Tag: infrastructure

Pritzker touts infrastructure funding in southern Illinois stops

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker continues to make frequent stops across the state to tout one of the marquee policy accomplishments of his first year in office and its ongoing benefits to Illinois communities. That is the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan, and on Wednesday he made multiple stops in southern Illinois to […]

The House has passed the $1 trillion infrastructure plan, sending it to Biden’s desk

WASHINGTON — After months of tense negotiations, the House of Representatives has passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, 228-206, fulfilling a major priority for President Biden’s domestic agenda and cementing a political victory for Democrats. The measure includes significant investments in roads, bridges, railways and broadband internet. It passed late Friday night largely along […]

As Marijuana Industry In Oklahoma Booms, Rural Utilities Feel Growing Pains

STILLWATER, Okla. — The medical marijuana industry in many areas is booming, but some utility providers struggle to keep up with the growing need for water and electricity. Since Oklahomans legalized medical marijuana in 2018, nearly 10% of the population has obtained cards to buy cannabis. Meanwhile, 8,630 growers have opened shop in the state. […]

House Passes $3.5T Biden Blueprint After Deal With Moderates

WASHINGTON — House Democratic leaders have compromised with moderates and muscled President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle. Biden praised Tuesday’s 220-to-212 vote as a step toward “truly investing in the American people.” A band of moderate lawmakers had been threatening to withhold their support for the $3.5 trillion plan. They were […]

Rep. Davis: Light U.S. Presence Could Have Prevented Taliban Takeover In Afghanistan

NORMAL — Central Illinois U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis thinks President Joe Biden’s decision to remove all U.S. troops from Afghanistan was a political move that backfired. The Taylorville Republican said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas the Biden administration could have “kept the peace” and prevented a Taliban takeover by maintaining a small, open-ended […]

The Senate Approves The $1 Trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill In A Historic Vote

WASHINGTON — The Senate voted 69-30 Tuesday to approve a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, a historic piece of legislation that could reshape American lives for decades. The measure fulfills a call from President Biden for the two major parties to work together to deliver one of his top priorities, but it faces an uncertain […]

First Electricity, Now Internet: Rural Areas Struggle To Gain Infrastructure

OKEMAH, Okla. — Rural areas are often the last to receive broadband. The lack of broadband is similar to another issue that rural communities faced decades ago — rural electrification.  About 22% of Americans who live in rural areas that lack broadband, compared to 1.5% of those in cities, according to the Federal Communications Commission.  […]

Durbin Pushes For Lower Drug Costs, Movement On Infrastructure

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin wants to force drug companies to list the cost of prescription medications in their consumer advertisements. The Illinois Democrat said during a virtual news conference Friday he hopes the move will shame drug makers to reduce prices, adding consumers find the prices “baffling” and that they drive up Medicare […]

Rep. Davis: Biden, Dems Holding Infrastructure Bill ‘Hostage’

Central Illinois U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis says the Biden administration’s bipartisan deal on infrastructure isn’t really a deal at all. The Taylorville Republican said President Joe Biden and Democrats are holding the bill hostage by trying to pair it with a bill to pay for things like childcare and family leave. “That’s not negotiating, that’s not making […]

Pritzker Announces 6-Year, $20.7 Billion Road, Bridge Improvement Plan

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Wednesday the release of a six-year, $20.7 billion construction plan to improve roads and bridges throughout the state, an annual process which the Illinois Department of Transportation oversees to target infrastructure spending. The Highway Improvement Program, funded through the Rebuild Illinois capital infrastructure plan passed in 2019, will reconstruct nearly […]

Durbin Among Officials Touting Infrastructure Improvements At Willard

SAVOY — Officials at the University of Illinois’ Willard Airport in Savoy held a ceremony Friday to mark the update of an aging runway. The federal government is contributing more than $11 million to the $12.4 million project. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois says the project is important because of the reach of Willard […]

How An Iowa Town Won Its Fight For Better Flood Protection

HAMBURG, Ia. — Levees protect people, towns, and agriculture from flooding. But two years ago, parts of the Missouri River and its tributaries reached record crests, and many levees failed. Now there’s a rare effort to build a levee higher to better defend one southwest Iowa town.  https://cpa.ds.npr.org/kcur2/audio/2021/04/0413Leveesweb.mp3 Listen to this story here. Hamburg in […]

Davis Says White House Infrastructure Plan Needs GOP Input

URBANA – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis is appealing to bipartisanship, as he joins fellow Republicans in opposing the White House infrastructure plan. Davis made his comments Monday at Willard Airport, south of Champaign, where he toured runway and taxiway improvements. “Well this is awesome,” said Davis, as he was shown improvements paid for by federal […]