Commission To Call For Overhaul Of Early Childhood Education Funding
SPRINGFIELD – A commission that Gov. JB Pritzker appointed in 2019 will soon issue a report calling for a complete overhaul in the way the state handles its budget for early childhood education along with a massive increase in funding for early childhood programs. Speaking Monday at a hearing for a House appropriations committee that […]
Pritzker Issues Statewide Disaster Proclamation Amid Winter Storms
SPRINGFIELD — Dangerous sub-zero temperatures and massive snow accumulation across Illinois prompted Gov. JB Pritzker to issue a disaster proclamation for the entire state on Tuesday. “I have directed my administration to use all resources at our disposal to keep our communities safe amid dangerous and ongoing winter weather,” Pritzker said in the news release. […]
State School Board Member Criticizes New Graduation Requirements
SPRINGFIELD – New high school graduation requirements that were part of an omnibus education bill passed during the lame duck session are drawing criticism from some members of the Illinois State Board of Education. Those new requirements were included in House Bill 2170, Amendment 3, which was introduced by Sen. Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood. They include the addition […]
Mitigations Scaled Back In All Regions Of State; HS Sports Allowed
SPRINGFIELD – All regions of the state had moved out of Tier 3 mitigations as of Friday, Jan. 22, as the COVID-19 health metrics continue to show improvement statewide. “With all regions of Illinois now out of Tier 3, we can now see that the entire state is headed down the right path,”said Illinois Department of […]
New IL Congresswoman Criticized For Saying ‘Hitler Was Right On One Thing’
URBANA – Leaders of both major parties in Illinois condemned downstate Congresswoman Mary Miller Wednesday, for saying Adolf Hitler was “right on one thing” at a Washington D.C. rally. But Miller denies that her remark was meant to endorse any of Hitler’s ideas. Miller, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump, cited the Nazi dictator at […]
217 Today — Dec. 11, 2020
Friday December 11, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker’s administration is sending Illinois National Guard medical staff to assist with Coronavirus testing and screening at three of the state’s four veterans’ homes. The governor’s office last week announced the 50 counties in Illinois that would be first in line for vaccine distribution for healthcare workers, a demographic […]
217 Today — Nov. 20, 2020
Friday November 20, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker yesterday called on longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan to resign if he won’t appear in public and answer questions about a bribery scheme. Illinois state health officials are continuing to urge residents to stay home for the holidays and avoid large indoor gatherings of any kind. They […]
217 Today — Nov. 13, 2020
Friday November 13, 2020 Today’s headlines: Governor JB Pritzker is warning of another possible stay-at-home order for Illinois as Coronavirus stats keep climbing. Today is the last day for in-person classes at the Champaign Unit Four and Urbana school districts until January. Both districts say they’re switching to remote instruction only, starting Monday per recommendations from the Champaign-Urbana Public […]
Illinois Democrats React To Biden Elected President
CHAMPAIGN – Democratic leaders in Illinois praised the projected election of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States. Biden defeated Republican President Donald Trump after a bitter and divisive campaign. Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) tweeted several messages, praising Biden, noting Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ role in history and criticizing Donald Trump.: With […]
Pritzker: Blame Tax-Plan Opponents For Coming Budget Pain
SPRINGFIELD – Backers of a graduated income tax constitutional amendment conceded defeat Wednesday for Gov. JB Pritzker’s marquee policy proposal which was projected to bring in more than $3 billion annually to state coffers. With 98 percent of precincts reporting, voters had rejected the amendment by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin. The Associated […]
217 Today — Oct. 30, 2020
Friday October 30, 2020 Today’s headlines: A hearing this afternoon in a Champaign County courtroom will give a group of local Republicans their first chance to make their case against County Clerk Aaron Ammons. The region of central and western Illinois, which includes Springfield and Quincy, Thursday joined states facing additional mitigation efforts to fight COVID-19. Public health […]
Rep. Darren Bailey Discusses Suit Against Gov. Pritzker
State Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) says he will continue his court battle against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s use of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. A transcript of an interview with Bailey is at the end of this article. Audio of the interview is here. Last week, a Sangamon County judge denied the governor’s request to […]