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Prairie State Wire

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

News from April 2018

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BetterGov- Rauner and his VW package sets off lawmakers

By LGIS News Service | Apr 30, 2018

BetterGov assesses Gov. Bruce Rauners $109 million pact with Volkswagen and whether it is a political grab for re-election

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Proposal would allow criminal charges to be expunged immediately in cases of acquittals

By Glenn Minnis | Apr 30, 2018

Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) is proposing changes to the Criminal Identification Act to allow individuals acquitted or who have criminal charges against them dismissed with prejudice to immediately move to have the proceedings expunged from their records.

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Ford introduces bill to expand alcohol, drug addiction recovery services

By Glenn Minnis | Apr 30, 2018

Rep. La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) introduced House Bill 5868 in the House last week to amend the Insurance Code to include services to people suffering alcoholism or other drug addiction.

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House backs greater transparency in meeting postings, rejects measure aimed at school district statements

By Angela Underwood | Apr 30, 2018

Open and transparent government was a priority for Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) and Rep. Dave Severin (R-Benton) during House debate April 20.

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GOP lawmakers join gun-rights advocates at Springfield rally

By Angela Underwood | Apr 30, 2018

GOP lawmakers and thousands of Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) members rallied last week for gun rights in front of the Capitol in Springfield.

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GOP lawmakers demand budget revenue estimate from Democrats

By Angela Underwood | Apr 30, 2018

GOP legislative leaders want a budget revenue estimate introduced and certified by the Democrats now.

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House backs bill to prohibit governor's office from paying its employees from other agencies' budgets

By Angela Underwood | Apr 30, 2018

The House voted 110-0 on April 19 to approve legislation to end offshore staffing accounts in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office.

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State GOP chair at stake as disputed 15th State Central Committeemen race destined for court

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 30, 2018

Sources tell Prairie State Wire that a dispute in the April 18 election for Republican State Central Committeemen in the 15th congressional district is almost certain to wind up in court with the Illinois State Board of Election’s insistence that it has no authority to investigate intra-party elections.

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This week in Illinois history: May 14-20

By Robert Hadley | Apr 30, 2018

The Lewis and Clark expedition begins its westward phase, Standard Oil crumbles under a court order, and a female baseball league holds tryouts during this week in Illinois history.

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Ludwig: Why is the CDC Hiding Its Defensive Gun Use Statistics?

By Hayden Ludwig | Apr 29, 2018

Add Teaser here

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Reeder: Interactions with the Bush family

By Scott Reeder | Apr 29, 2018

When I heard last week that Barbara Bush had died, I couldn’t help but think of the Bush family and how my first year as a journalist was intertwined with their political endeavors.

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Illinois powerful public school lobby kills measure to rein in borrowing

By LGIS News Service | Apr 27, 2018

Illinois' powerful public school lobbying groups mobilized to beat back a measure that would have reined in massive school district borrowing, often concealed from taxpayers.

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Cubs appearing to hit their stride after first month of season

By Glenn Minnis | Apr 27, 2018

After much soul-searching over the first four weeks of the season, the Chicago Cubs appear to have found their groove.

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General Assembly doesn't need to be involved in generic drug pricing, Reick says

By Angela Underwood | Apr 27, 2018

The price of prescription drugs is not the General Assembly’s business, according to Rep. Steven Reick (R-Woodstock).

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Mark Shaw has both a message of unity, and a warning, in his race for state GOP chair

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 27, 2018

Mark Shaw, Lake County Republican chairman, is running for state chairman of a party crippled by infighting with a warning that Illinois is on its way to becoming a ghost state if the Democrats regain complete power in Springfield.

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These Illinois school districts paid the least in penalties for staff raises

By Local Labs News Service | Apr 27, 2018

School districts in St. Joseph, Danville and Morris paid the least in penalties since 2005 for spiking employee salaries to boost outgoing teachers' retirement benefits, according to data obtained from the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.

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Morning Answer - Adam Schuster from Illinois Policy Institute talks state budget

By LGIS News Service | Apr 27, 2018

Morning Answer - Adam Schuster from Illinois Policy Institute talks state budget

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Ford proposes lottery scratch-off to fund adult literacy programs

By Glenn Minnis | Apr 26, 2018

The Illinois Lottery Law could soon be amended to fund adult education through a special instant scratch-off game.

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Wheeler says Blue Collar Jobs Act is aimed at aiding middle-class

By Angela Underwood | Apr 26, 2018

The Blue Collar Jobs Act, HB5864, will give middle-class families a fighting chance by creating jobs, according to Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego).

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Bennett introduces pension code reform measure

By Glenn Minnis | Apr 26, 2018

Rep. Thomas M. Bennett (R-Gibson City) recently introduced a bill in the House that would alter the Public Pension Funds Article of the Illinois Pension Code to require the Public Pension Division of the Department of Insurance to make resources available to assist each municipality.