Prairie State Wire

Cancellation of gay author's elementary school visit stirs controversy, debate

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 13, 2019

Laurie Higgins, a cultural issues writer for the Illinois Family Institute, believes the Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 School Board had no choice but the one it made when it cancelled the scheduled visit of gay children’s book author Robin Stevenson after it became apparent that she planned to promote her latest work in her talk with students as young as 8 years old.

In Springfield, family ties bind lobbyists, lawmakers

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 11, 2019

It was a rainy February Tuesday evening in Springfield, and lobbyist Matthew O’Shea was treating State Rep. Robert Rita (D-Blue Island) to dinner.

From Illinois Business Daily

These schools have the worst 'on time' graduation rates in Illinois

By Local Labs News Service | 2 days ago

Hebrew Theological College, Telshe Yeshiva-Chicago and University of Phoenix-Illinois have the lowest 'on time' graduation rates in Illinois, according to an analysis of federal data.

From Illinois Business Daily

Illinois K-12 schools paid out $16,825 per student in 2017-18, NEA reports

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 4 days ago

Public schools in Illinois spent $16,825 per student based on average daily attendance (ADA) figures, the 12th highest expenditure level among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to a National Education Association report.

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois urges passage of License to Work Act

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 8, 2019

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) recently held a press conference to show its support for a senate bill that would end the practice of suspending state motorists' driver's licenses for non-driving offenses.

Senate GOP Caucus weighs ethics legislation in wake of corruption charges

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 8, 2019

The Illinois Senate Republican Caucus recently held a press conference to discuss ethics legislation filed last week.

GOP: Hypocritical Pritzker 'should cut the act' on contempt for corrupt colleagues

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 8, 2019

Illinois Republican Party Spokesman Joe Hackler is stunned by what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s unmatched hypocrisy.

ISRA, gun dealers stand in opposition of stricter firearms rules proposals

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 8, 2019

Gun dealers from across the state of Illinois recently turned out in mass for a public hearing on the Proposed Administrative Rules for Gun Dealer Licensing Act.

From Illinois Business Daily

10.9% of Illinois residents live in poverty, Census Bureau finds

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 5 days ago

Illinois residents living below the poverty line in 2017-18 made up 10.9 percent of the state’s population, the 31st highest rank among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to new Census Bureau data.

'One big mushy gray area' when it comes to Illinois lawmakers cashing in on side deals, good government advocate says

By W.J. Kennedy | Nov 5, 2019

Nearly non-existent prohibitions against state lawmakers making money on the side are the root cause of a string of recent corruption charges against lawmakers and investigations into their money-making schemes, a good government advocate says.

House committee favorably reports controversial EtO bill to House

By Kyla Asbury | Nov 5, 2019

The Illinois House Energy and Environment Committee voted to favorably report to the House floor a bill to phase out the use of ethylene oxide (EtO) in sterilization processes.

From Rockford Sun

Illinois homecoming – 'It seems like no one cares about people like us,' returning retiree says

By Glenn Minnis | 9 days ago

After more than 20 years of living in Florida, Don and Paula Parker recently relocated back to their home state of Illinois to be closer to family and back in the place they know best.

From Illinois Business Daily

Which Illinois schools receive the most state student aid?

By Local Labs News Service | 9 days ago

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Chicago and Illinois State University reported receiving the most state financial aid during the 2018-19 academic year among Illinois schools.

From Illinois Business Daily

Illinois offers 91 incentives for energy efficiencies, renewables

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 11 days ago

Policies and incentives promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in Illinois number 91, the 12th highest rank among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to data analyzed in a federally funded database.

From Illinois Business Daily

Illinois schools get 55% of their funds from local taxes, NEA reports

By Illinois Business Daily reports | 12 days ago

Fifty-five percent of Illinois public education funding comes from local tax revenues, the 10th highest level among the 50 states, according to data from the National Education Association.

From Lake County Gazette

Medline to take its defense of ethylene oxide practices, benefits to senate

By Glenn Minnis | 12 days ago

Officials from Northfield-based Medline Industries, Inc. are objecting to the recent passage in the Illinois House of a bill that would ban the use of a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment by pointing to the company’s “exemplary safety record and the importance of ethylene oxide sterilization to Illinois hospitals.”

Special Investigating Committee to determine political future of disgraced Democratic Rep. Arroyo

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 1, 2019

Illinois state Reps. Dan Ugaste (R-Geneva), Grant Wehrli (R-Naperville) and Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) have been named to a bipartisan Special Investigating Committee weighing the potential expulsion of Democratic colleague Rep. Luis Arroyo (D-Chicago).

Legislative Inspector General seeks clearer path in state government corruption investigations

By Glenn Minnis | Nov 1, 2019

Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Carol Pope has sent a letter to Illinois state government leaders seeking authority via subpoena power to launch probes without first going through Legislative Ethics Commission (LEC) channels.

Ideas Illinois chairman calls Pritzker's promotion of fair tax proposal 'inappropriate at best,' illegal at worst

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 30, 2019

As chairman of the Vote No on the Blank Check Amendment, Greg Baise is demanding that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker put an end to what he sees as an abuse of state taxpayers.

Vaping advocates urge lawmakers to oppose ban on flavored liquids

By Kyla Asbury | Oct 28, 2019

Pro-vaping groups and small business owners held a press conference last week to share their opposition of possible legislation that would ban flavored liquids for e-cigarettes.