Illinois Politics
Gov. JB Pritzker has “revised” his remarks about not raising taxes to balance the budget. “It’s very important that we live within our means in this state, and that we not resort to tax increases as a way to, you know, to balance the budget,” Pritzker said on January 30. Last week, when I asked…
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SPRINGFIELD — The entire Republican caucus of the Illinois House of Representatives walked out during session Wednesday as several resolutions were brought to the floor by Democrats condemning actions taken by the federal government, specifically President Donald Trump. HR stands for “House Resolution”: House Republicans called the resolutions “political grandstanding” and the caucus walked out…
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With Illinois facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit, Senate Republicans are once again demanding answers about how much taxpayer money is being spent on programs for non-citizens. At a Tuesday Statehouse news conference, Illinois Senate Republican Whip Jil Tracy (R-Quincy), Senator Dave Syverson (R-Cherry Valley), and Senator Li Arellano, Jr (R-Dixon) announced the reintroduction of…
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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Kyle Moore recently secured positions on the House Veterans Affairs and Public Utility committees, among others. “When I served as the Mayor of Quincy. I fought for our heroes at the Quincy Veterans Home. Participating on the Veterans Affairs Committee gives me a seat at the table to continue working…
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To many Statehouse types, some of last week’s news out of Washington, DC felt eerily familiar. Last Monday night, the White House announced a sweeping new policy that would’ve at least temporarily defunded trillions of dollars of government spending on everything from the National School Lunch Program, to Head Start, to cancer and sleep disorders…
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SPRINGFIELD — Fourth and eighth grade students in Illinois generally scored as well or better than the national average in reading and math, according to results of the latest round of national test results. But their scores remain below pre-pandemic levels and, in the case of reading, continue to decline steadily. The results also showed…
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Gov. JB Pritzker took aim at President Donald Trump this week, calling him “unfit to lead” because of his comments following a midair collision in Washington, D.C. that killed 67 people. The president offered his condolences at a Thursday press briefing before transitioning to blaming former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for air traffic…
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CHICAGO — Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is accused of leading a criminal enterprise over nearly a decade, designed to enhance his political power and financial well-being. Michael McClain of Quincy, a former lawmaker and longtime lobbyist for ComEd, is also on trial and accused of acting as Madigan’s agent. CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Nearly four…
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Gov. Pritzker’s office detailed all of the impacted programs: Access Issues for Federal Funding Portals Despite official information from the federal government stating that programs that provide assistance directly to individuals will not be impacted, state agencies and partner organizations reported issues accessing payment systems throughout the day on January 28. Federal officials have not…
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The Illinois legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability recently released an eye-popping actuarial analysis of a union-backed pension reform plan. The analysis concluded that the proposal, House Bill 5909, would cost taxpayers almost $30 billion through the year 2045. And the annual state cost starting in Fiscal Year 2027, which begins in mid-2026, would…
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CHICAGO – Federal prosecutors continued their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, accusing the longtime Democratic powerbroker of using Chicago Ald. Danny Solis’ positions of power “to gain private benefits.” Read more: In closing arguments, prosecutor alleges Madigan was driven by ‘power and profit’ It was Madigan’s out-of-the-blue…
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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education is encouraging local school districts to adopt clear policies spelling out how and when their staff should cooperate with federal immigration officials carrying out enforcement actions or seeking information from school officials. The “non-regulatory guidance” on immigration enforcement actions was issued Wednesday, Jan. 22, two days after…
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MRN’s J. Robert Gough sits down with the new chairman of the Adams County Republican Central Committee to talk about President Trump, refereeing squabbles within the party and why the party has dominated local politics for more than a decade.
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CHICAGO – As prosecutors began their closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, they accused the longtime Democratic powerbroker of lying to the jury when he testified in his own defense earlier this month. “Ladies and gentlemen, what you heard on the witness stand was a facade,” Assistant U.S.…
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This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Capitol News Illinois. Sixty percent of rural Americans live in childcare deserts — regions with too few licensed slots for children. In rural Illinois, that number rises to nearly 70%. Over the past decade, Illinois has experienced a 33% decline in licensed childcare…
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QUINCY — With a little more than a month before the primary election, the incumbent mayor has a large financial lead over the two people vying for his job. Figures filed earlier this month with the Illinois State Board of Elections show Mayor Mike Troup has more than $47,000 on hand in his campaign account.…
Read Full Article April 20, 2025
MRN THIS WEEK: QFD CHIEF STEVE SALRIN
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