State News

“Taxpayer Bargain” Budget Plan Assigned to Committees

Wednesday, May 3 by Jc Tinsley

The “Taxpayer Bargain” proposal made a significant step forward this week. Fourteen pieces of the 18-bill package of government reforms and cuts, introduced April 26 by Senators Kyle McCarter and Dan McConchie, have been assigned to seven Senate committees.Sen. McCarter said it’s a positive... Read More.

ILLINOIS STATE POLICE AND OLIVET NAZARENE UNIVERSITY TO HOST TeamIllinois YOUTH POLICE CAMP

Wednesday, May 3 by Jc Tinsley

Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) and Illinois State Police (ISP) officials announced yesterday the collaboration between the two agencies in facilitating the annual TeamIllinois Youth Police Camp for northern Illinois.The 2017 TeamIllinois Youth Police Camp for northern Illinois will take place on the ONU Campus.... Read More.

Illinois Awarded Funds to Offer Advanced Training on Detecting Impaired Driving

Tuesday, May 2 by Jc Tinsley

Illinois is one of five states to receive a federal training grant from the Governor’s Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility to combat drug-impaired driving. The grant, to be administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation, will fund 10 Advanced... Read More.

First Lady Launches Illinois Family Connects

Tuesday, May 2 by Jc Tinsley

First Lady Diana Rauner is celebrating the launch of the Illinois Family Connects pilot program, a universal newborn support system. It is a home visiting program administered by the Stephenson County Health Department and available to new babies and their families.“I have seen firsthand... Read More.

Governor Rauner Activates State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield

Monday, May 1 by Jc Tinsley

Governor Rauner this morning activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Springfield to ensure state personnel and equipment are ready to be quickly deployed if needed to help local emergency responders with flooding-related public safety issues in several areas of the state. “Several inches... Read More.

Rauner Administration Urges Schools, Universities and Colleges to Prevent Discrimination and Bigotry in Education

Friday, April 28 by Jc Tinsley

Governor Bruce Rauner today released an open letter to school districts and higher learning institutions on opportunities to address acts of discrimination and bigotry in academic environments. The letter, sent through the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR), urges educational institutions to develop proactive... Read More.

Severin: Encouraged by Governor and Nurses Renewing Negotiations

Friday, April 28 by Jc Tinsley

House Republicans held a brief press conference Thursday morning in response to news that the Governor’s office and Illinois Nurses Association have agreed to renew negotiations on the issue of subcontracting. As a measure of good faith, the Governor’s office has rescinded the layoffs... Read More.

Job Losses Reported in More than Half of the Metro Areas in Illinois

Friday, April 28 by Jc Tinsley

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates Metropolitan AreaMar. 2017Mar. 2016Over-the-Year ChangeBloomington4.3%5.5%-1.2Carbondale-Marion5.0%6.3%-1.3Champaign-Urbana4.5%5.4%-0.9Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights4.2%6.3%-2.1Danville6.4%7.9%-1.5Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL4.8%6.0%-1.2Decatur5.7%7.1%-1.4Elgin5.4%6.4%-1.0Kankakee5.9%7.3%-1.4Lake-Kenosha, IL-WI5.0%6.0%-1.0Peoria6.0%7.1%-1.1Rockford8.3%7.2%1.1Springfield4.4%5.5%-1.1St. Louis (IL-Section)4.7%6.3%-1.6Illinois Statewide4.7%6.4%-1.7* Data subject to revision. CHICAGO–Unemployment rates were down over-the-year in all but one of Illinois’s metro areas. Six of the metro areas had increases in nonfarm jobs and eight reported declines,... Read More.

Jesse White’s Legislation to Expand the Organ/Tissue Donor Registry Passes Senate Unanimously

Thursday, April 27 by Jc Tinsley

Secretary of State Jesse White’s legislation that would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to register for the state’s First Person Consent Organ/Tissue Donor Registry when they receive their driver’s license or identification card passed the Illinois Senate today.SB Bill 868, sponsored by state Sen. Mattie... Read More.

ISBE simulation shows good results for Barickman’s school funding legislation

Thursday, April 27 by Jc Tinsley

An Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) funding simulation shows State Senator Jason Barickman’s (R-Bloomington) school funding reform plan would provide a major boost to struggling schools across the state, sending more than a half a billion dollars in funding through an evidence based... Read More.