Latest News from Prairie State Wire

Abstinence & Marriage Education Partnership director: Children 'haven't heard' abstinence message

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 7, 2017

Scott Phelps is on a mission to change the way he sees young people viewing themselves and the way many of them have come to live their lives.

Victim advocate group founder supporting Ives' effort to repeal sanctuary law

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 7, 2017

Brian McCann says the shooting death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle by an illegal immigrant in 2015 in San Francisco, a sanctuary city, is not an “outlier case.”

Attorney: Indiana DOL workplace injury, illness rate report is 'good news'

By Justin Stoltzfus | Dec 7, 2017

A report by Kevin Boyle, an attorney with Chicago-headquartered firm Keefe, Campbell, Biery and Associates, published a blog post Nov. 13 that offers Indiana residents an inside view into a recent nonfatal workplace injury and illness report issued by the Indiana Department of Labor.

Bush's attorney general urges caution in reacting to Flynn plea

By Robert Hadley | Dec 6, 2017

In the wake of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's recent guilty plea in the Mueller investigation, Chicago’s Morning Answer hosts Dan Proft and Amy Jacobson pondered the implications with guest Alberto Gonzolaz, former attorney general in the Bush administration.

Ives cites Steinle case in criticizing Rauner for signing sanctuary state bill

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 6, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who has filed to run for governor in the GOP primary, recently criticized Gov. Bruce Rauner and sanctuary city legislation in a statement spurred by the verdict in the Kate Steinle murder trial.

Morthland takes aim at Rauner for 'It's not my fault' remark

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 6, 2017

Rich Morthland isn’t surprised that even Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t want to take ownership of his first term in office.

State's vendor debt sitting at more than $9 billion

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 6, 2017

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt crept slightly higher during the first week of December, to $9,192,633,377.29, as of Dec. 6, the state comptroller's office said.

Legislation to stifle right-to-work laws 'undemocratic,' labor expert says

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 6, 2017

Mailee Smith says she’s studied thousands of criminal bills and still hasn’t found one quite like Senate Bill 1905.

Ives vows to 'stand up to machine politics'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 6, 2017

Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) wants Illinois voters to know just how different she is from every other gubernatorial candidate now in the field for 2018.

Feedback not lacking after Rauner's not in charge comment

By Keri Carbaugh | Dec 6, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner said he was "not in charge" during a press conference Monday and he intends to continue blaming House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) for the problems facing Illinois until Madigan is no longer speaker.

Rauner ad focuses on Madigan, not Ives

By Sean Fowler | Dec 6, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner officially has an opponent in the Republican primary, state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), however, his recent campaign strategy is not to focus on his Republican competition, or even anyone currently running for governor.

Durkin threatens litigation over questions from LGIS reporters

By LGIS News Service | Dec 6, 2017

A lawyer for House Minority Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) has threatened Local Government Information Services, which owns this publication, via two cease-and-desist letters after reporters asked questions about the legislator.

Analysis: Illinois schools' students fail annual tests, still graduate

By LGIS Newsfeed | Dec 6, 2017

Despite dismal student performance on annual exams covering math and reading, Illinois high school graduation rates remain high, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis of 2016 data from the Illinois State Board of Education.

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.

Chess coach helping students get on board to becoming productive citizens

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 5, 2017

Joseph Ocol embraces his role as coach of the Earle Stem Elementary School chess team, saying it's much more than teaching a game.

Steinle case reignites immigration debate, resurrects pain of brother's death in Chicago

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 5, 2017

Brian McCann was forced to relive his pain all over again with the recent verdict in the Kate Steinle case in California.

Rauner's record a trail of failed promises, Ives says

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 5, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) senses one of the keys to taking down Gov. Bruce Rauner in the 2018 Republican primary lies in reminding voters just how little they really seem to know about him. “You look at his record and what he said on the campaign trail when we all helped to elect him,” Ives said during a recent appearance on “Chicago's Morning Answer” radio show on WIND.