Year: 2020

Future of ‘we the people’ fixed to hard work, Constitution

By John W. Whitehead And so it begins again, the never-ending, semi-delusional, train-wreck of an election cycle in which the American people allow themselves to get worked up into a frenzy over the misguided belief that the future of this Nation, nay, our very lives, depends on who we elect

Peach Recall Expands Due to Potential Health Hazard

The Kane County Health Department is advising that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, is investigating an ongoing multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections potentially linked to peaches packed or supplied by Prima Wawona or

Illinois Senate GOP demands governor open Department of Employment Security (IDES) offices

By Rebecca Anzel Ten frustrated Republican Party senators demanded governor JB Pritzker allow State offices tasked with processing unemployment claims to reopen in a letter sent exactly five months after Illinois’ first stay-at-home order was issued. The Department of Employment Security was widely reported to struggle with the historic influx

Illinois making final push to increase census participation

By Raymon Troncoso The Illinois Department of Human Services said the State is poised to have one of the top census response rates in the country despite two tumultuous months of changing deadlines as determined by the Donald Trump administration. Illinois sits at a 69.1% self-response rate as of Thursday,

Whither the Illinois GOP in a post-Jim Thompson world

The recent passing of Illinois Republican governor Jim Thompson (1977-1990) begs the question: Can the Illinois Republican Party ever again capture the governor’s office? The only answer I can come up with is, unfortunately: Not likely, but not impossible. Here’s why. Jim Thompson served four terms, twice as many as

Kane County Removed from Illinois Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Warning List

Because of significant improvement in COVID-19 warning indicators, the Illinois Department of Public Health removed Kane County from its warning list Friday, Aug. 21. The warning list designation occurs when two of the six metrics identified by the State reach the warning level. For Kane County, the two measures that

Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame volunteers announced at virtual ceremony

Service is a hallmark of the Illinois 4-H program. Annually, the Illinois 4-H Foundation honors longtime volunteers and former staff members for their selfless dedication to 4-H – the University of Illinois Extension youth development program. “These volunteers fully embody what 4-H strives to instill in youth,” says Angie Barnard,

Aurora Seeks Volunteers for Census Outreach Days in Hard-to-Count Neighborhoods

With only 40 days left until the deadline to complete the 2020 Census September 30, approximately 72% of Aurora households have responded. Mayor Richard C. Irvin is asking the community to work together to increase the response rate, particularly in hard-to-count neighborhoods. “This is a serious matter,” said mayor Irvin

34th Annual Crime Prevention Calendar Features ‘Best of the Best’ Artwork by Naperville Students

The artwork of dozens of Naperville students will appear in the Naperville Police Department’s 2020-2021 Crime Prevention Calendar. This is the 34th year the Crime Prevention Calendar has been created to share students’ artwork and crime prevention messages with elementary school families throughout Naperville. This year’s calendar is a compilation

Statehouse statues of Stephen Douglas, Pierre Menard to be removed from exterior

By Rebecca Anzel Statues of two slave-owning men with historical ties to Illinois will be moved from the Statehouse grounds in Springfield to a secure storage site, a panel of four officials voted Wednesday, Aug. 19 morning. The decision comes almost six weeks after house speaker Michael Madigan asked the