Illinois Politics
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Kyle Moore recently was named to serve on the House Labor and Commerce Committee. Moore (R-Quincy) said the new committee assignment is on track with his goal of growing and retaining jobs in Illinois. “This is first and foremost about improving our jobs climate so we can provide better opportunities…
Read Full Article Kelly will once again challenge Pritzker-backed candidate: Kelly won a crowded 16-person primary in a 2013 special election to fill the congressional seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, who resigned while under investigation for misuse of campaign funds and eventually went to prison. Kelly received more than half the primary vote before easily…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD – Thirty-three students from eight high schools in west central Illinois came to Springfield on Tuesday, April 29, to experience the workings of state government as part of State Sen. Jil Tracy’s Youth Advisory Council. The students were recommended by officials from their respective schools to participate in the program. They traveled to Springfield with…
Read Full Article McHENRY — John Gerend, a Vietnam War veteran from Lake Villa, was exposed to Agent Orange while on duty. Suffering from diseases associated with exposure to the toxic chemical, he said he still considers himself fortunate. “I’ve had some issues with it — diabetes, some heart issues and so on — but there are many…
Read Full Article CHICAGO — Just one day into her campaign to replace retiring Sen. Dick Durbin in the U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Friday received a key endorsement from Gov. JB Pritzker, nearly eight years after he first tapped her to be his running mate. Standing outside the Bright Star Church amid a backdrop of…
Read Full Article Longtime U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced Wednesday he will retire after his term ends in January 2027. “I truly love the job of being United States Senator, but in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,” Durbin said in a social media video.…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) has announced he will retired at the end of his term in 2026. “The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy,” Durbin said in a message posted on the “X” (Twitter) social media platform. “I truly love the job of being a United States…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter April 22 to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting federal guidance to ensure fairness in girls’ and women’s athletics in Illinois high schools. The letter reflects conflicting guidance from state agencies and growing concerns about how to uphold the intent of Title IX in…
Read Full Article Is Dick Durbin announcing whether he’s running for reelection? Not this week, the state’s senior U.S. senator told reporters in his hometown of East St. Louis on Monday. Illinois Democrats are eagerly awaiting Durbin’s decision, but it’s not clear when the second-highest ranking Senate Democrat will decide if he will run for a sixth term. Despite…
Read Full Article Gov. JB Pritzker said last week that the extreme uncertainty with the US government and the international economy might mean that the legislature may have to reconvene to reconfigure the state budget after it adjourns at the end of next month. “It may very well be that we’re going to have to come back at…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD – Illinois K-12 schools may soon be required to pick new mascots to replace those that reference Native American names and imagery. That would include logos, team names and mascots which 90 schools throughout the state use, such as the Mt. Zion Braves or the Cahokia Comanches, according to legislators. House Bill 1237 passed…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD — Small Illinois counties will be allowed to band together to form new Veterans Assistance Commissions under legislation passed through the Illinois House this week by State Representative Kyle Moore (R-Quincy). House Bill 1352 will allow multiple counties who are within a judicial circuit to form a Jurisdictional Veterans Assistance Commission. ”Under current guidelines most…
Read Full Article SPRINGFIELD — The House passed a bill Tuesday that would ban public schools from using mascots that discriminate against people with disabilities. The bill, if signed into law, currently would affect just one high school in St. Clair County. Freeburg Community High School’s mascot, the “Midgets,” is considered a slur used against people with dwarfism.…
Read Full Article You’ve probably read about the Republican Party implosion last week in suburban municipal and township campaigns, particularly in DuPage County. It’s important to remember that these consolidated elections are not always a reliable indication of the future. They’re very low turnout, and in years like this – when the election was held during a hugely…
Read Full Article While many Illinois Democrats wait anxiously to hear whether U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin will run for reelection in 2026 or step down after five terms in the Senate, at least one incumbent officeholder appears to be ruling himself out as a potential successor. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Tuesday he is not interested in…
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