Stand for Life – Sign the Petition

January 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment

pro lifeNote: I don’t know what my title is but I am unapoligetically pro life. I whoeheartedly believe life begins at conception. If you are pro-choice, my intentions are not to shove this down your throat. There is a petition on Dave Severin’s website to stand for life if you are of that persuasion. The bill before the Illinois Legislature is explained sd.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Faith Matters, Franklin Co. News, State News

Statehouse Insider: Let’s chant: Two more years, two more years

January 15, 2017 By Leave a Comment

MadiganSo much for the grand plan to oust MICHAEL MADIGAN as House speaker. Not that many people thought it was going to happen anyway, but there was a relentless drumbeat by the state Republican Party to shame Democrats into rejecting Madigan for another term as speaker. Democrats had already met privately during the veto session and decided to continue supporting Madigan, so last week’s public vote during the House swearing-in ceremonies was anticlimactic. The only dissenter, such as it was, was Rep. SCOTT DRURY of Highwood, who voted “present.” Almost immediately, the state GOP was back at it, banging their anti-Madigan drum and sending out emails criticizing Democrats who voted for him. The truly depressing thing about this is that this will now go on for another two years. It means there is another election cycle where it will be all “Madigan bad” all of the time. Please click to read the story from Doug Finke from the Springfield Journal-Register.

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Chris Kennedy moving closer to bid for governor

January 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment

chris-kennedyCHICAGO — Businessman Chris Kennedy is interviewing potential pollsters and consultants as he moves toward a possible 2018 gubernatorial run, sources close to Kennedy told POLITICO Illinois. Kennedy, son of the late Robert F. Kennedy, has increased his public profile since the spring and has publicly discussed the possibility of running for governor — without making commitments. Top Illinois Democrats who have met with Kennedy say they would welcome his candidacy but were not sure if he’ll actually make the run, given his flirtations with higher office in the past. But a top aide to Kennedy told POLITICO Illinois on Tuesday that he is preparing to file papers with the state board of elections “in short order … some time in the next month.” Please click on the link to read the rest of the story from Politico.com

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Illinois poised to require lead testing in public schools, day care centers

January 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment

drinking-fountiansIllinois public schools and licensed daycare facilities will be required to test drinking water for lead contamination under a major compromise reached by key stakeholders, parties involved in the deal told POLITICO Illinois. Long-running negotiations among environmental groups, lawmakers, the Illinois Attorney General’s Office and the governor’s office culminated in a compromise late last week, according to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office and the Illinois Environmental Council. Jen Walling, Executive Director of the Illinois Environmental Council, told POLITICO that a compromise amendment is set to be added today to an existing bill — SB550 — after the bill’s expected release from the House Rules Committee. The agreed terms include a framework of the existing bill, pushed for months by Lisa Madigan’s office and others: schools built before the year 2000 that serve students fifth grade and younger, would be required to test for lead in all its drinking water sources, as well as sources of water used for cooking at the schools. Also, licensed day care centers would also be required to test water sources. A compromise effort ramped up by Rauner’s office since the veto session helped bring opponents on board, Walling said….please click to read the rest of the story from politico.com

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Illinois Senate budget plan unlikely to make it to governor

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

The Illinois Senate is poised to go it alone in outlining a solution to the nation’s longest-running state budget standoff but leaders acknowledge they won’t have time to push it through to the governor in the final two days of the current session. A bipartisan Senate deal began to emerge late last week with a goal of breaking the nearly two-year deadlock between Democrats who control the Legislature and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. It was positioned for a floor vote by late Monday, but since the session ends Tuesday, there’s no time to push the plan to the House. It would have to be reintroduced after a new General Assembly is seated Wednesday. The package includes an increase in the personal income tax from 3.75 percent to 4.95 percent, borrowing money to pay off $11 billion in overdue bills, expanding legalized riverboat casino gambling, raising the minimum wage and eliminating pensions for retired lawmakers. Please read the rest of the AP story from John O’ Conner that appeared in the Springfield Journal-Register

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Illinois Senate hopes to stake out own budget position

