Latest News from Prairie State Wire

Proposed $15.7 billion education budget is bad for the state's economy, Cato Institute director says

By Karen Kidd | Feb 8, 2018

The $15.7 billion the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently approved in its fiscal year 2019 budget request is bad for the state's economy, a Cato Institute director said during a recent interview.

Still struggling to be heard, Rotheimer to hold press conference Monday on sexual harassment

By Karen Kidd | Jan 25, 2018

It has been more than three months since long-time victims rights advocate Denise Rotheimer repeated during a public hearing accusations of sexual harassment against a high-ranking Illinois state senator and still she can't seem to be heard.

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State's tax-credit scholarship program off to a solid start, education advocate says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 16, 2018

A tax-credit scholarship program enacted by Illinois lawmakers last summer to provide tuition to attend nonpublic schools has brought in more than $40 million, the director of an education advocacy group said during an interview last weekend.

State likely to bail out College Illinois, Halbrook says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 8, 2018

Fixing the College Illinois prepaid tuition program, which closed to new investors last summer after falling $320 million short of its obligations, will not be easy and a taxpayer bailout is likely, Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) said during a recent interview.

2017 year in review

By Karen Kidd | Dec 11, 2017

With the New Year about a week away, it's time to reflect on the rough-and-tumble time that was 2017 and project forward into the uncertainty of 2018. From struggles in the state General Assembly over the budget and sexual harassment, to Gov. Bruce Rauner's swings to the left to Lisa Madigan's unexplained decision to not seek another term as Illinois attorney general and other news items that made for an interesting year, here's our 2017 in review.

Marijuana industry opponent has message for Democrat governor hopefuls who support pot's legalization

By Karen Kidd | Dec 5, 2017

Illinois Democrat gubernatorial hopefuls' support for legal marijuana is effectively inviting the industry dubbed Big Tobacco 2.0 into the state, the founder of a marijuana industry pushback group said during a recent interview.

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'Our Home Our Fight' campaign website outlines Rauner's agenda for second term

By Karen Kidd | Nov 30, 2017

A new website launched in by Citizens for Rauner, OurHomeOurFight.com, showcases Illinois Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's agenda for his second term in office, which he plans to win in next year's election.

Illinois among tardiest in nation in financial reporting, Truth in Accounting says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 30, 2017

Any good teacher will notice that the student most behind on assignments usually is the one struggling the most, and the same seems to be true of states with Illinois governmental units tardy in their financial reports.

Taxes, laws blamed for keeping Illinois behind neighbors in manufacturing jobs

By Karen Kidd | Nov 27, 2017

Illinois is the odd-state-out in the Midwest where other states are experiencing a robust recovery in manufacturing jobs since the Great Recession's end, the head of a Springfield-based manufacturers advocacy group said during a recent interview.

Author of dropped U of I chant says knowledge beats censorship

By Karen Kidd | Nov 2, 2017

The author of University of Illinois' "Three-in-One" or "Fighting Illini" pre-game war chant, dropped last summer, wants the chancellor "to step up and be cutting edge in this whole issue."

Secretary of state hopeful knows he has uphill climb to take down White

By Karen Kidd | Oct 13, 2017

Grundy County State’s Attorney Jason Helland knows he has a tough fight on his hands in his hopes to unseat longtime Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Rauner applauds high court decision to hear non-union dues case

By Karen Kidd | Sep 30, 2017

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear a teacher and other public employee pay case could move the country closer to ending forced labor dues payment, Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a press release recently.

Rauner, Sanguinetti urge Illinois to step up to help hurricane victims

By Karen Kidd | Sep 29, 2017

Illinoisans who want to assist those struggling in the wake of recent hurricanes are being urged to donate money or time to trusted voluntary, faith- and community-based charitable organizations, Illinois' governor and lieutenant governor said in a press release recently.

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