Prairie State Wire

Illinois' 100 best grade school ELA scores: Where does your school district rank?

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 18, 2018

Grade school districts in Cook, Lake and DuPage counties ranked at the top among for reading aptitude, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Cook, Peoria counties have highest abortion rates

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 17, 2018

Cook and Peoria counties had the highest abortion rates in Illinois in 2016, according to a report issued in December by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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 Report: 38K+ abortions performed in Illinois in 2016

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 16, 2018

The Illinois Department of Public Health says 38,382 abortions were performed statewide in 2016.

From McHenry Times

McSweeney: Property tax reform effort starts with consolidation

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) seems hopeful that the timing might finally be right for the property tax proposal he’s been promoting for a long time.

This week in Illinois history: Jan. 29-Feb. 4

By Justin Stoltzfus | Jan 15, 2018

Blagojevich removed from office, Illinois becomes the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment and the longest boxing match under modern rules

OPINION: Madison-St. Clair Record: Biased or not, Kolker's decision not likely to stand

By Madison-St. Clair Record | Jan 14, 2018

He insists that his decision was not politically motivated and that he had the law on his side.

OPINION: Reeder: The exodus continues

By Scott Reeder | Jan 14, 2018

Illinois dropped from the fifth-largest state to the sixth according to recently released Internal Revenue Service data. We’ve been edged out by Pennsylvania.

Nagy optimistic about ability of Bears to turn things around

By Nathan Davis | Jan 11, 2018

The Chicago Bears have tapped Matt Nagy as the 16th head coach in the franchise's history.

Rauner bucks national trend by extending costly welfare waiver for the able-bodied

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 11, 2018

Under Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois has again extended a welfare waiver covering able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) when other states, with their economies expanding, are reverting to the cost-saving reforms enacted in 1996 under then-President Bill Clinton.

Illinois Farm Bureau in favor of industrial hemp production

By Angela Underwood | Jan 11, 2018

Bill Bodine, the Illinois Farm Bureau's associate director of state legislation, supports the production, processing, commercialization and utilization of industrial hemp.

Illinois vendor debt dips below $9 billion mark

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 10, 2018

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt dipped below $9 billion for the week ending Jan. 10, continuing a downward trend that has seen debt steadily decline ever since hitting a record-high of nearly $17 billion.

Harold bringing attorney general campaign to Elmhurst

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 10, 2018

Attorney Erika Harold, who is running in the Republican primary for Illinois attorney general, will be on hand for a meet and greet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, in Elmhurst.

Analysis: Despite lower fees, Illinois ranks 13th among states with highest cost to start a business

By LGIS Newsfeed | Jan 9, 2018

Illinois state government lowered its fees for forming and maintaining Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). Setting up an LLC now costs $150, down from $500. And maintaining one costs $75, down from $250 per year.

Chicago's Morning answer Will there be a special counsel for the special counsel? Salena Zito joins Dan & Amy to discuss

By LGIS News Service | Jan 9, 2018

Salena Zito joins Dan & Amy to discuss if there will be a special counsel for the special counsel.

Chicago's Morning Answer Ronald Kessler shares his experience interviewing Pres. Trump & responds to "Fire and Fury"

By LGIS News Service | Jan 9, 2018

Author and Columnist Ronald Kessler shares his experience interviewing Pres. Trump & responds to "Fire and Fury"

Chicago's Morning Answer Jim Pethokoukis joins Dan and Amy with reaction to the December jobs numbers

By LGIS News Service | Jan 9, 2018

CNBC Contributor Jim Pethokoukis joins Dan and Amy with reaction to the December jobs numbers.

IL Rising Endorsements Coming For Ives For Governor

By Hoang Tran | Jan 9, 2018

Dan and Patrick discusses Ives momentum in her bid for Illinois governor.

IL Rising Illinois' Exodus Continues

By LGIS News Service | Jan 9, 2018

Add Teaser here

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.