January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

Illinois State Senate President John Cullerton

SPRINGFIELD – A plan to end a two-year Illinois budget standoff negotiated in the Senate – which likely includes an income tax increase as well as items on Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agenda – could get a vote in Springfield as early as Monday, a leading Republican senator said Sunday. The deal was still shaping up over the weekend after weeks of talks between Democratic Senate President John Cullerton and GOP Leader Christine Radogno, said Sen. Pamela Althoff, a Republican from McHenry. Please click on the link to read the story from AP that ran in the Peoria Journal-Star

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Statehouse Insider: Lame duck session starts – all two days of it

January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

state-capitolThe long-awaited lame duck session of the General Assembly begins Monday. It will last all of two days. It almost makes you long for those heady days last summer and fall when Gov. BRUCE RAUNER fairly regularly talked about all the great things lawmakers could accomplish once the election was behind them and they were free to take bold votes on controversial issues. Admittedly, big things can be done in the legislature in two days. Heck, big things can get done in a couple of hours when everyone is pulling in the same direction. Of course, that hasn’t happened for the better part of two years now, so why expect everything to suddenly change now? Please click on the link from the Springfield Journal Register.

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Rivian completes purchase of Mitsubishi plant

January 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The former Mitsubishi plant in Bloomington (Pantagraph file photo)

The former Mitsubishi plant in Bloomington (Pantagraph file photo)

NORMAL — The former Mitsubishi plant officially has a new owner. Rivian Automotive, which plans to employ 1,000 and invest $175 million in making electric vehicles in Normal, has purchased the plant, the company announced Thursday. “We couldn’t be more excited to purchase this tremendous facility in the town of Normal,” said founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in a release. “This location will be crucial to bringing our products to market, and we look forward to being an active part of this vibrant community.” Rivian operates research facilities near Detroit and San Francisco, but hopes the vacant 2.6 million-square-foot plant will be the manufacturing core of its upcoming line of cars — the first of which could be unveiled this year. Please click to read the full story from Derek Beigh of the Bloomington Pantagraph

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, State News

Hate crime, kidnapping charges filed in West Side attack streamed on Facebook Live

January 5, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The four individuals charged with a hate crime. It is unreal in my view Facebook leaving this video up several hours.

The four individuals charged with a hate crime in abusing the disabled teen for voting for Donald Trump.  It is unreal in my view Facebook leaving this video up several hours.

NOTE- I have been keeping an eye on this story for a couple of days. The attached video is disturbing. Most opened up automatically. It broke my heart….Hate crime charges have been filed against four people shown in a Facebook video attacking a mentally disabled man, cutting his scalp with a knife and punching him while yelling obscenities about Donald Trump and “white people.” Jordan Hill, 18, of Carpentersville, Tesfaye Cooper, 18, of Chicago, Brittany Covington, 18, of Chicago, and Tanishia Covington, 24, of Chicago were charged with aggravated kidnapping, hate crime, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon….Please click on the story to follow the links updating this story from the Chicago Tribune…

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, State News

Duckworth sworn in, questions some Trump appointments

January 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

New U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., said after being sworn in Tuesday that she’s hoping the Donald Trump administration will

Politico.com attachment

Politico.com photo

have a “significant” public works plan, but she has questions about some of Trump’s Cabinet nominees. In a conference call with reporters, Duckworth said she looks forward to “rolling up my sleeves and getting to work,” and she hopes the incoming Republican administration will forward a plan for “significant infrastructure development.” Illinois, she said, needs such a plan for projects from lock-and-dam improvements on the Mississippi River to work on public school buildings to “getting lead out of our water supply.” Lead has been a problem in some cities, including Chicago and Galesburg. She said other issues important to her include small business, manufacturing and agriculture. “Of course, I will always be focused on supporting our veterans and our military men and women and their families,” said Duckworth, of Hoffman Estates, who lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down in Iraq and who later led the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs. Please click to read the rest of the article from Benard Schoenberg of the Springfield Journal-Register

Filed Under: Breaking News, National News, Slider, State News
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