Prairie State Wire

State Board of Elections says Illinois votes remain safe after indictment of Russian hackers

By Angela Underwood | Jul 13, 2018

A U.S. indictment against Russian intelligence left Illinois State Board of Elections (ISBOE) Public Information Officer Matt Dietrich assuring residents their votes remain safe.

State's vendor debt slides down slightly to $6,643,624,664.94

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 13, 2018

The state’s unpaid vendor debt trickled downward during the week ending July 12, finishing at $6,643,624,664.94, or slightly more than $100 million over last week’s debt levels.

This week in Illinois history: July 30-Aug. 5

By Robert Hadley | Jul 11, 2018

July 30, 1898 - Highwood. Amusement park honoring Civil War General Philip Sheridan opens. Headquartered at the intersection of Clay Street and Sheridan Road in Highwood, Fort Sheridan Park was advertised as a “the only first-class family resort and picnic grounds west of New York,” as a print advertisement proclaims on the Illinois History Journal’s digital archives.

IL Rising - The 2017 Income Tax Hike One Year Later

By LGIS News Service | Jul 11, 2018

How is the state faring one year after a massive 32 percent income tax hike was passed?

Dodge calls tax hikes 'policy of last resort'

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 11, 2018

Republican State Treasurer candidate Jim Dodge points to talk of a progressive tax system as another example of just how upside down things have now become in Springfield.

Dodge blames taxes for declining jobs, population

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 11, 2018

Republican Illinois State Treasurer candidate Jim Dodge thinks Springfield needs a certain type of lawmaker to have any real chance of turning the state around.

Republicans of Wheeling Township HQ vandalism points up current lack of civil political discourse

By Karen Kidd | Jul 9, 2018

It isn't clear whether the brick thrown through the front door of the Republicans of Wheeling Township (ROWT) headquarters in Arlington Heights the morning of July 4 was a hate crime, but concern that it was says something about the current lack of civil political discourse, a local GOP official said.

This week in Illinois history: July 23-29

By Robert Hadley | Jul 9, 2018

Learn about the city of Chicago's worst race riots, a tragic tornado and the birth of a three-term governor, this week in Illinois history.

Milikh: Virtuous Citizens Power the American Dream

By Arthur Milikh | Jul 8, 2018

Nowadays in polite society, we rarely hear anyone talk about strength of character, virtues or greatness. To discuss these matters would require making “value judgments,” and we are told we cannot judge. Openness is the only virtue we recognize.

Reeder: Sight of fireworks is supposed to conjure up images of patriots

By Scott Reeder | Jul 8, 2018

I was driving across Iowa the night of July 4th when fireworks erupted all around us.

IL Rising - How Janus Vs. AFSCME Could Impact Illinois

By LGIS News Service | Jul 6, 2018

How Janus Vs. AFSCME Could Impact Illinois

IL Rising - Supreme Court's decision on worker's rights

By LGIS News Service | Jul 6, 2018

IL Rising - Supreme Court's decision on worker's rights

Illinois' unpaid vendor debt drops slightly to $6.7 billion

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 5, 2018

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt stood at $6,726,612,811. 81 during the week ending July 5, slightly down from two weeks earlier when the state comptroller's website showed debt registered at $6,838,969,832.77.

From SE Illinois News

Bills to overhaul worker's compensation in Illinois still alive despite vocal opposition

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

State Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) and others recently spoke out against two eerily familiar Democrat-sponsored bills that would overhaul worker's compensation in Illinois.

NRA warns members against gun control bills

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 5, 2018

The Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is encouraging NRA members to contact Gov. Bruce Rauner and urge him to veto Senate Bills 337 and 3256, and House Bill 2354.

From North Cook News

Brick thrown through glass door at Republicans of Wheeling Township headquarters

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Wheeling Township Republicans are asking for information to be turned into local police concerning vandalism to the front of the party's headquarters in Arlington Heights over the Fourth of July.

Chicago area has highest ‘equity-rich’ mortgage rate among Illinois’ largest MSAs

By Prairie State Wire | Jul 5, 2018

Among Illinois’ most populous urban centers, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin posted the highest percentage of properties with mortgages that have at least 50 percent equity in their homes, according to an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions looking at home equity.

Dodge suggests combining comptroller, treasurer's offices to reduce spending

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 4, 2018

Jim Dodge traces Illinois’ spiraling property tax crisis all the way back to the days of the Great Recession.

Bellock named DHFS director

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 4, 2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently named Rep. Patricia Bellock (R-Hinsdale) as the new director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS).

Cortes: Durbin ICE comments 'appalling attack on thousands of brave agents'

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 3, 2018

At a recent immigration rally in Chicago, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) goose-stepped in line with the rising far left of the Democratic Party and insulted the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE), calling them a “group of incompetents" during a CNN interview.