Illinois Politics
No representation from Quincy, Macomb, Jacksonville or Springfield at state meeting with global companies SPRINGFIELD – The State of Illinois has announced that a delegation from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Intersect Illinois and 17 economic development partners will represent Illinois at the 2021 virtual SelectUSA Investment Summit hosted by the U.S. Department of…
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From THE CENTER SQUARE – In Illinois, 13.8% of the workforce are employed by the government — either at the state, local, or federal level — the ninth lowest share of all states. In keeping with the national trend, the number of government workers in Illinois has decreased in recent years. There are currently 785,800…
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From ABC7CHICAGO – Gov. JB Pritzker signed the General Assembly’s proposed redistricting maps into law Friday, saying they “reflect Illinois’ diversity.” “Illinois’ strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been left out and left behind have fair representation in our government,” Pritzker said. “These district boundaries align…
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From Chicago Tribune: Recreational marijuana sales in Illinois set another record in May with more than $116 million of weed sold, the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation reported Wednesday. That tops last month’s record by $1.4 million, and is up 163% from May 2020. Last month, the state’s 110 dispensaries sold more than…
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From The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES – Members of former House Speaker Michael Madigan’s inner circle argued Tuesday that their indictment in the ComEd bribery scandal suffers from a series of “fatal” gaps — including the lack of a clear quid pro quo. Lawyers for Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, onetime ComEd lobbyist John…
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UPDATED from sun-times.com: Illinois residents who got their vaccine shot can now get a shot — or a beer or other alcoholic beverage of their choice — under a bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Wednesday signed into law. Pritzker said the bill, which takes effect immediately, offers “our hardest-hit businesses another lifeline as we recover…
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House bill decreasing trailer tax, removing trade in cap, advances From The Center Square – Illinois taxpayers with sticker shock from the $100 tax increase on the annual trailer tag implemented two years ago may soon get some relief. A measure that drops the tax on utility trailers from $118 to $36 in exchange for…
Read Full Article Federal money to fund housing, violence prevention, capital projects By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers worked into the early hours of Tuesday morning to pass a $42.3 billion state budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year that Democrats say would fully fund K-12 education and the state’s pension obligations while also paying…
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From Chicago Tribune – SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers have ensured a hectic windup to the end of their spring session Monday, facing an agenda of high-profile issues that includes putting together a new state budget, toughened ethics rules and the future for the state’s energy policy. The legislature’s Democratic majority also was looking at moving…
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Friday, May 28, 2021 New ‘culturally appropriate’ requirements opposed by Republicans, faith-based groups By RAYMON TRONCOSOCapitol News Illinoisrtroncoso@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House passed legislation on Friday updating the state’s sex education curriculum in a partisan split. The bill, which creates a new “personal health and safety” curriculum for grades K-5, and a “sexual health…
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GOP, community groups complain of short notice By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinois|phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers passed measures Friday to redraw state legislative and judicial district lines, less than 24 hours after the bills implementing the maps were introduced. The latest versions of the legislative maps were released about 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The actual legislation…
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The revised legislative maps still keep Rep. Randy Frese (R-94, Quincy) and Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-100, Jacksonville) in the newly-configured 99th District. From THE CENTER SQUARE – Democrats put out revised legislative maps for redrawing the state’s political boundaries Thursday afternoon that they say factors in feedback from residents and advocacy groups. “After 50 public hearings across…
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The number of nonfarm jobs increased over-the-year in all fourteen Illinois metropolitan areas in April according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). The unemployment rate decreased over-the-year in all metro areas. The official, BLS approved sub-state unemployment rate and nonfarm…
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From THE CENTER SQUARE With the end of the spring session for the Illinois Legislature just days away, it’s expected the Democratic supermajority will pass new district boundaries. Some advocacy groups oppose the maps that have been proposed so far. Democrats released proposed maps late Friday and another release of Google Map files on Sunday. Hearings this week…
Read Full Article From Chicago Tribune – The 11-page indictment alleged Tim Mapes repeatedly lied during a March 31 appearance before the grand jury when asked about Madigan’s relationship with his longtime confidant Michael McClain of Quincy, who was charged in November with orchestrating the ComEd bribery scheme. He also lied when he said he had no knowledge…
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SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-47, Quincy) said the legislative map released last Friday evening clearly shows Democratic leaders have “chosen politicians over people”, despite an earlier pledge by Governor Pritzker to veto any partisan-drawn map. “What a disappointment that despite earlier indications of bipartisan input and cooperation, the Governor is backpedaling on an…
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Quincy Mayor Mike Troup said on Muddy River News This Week that he wanted the city to hire three employees to help with the workload at Central Services, which is the city’s street department. At Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting, aldermen approved spending $335,000 for those three new employees to work on city streets.…
Read Full Article The Illinois General Assembly released their preliminary proposals for new legislative boundaries late Friday night and it pits several Republican incumbents against each other in the Illinois House. Democrats control the process because of their super majorities in both the House and Senate. In the first draft, Adams County is divided three ways and would…
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In what is expected to be a crowded Republican field running for Illinois governor, suburban businessman Gary Rabine stopped Friday in Quincy. Rabine met with Quincy and Adams County Republicans at Revelry Sports Bar in downtown Quincy. He announced in March he would seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022. He is the third…
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From ILLINOIS POLICY Illinois shed 4,000 (-0.1%) private sector jobs from mid-March through mid-April, new data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows. Meanwhile, the public sector added 4,300 (0.6%) jobs during the month, netting the state 300 (+0.0%) jobs. That marks the worst month for jobs since December. While private sector payrolls as a whole…
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From SJ-R.com – Over a year after Illinois Department of Employment Security offices were shuttered and services moved online during the pandemic, the offices remain closed even as the state begins returning to normal. Lawmakers say there is no excuse for them to remain closed. “In-person services have been open by the secretary of state since June…
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from ILLINOIS POLICY – After touting a transparent, non-partisan redistricting process, Democratic state lawmakers have quietly circulated a map that could potentially eliminate two Republican U.S. House seats. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the redistricting map being circulated to Democratic Party leaders aims to further widen the partisan split in the Illinois Congressional Delegation. It would force…
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by PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – All high schools in Illinois would be required to offer instruction in how to understand and evaluate news and social media as part of their computer literacy courses under a bill that advanced out of a Senate committee Tuesday. Sen. Karina Villa (pictured to the left), D-West Chicago,…
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From Illinois Information Services SPRINGFIELD – Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and labor, legislative and local leaders today to announce the release of a $20.7 billion multi-year plan to improve Illinois’ roads and bridges over the next six years. This commitment, fueled by the historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital plan,…
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From Chicago Tribune – The Illinois State Board of Education has adopted a resolution requiring daily in-person learning next school year with limited exceptions for remote learning. Though some Board members expressed reservations about the resolution’s language during an hour-long discussion, they voted unanimously in favor. The vote came after several parents asked the board…
Read Full Article November 12, 2024
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