Prairie State Wire

Bail reduction hearing date set for Jose Rodriguez, man in country illegally charged with hit-and-run death of Normal’s Corey Cottrell

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 31, 2019

An Aug. 8 bond reduction hearing has been set for Jose Rodriguez, 27, the man in the United States illegally who has been charged in the hit-and-run accident that killed 39-year-old Normal resident Corey Cottrell on June 22.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZKER: Steps Away from U.S. Soccer Federation, Gov. Pritzker Signs Legislation to Advance Equal Pay in Illinois

By Press release submission | Jul 31, 2019

A Move Toward Equal Pay for Equal Work, HB 834 Bans Employers from Asking Job Applicants About Salary History

From Rock Island Today

NRCC press secretary: DCCC staff shakeup shows Bustos is 'not up for the job'

By Glenn Minnis | 6 years ago

The press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee is convinced the massive shakeup at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that ended this week in the abrupt ousters of at least six senior level staffers is mostly a reflection of just one person.

Source: Costa-Howard's cell phone controversy deflects from abortion vote

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 30, 2019

Critics of Illinois state Rep. Terra Costa-Howard (D-Lombard) argue there’s a method to freshman lawmaker’s anger in the ongoing scandal about her personal cellphone number being made public.

Illinois GOP wants Speaker Madigan to answer for reports that harassment probe lacks merit

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 30, 2019

The Illinois Republican Party is demanding answers after the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the attorney hired by powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to investigate allegations of sexual harassment within his political empire is the sister of two lobbyists suspected of making payments to Kevin Quinn, the central figure of the harassment investigation.

Rep. Skillicorn introduces fireworks bill aimed at helping merchants recoup gas tax losses

By Karen Kidd | Jul 30, 2019

Illinois state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake) is pushing a bill that would remove the state's restrictions on fireworks sales so that tax-burdened Illinois businesses will have a shot at the profits currently being earned by merchants in neighboring states.

ILLINOIS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: State Receives Extension for Submitting Request for Federal Declaration

By Press release submission | Jul 30, 2019

Deadline for request is now September 3

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: Gov. Pritzker Signs New Law Giving Millions of Illinoisans Relief from High Interest on Consumer Debt

By Press release submission | Jul 29, 2019

Consumer Fairness Act Lowers Post-Judgment Interest Rate from 9% to 5%, Reduces Collection Timeframe by 9 Years

From McHenry Times

McConchie seeks more clarity on wage-theft bill

By Kyla Asbury | 6 years ago

During a recent hearing before the Senate Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois state Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) asked for more clarification on a bill that intends to protect construction employees from wage theft.

Sarah Alter nominated to Lottery Control Board

By Metric Media News Service | Jul 27, 2019

Sarah Alter was nominated in the Senate to be member of the Lottery Control Board on Thursday, June 13, according to the official Illinois General Assembly website.

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR'S OFFICE: Gov. Pritzker Announces Appointments to Committee for Agricultural Education, Governors State University

By Press release submission | Jul 26, 2019

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration:

GOP chair Schneider wants answers from Speaker Madigan as probe reveals payments to former aide

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 26, 2019

Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider is demanding answers from House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) in the wake of an ongoing criminal probe where several people with close ties to the longtime Democratic leader have already been implicated.

ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AUTHORITY: ICJIA Welcomes New Executive Director

By Press release submission | Jul 25, 2019

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Stamps to ICJIA Executive Director. Mr. Stamps was nominated by Gov. JB Pritzker to the position and must be confirmed by the Illinois Senate.

Pritzker condemns Kankakee County Democratic chairman's inflammatory social media post

By Robert Hadley | Jul 25, 2019

Kankakee County Democrats are keeping mum after Gov. J.B. Pritzker condemned a social media post comparing the red MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat worn by many supporters of President Donald Trump to a pointed Ku Klux Klan hat.

Illinois Christian Home Educators director fears repercussions of bill to add LGBT curricula

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 25, 2019

Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) Executive Director Kirk Smith thinks the state government is at risk of doing more harm than good by pushing a plan to add lessons about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to public school curricula.

Onetime primary opponent says legal case against Madigan is strong, 2016 'fraud' will be revealed

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 25, 2019

Jason Gonzales insists that his legal stand against Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is about much more than losing a 2016 Democratic primary at the hands of the Illinois House Speaker's powerful political machine.

From SW Illinois News

Sen. Rose, Charlie Daniels agree: Pritzker's decision on state fair's musical act hits a sour note

By Glenn Minnis | 6 years ago

Illinois state Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) fears that this year’s DuQuoin State Fair may come to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability: Pension buyout saved state a fraction of early projections

By Karen Kidd | Jul 24, 2019

The pension buyout plan that was supposed to save Illinois $445 million in fiscal 2019 did not come close to achieving its goal, a nonpartisan policy-analysis group recently announced.

ILLINOIS STUDENT ASSISTANCE COMMISSION: 99th Annual College Changes Everything® (CCE) Conference: Communities Address Barriers to Student Success

By Press release submission | Jul 24, 2019

How do we get students—especially low-income and first-generation students—to and through postsecondary education? While removing academic and financial barriers is important, it is not sufficient to improve equity.

Cynthia Santos nominated to Illinois Pollution Control Board

By Metric Media News Service | Jul 24, 2019

Cynthia Santos was nominated in the Senate to be member of the Illinois Pollution Control Board on Thursday, June 13, according to the official Illinois General Assembly website.