Chambana Sun

'Great Chicago Fire 2.0;' Halbrook responds to new vaccine mandate

By Karen Kidd | Dec 30, 2021

A south central Illinois state representative recently likened Chicago's looming vaccine mandate, announced earlier this week, to one of the greatest tragedies the city has ever known.

Marron plans Danville 104th District Town Hall to 'hit the reset button' before holidays

By Karen Kidd | Dec 1, 2021

Constituents in Illinois' 104th House District in the east-central part of the state will have yet another opportunity to see and speak with Rep. Michael Marron (R-Fithian) ten days before Christmas

Bennett: 'The pledge to work together has proved to ring hollow'

By Karen Kidd | Apr 20, 2021

Despite promises to get along better, Democrats in the Illinois State House are behaving no better now than when now former Speaker Michael Madigan was in power, Republicans said last week.

From Metro East Sun

Rep. Shimkus' retirement plans on hold – at least for the moment

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Illinoisans may find out next week whether longtime Southern Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus (R-Danville) will change his mind about retiring from the 15th Congressional District seat he has held for more than 20 years.

From Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

From Prairie State Wire

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

From Macon Reporter

Rep. Caulkins 'appalled' at Pritzker's signing of abortion expansion law

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

A freshman Republican from the Illinois House's 101st District last month criticized Gov. J.B. Pritzker's decision sign legislation that greatly expanded abortion access in the state.

From West Central Reporter

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

Abortion bill co-sponsor Ammons has no comment on Democratic colleague's remark about castration

By Karen Kidd | May 1, 2019

Illinois State House Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) was not available to discuss an apparent suggestion by one of her Democratic colleagues that castration would solve the issue of abortion in Illinois.

Pritzker's compromise claim likely due to inexperience, Champaign GOP chair says

By Karen Kidd | Feb 18, 2019

Inexperience likely led to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's gaffe last week when he claimed GOP lawmakers had participated in a compromise to raise the state's minimum wage, the head of the Republican Party in Champaign County said today.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

IPI: FBI's secret Madigan recordings in affidavit reveal nothing new about speaker's operations

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), earlier today revealed to be a target in the same FBI investigation that led to an extortion indictment against a Chicago alderman, is not accused of anything new, a think tank reported.

Champaign Township official lauds Shelby Township for rebating property taxes

By Karen Kidd | Jan 3, 2019

Taxpayers will benefit from the more than $700,000 in property tax rebate checks recently mailed to Shelby Township parcel owners in response to legislation passed in 2017, Andrew J. Quarnstrom, Champaign Township supervisor, said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's outgoing Republican governor saw a few of his vetoes overridden during the Fall Veto Session in Springfield and a few new laws have been passed, a QUAD city area lawmaker said in a summary recap released last week.

From Prairie State Wire

State facing huge debt for public-sector retiree health benefits, says Wirepoints

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's "other debt disaster" is $73 billion in unfunded state retiree health insurance benefits and more than twice that amount owed over the next four decades, according to a special report issued this week by an online news outlet.

From Prairie State Wire

FY19 Budget: 'Not one penny should be spent on pork,' Ives says

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) believes state lawmakers need to reject political pork spending that was hidden in the budget passed earlier this year.

From Prairie State Wire

Pro-economic liberty group launches campaign against soaring Illinois property taxes

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Supporting a proposal to cut Illinois property taxes in half and a slate of political candidates who would help make that happen is part of Liberty Principles PAC's recently announced "Save Your Home" campaign.

Supreme Court Janus decision will 'radically change the work environment in Illinois,' Halbrook says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 29, 2018

The nationwide change in how unions collect fees and dues expected from the U.S. Supreme Court's decision earlier this week in an Illinois case against the state's largest public sector employee union is a win for the Constitution, state Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) believes.

From Prairie State Wire

People in prime working age are fleeing Illinois, think tank reports

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Not only is Illinois' overall population in deep decline, the number of people in prime working age also is going down in the state, a Chicago-based Conservative think tank said in a recent report.

Proposed bill to closes loophole in township meeting provisions, Edgar County Watchdogs founder says

By Karen Kidd | Apr 17, 2018

Proposed state legislation currently on the House calendar would change the way townships boards can meet, Edgar County Watchdogs founder and writer Kirk Allen said during a recent interview.