Category: Government

House minority leader accelerates Illinois redistricting push

By Brenden MooreCapitol News Illinoisbmoore@capitolnewsillinois.com While candidates filed petitions Monday to run under Illinois’ existing congressional district lines, U.S. House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries brought his redistricting campaign to Illinois, pitching top state Democrats on a new map in a series of closed-door meetings. Dozens of congressional candidates were in

Aurora City Council considers ordinance to limit ICE from staging on City-owned spaces

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council listened to dozens of speakers in a standing-room-only crowd after agreeing to allow nearly an hour of extra time for public comments at the Tuesday, Oct. 28 City Council meeting. The majority of speakers expressed anger and sadness about the recent actions of

ICE in Aurora abducts two U.S. citizens

Joint statement from Aurora Rapid Response Team and Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Saturday, Oct. 25, Aurora experienced an escalation of ICE and CBP activity, putting everyone in our city in danger. It is clear that ICE is an unaccountable, rogue agency that exists only to harm our

Reader’s Commentary: Trump brought peace to Middle East, working on U.S.

By Bela “Bill” Suhayda Six bunker buster bombs dropped on Iranian nuclear facilities changed the course of history in the Middle East. The person sending the bombs was none other than president Donald Trump, the person most hated by The Voice contributors “Wayne’s World” Johnon, Charles “The Chas” Coddington, and

The Gospel according to the military-industrial complex

By John & Nisha Whitehead For a man supposedly intent on winning a Nobel Peace Prize, Donald Trump spends an extraordinary amount of time waging war, threatening to wage war, and fantasizing about waging war. Notwithstanding his dubious claims about having ended “seven un-endable wars,” Trump has continued to squander

Trump agrees to extend judge’s block on National Guard

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com The Donald Trump administration has agreed to extend a federal judge’s temporary block on deploying National Guard troops to Chicago while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs whether to stay the judge’s order. In a filing Tuesday — two days before U.S. District Judge April Perry’s

Photo of Aurora Police Department honored by mayor of Aurora

Aurora Police Department Crisis Negotiations Team named the 2025 Negotiations Team of the Year

Mayor of Aurora, John Laesch, honors the Aurora Police Department Crisis Negotiations Team at the Tuesday, Oct. 21 City Council meeting. The team was named the 2025 Negotiations Team of the Year by the Illinois Crisis Negotiators Association. The distinguished honor is for their teamwork during a long and complex

Aurora City Council considers new downtown organization

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council is considering a Resolution to authorize the expenditure of special service area tax funds in a total aggregate amount not to exceed $50,000. In addition, a provision of City staff member support for the purpose of organizing an independent not-for-profit organization to render

Rep. Kifowit advocates for release of education funding

Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) expressed her unwavering support for the University Professionals of Illinois, students, and fellow lawmaker Rep. La Shawn Ford. “I stand in full solidarity with the University Professionals of Illinois, our students, and my colleague, Rep. La Shawn Ford, in demanding the immediate release of

Donald’s sins, ICE in Aurora, Kirk confusion

Musings: •The Sins of Donald J. Trump (chapter 12). He has: Begged for a “special” donation from the general public in order to “go to heaven”; Questioned the First Amendment right of free speech; Instructed attorney general Pam Bondi to investigate the use of anti-racketeering laws against leftist protestors; Ordered

Police state bounty hunters: ICE’s unconstitutional war

By John & Nisha Whitehead “Brother, I am American. You are twisting my arm.”— Man shouts “I am American” while ICE agents detain him Masked gunmen. Tasers. Tear gas. Pepper spray. Unmarked vehicles. Intimidation tactics. Brutality. Racial profiling. Children traumatized. Families terrorized. Journalists targeted. Citizens detained. Disabled individuals, minors, the

Trump asks U.S. Supreme Court to allow National Guard deployment in Illinois

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com  The Donald Trump administration on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the immediate deployment of National Guard troops in Illinois, calling the decisions by lower court judges blocking the activation of guardsmen “indefensible” and “micromanaging.” In a 43-page filing, the administration argued the

Report offers mixed review of education in Illinois

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com A new report about education in Illinois suggests that overall, the state has made significant progress in key areas, from readying toddlers for kindergarten to helping young adults earn college degrees or industry certificates before entering the workforce. But it also shows that despite billions