, including that changing government is tough. “I und...
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Friday, September 14, 2018
SIU will spend $97,000 to determine how much state money each campus should get
Education--Higher (37)
Southern Illinois University leaders on Thursday hired a consultant who will tell them how much money should be given to its Edwardsville and Carbondale campuses after months of debate about funding. Duane Stucky, the board treasurer, said the university system has distributed its state money the ...
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Friday, September 14, 2018
Audit: 'Confusion' in legislative watchdog's office led to failures
Auditor General (21)
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Legislature (56)
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Sexual Harassment (96)
Lang, Lou--State House, 16
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McConnaughay, Karen--State Senate, 33
A former member of the commission that oversees allegations of state lawmaker wrongdoing, and the state’s Auditor General, say an employee of the Legislative Inspector General dropped the ball on key issues. A report from Auditor General Frank Mautino published Thursday of the Legislative Inspector General’s office for fiscal years 2013-2016 found required financial, property ...
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Friday, September 14, 2018
Cahokia police pension trustees will take up Watson pay spike in October meeting
Local Government (60)
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Metro East (65)
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Pensions (70)
CAHOKIA – Police pension trustees plan to investigate the calculation of benefits for former chief Rick Watson, current sheriff of St. Clair County. His salary was raised from $95,163.60 to $127,462.40 in his last 35 days as chief, in 2011. “We will get to the bottom of this,” trustee Francella Jackson said at a special meeting on Sept. 12. T...
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Murphysboro teachers could strike Oct. 1 if they don't reach a contract deal
Education--Educators/Administrators
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Education--Elementary and Secondary (36)
MURPHYSBORO — Murphysboro teachers could go on strike as early as Oct. 1 if a contract is not agreed upon before then. According to a news release from the Illinois Education Association, the union representing teachers in Murphysboro School District 186 voted to authorize a strike if a deal is not made before the end of this month. The release said the authorization comes after a f...
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Manufacturers’ group warns Illinois could miss out on benefits from new trade deals
Business (10)
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Economy (34)
The state’s leading manufacturers’ group said Illinois could miss out on the benefits of a growing manufacturing sector despite a tentative U.S-Mexico trade deal. Even before President Donald Trump's administration announced a tentative deal with Mexico, the U.S. manufacturing sector was growing. Some have attributed the growth to federal tax cuts enacted this year and Trump&#...
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Op-Ed: Don't expect the Legislative Inspector General to clean up Springfield
Legislature (56)
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Sexual Harassment (96)
Lang, Lou--State House, 16
Women in Springfield took a public stand 11 months ago to try to stop pervasive sexual harassment and unwanted advances in the capitol. Since then, several lawmakers and political operatives have resigned or been fired after allegations of harassment surfaced. The state's Legislative Inspector General, tasked with investigating lawmakers and their staffs but overseen by lawmakers themselv...
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Report: Illinois second to last in employee wage growth since great recession
Economy (34)
Illinois trails the rest of the nation in terms of wage growth since the Great Recession. Tied with Mississippi, Illinois employees had the second slowest wage growth in the country. One analyst says it’s because the cost of state government regulations limit what companies can offer. The Pew Charitable Trusts < read more >
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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Another trophy for attorney Stephen Tillery
Courts (27)
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Legal System (27)
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Tort Reform (27)
Big game hunters have bear rugs on the floors of their trophy rooms and stuffed animal heads mounted on the walls. Stephen Tillery’s trophy room, if he has one, might fe...
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Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Candidate calls for reopening of Tamms Center
Candidates--Legislative (11)
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Corrections (74)
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Prisons (74)
Bryant, Terri--State House, 115
A Southern Illinois legislative candidate is calling for the reopening of the Tamms Correctional Center. Marsha Griffin issued the call on Sept. 4 to reopen the center. Griffin, of Jonesboro, is the Democratic Party’s candidate for state representative from the 115th District in Southern Illinois. The seat currently is held by State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro. She note...
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Wednesday, September 12, 2018
GOP leaders blast Pritzker on progressive tax at campaign stop in Carbondale
Lt. Governor (59)
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Taxes, Graduated/Progressive
While not referenced in the story, Senators Schimpf and Fowler were pictured standing with the Lt. Gov. CARBONDALE — Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and Republican-elected officials held a news conference Tuesday at the Carbondale Civic Center to explain why they believe a progressive tax, as proposed by gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, is a bad idea. ...
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Wednesday, September 12, 2018
One of Illinois' top tax credit recipients to shutter 1,000-employee HQ
Economic Development (35)
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Taxes, misc. (89)
Takeda Pharmaceuticals announced Sept. 10 plans to close its U.S. headquarters in Deerfield, Illinois and continue consolidating its operations in Boston, according to Crain’s Chicago Business. The Deerfield office houses around 1,000 employees. The biopharma company’s decision to shutter its Illinois-based headquarters comes despite having enjoyed one of the most lu...
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Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Costello and Friess both issue fact checks. Neither can agree on what the facts are.
Budget--State (8)
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Candidates--Legislative (11)
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Taxes, income (86)
Costello II, Jerry--State House, 116
In a recent TV advertisement depicting David Friess running through Red Bud, state Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithon, points to David Friess record of meeting attendance, or lack thereof in 2017, at Red Bud City Council meetings, where Friess is a council member. The ad then says Friess, < read more >
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Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Proposal made to reopen shuttered Hardin County Work Camp as multi-county jail
Corrections (74)
Fowler, Dale--State Senate, 59
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Phelps-Finnie, Natalie–State House, 118
CAVE-IN-ROCK — The old Hardin County Work Camp could see new life if efforts by the county’s sheriff are successful. Sheriff Jerry Fricker said about three to four months ago, through discussion with several members of law enforcement, it became apparent that repurposing the old minimum security facility as the county’s jail was a real possibility. He said the c...
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Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Does Illinois have an economic advantage over neighboring states?
Economic Development (35)
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Economic Stimulus
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Economy (34)
Illinois lacks a clear economic advantage over its neighbors, according to new analysis. A group in New Hampshire created a method to measure New Hampshire's economic advantage over its neighbors as the tides of taxation there change. When an analyst did the same for Illinois and its neighbors, he said the results were revealing.
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Monday, September 10, 2018
Business connections nag Rauner, Pritzker in race for governor
Candidates--Statewide (12)
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Governor (44)
Curran, John--State Senate, 41
Having extensive wealth when running for office is generally seen as an advantage, but both of Illinois’ candidates for governor have recently been subject of criticism from actions by companies touched by their vast holdings. Both incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner, a near-billionaire, and his Democratic challenger J.B. Pritzker, a multi-billionaire, leaned on their stores of ca...
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