Category: Government

Constitution gone: Presidential power grabs to martial law

John & Nisha Whitehead That didn’t take long. Within days of Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights disappeared from the White House’s website. While the Donald Trump Administration insists the removal of these foundational documents will eventually be restored to the site, the timing and

Bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers

By Ben Szalinskibszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.comCapitol News Illinois Governor JB Pritzker Tuesday, Jan. 21 signed a long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying less than the minimum wage to workers with disabilities. The bill applies to businesses and other facilities that hold what is known as a 14(c) certificate, named after the

Illinois bill could raise age for mandatory senior license tests

By Ashley Sorianofor Capitol News Illinoisand Medill Illinois News BureauAshleySoriano2025@u.northwestern.edu Older drivers in Illinois could face fewer barriers to renew their driver’s licenses next year as part of a bill that would raise the age for the state-mandated annual driver’s test from 79 to 87. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias

Mayor and City Council candidate forums for Batavia, Geneva, and St. Charles

The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County has announced a series of upcoming mayor and city council candidate forums in St. Charles, Geneva, and Batavia. The forums will feature candidates on the April 1, 2025 Illinois Consolidated Election ballot who are in contested races in their respective communities.

Batavia and St. Charles forums for library and school board

The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County announced two upcoming candidate forums, featuring the candidates who are in contested races for Library Board and School Board in the cities of Batavia and Saint Charles. Candidates will appear on the April 1, 2025 Illinois Consolidated Election ballot. The forums

Reader’s Voice: Legalized prostitution; flawed thinking

January 15, 2025Dear editor; Some Illinois state lawmakers plan to introduce a bill to legalize prostitution in the Land of Lincoln. This proposal would expunge past criminal arrests and conviction records. Taking advantage of the super-majority in both chambers, these Democrats want “private choices” about the use of one’s body

Animal Farm Politics: The Deep State Wins Again

By John & Nisha Whitehead It cost the American taxpayer $24 million to find out what we knew all along: Politics is corrupt. After four years of being subjected to special prosecutor Jack Smith’s dogged investigation into alleged election interference by Donald Trump, the Justice Department has concluded that Trump

Join Stephanie Kifowit and Professor Erik McDuffie for a Special MLK Day Coffee Chat

State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, will welcome historian and author Professor Erik S. McDuffie as a special guest for her weekly series, “Coffee with Kiffy,” in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The event will take place Monday, Jan. 20, at 9 a.m. and will be broadcast live on

Karina’s Bill to remove guns from domestic violence situations

By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been 18 months since Karina Gonzalez and her 15-year-old daughter Daniela were shot and killed on Fourth of July weekend at their Chicago home, allegedly by her husband. Gonzalez had filed for an order of protection from her husband just two weeks before her

Illinois invests to prevent homelessness

By Atmika IyerFor Capitol News Illinoisand Medill Illinois News Bureauatmikaiyer2025@u.northwestern.edu With homelessness increasing in Illinois, a coalition of shelter providers and advocates is calling for a $100 million increase in state funding to prevent homelessness and provide shelter to people without homes. That would come on top of the $290

Rep. Barbara Hernandez lays out goals for new term

State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, issued this statement following her inauguration to another term representing her community in Springfield: “I’m eager to continue the work of building a stronger future for Aurorans during my coming time in Springfield. This wonderful community, which gave me so much growing up, deserves someone

Welcome to 2025: Where Your Freedoms Go to Die

By John & Nisha Whitehead Wondering what to expect from the government in 2025? So far, it looks like it will be more of the same ill-advised, costly, greedy, taxpayer-funded, dunderheaded power grabs, saber-rattling, graft, corruption, and make-works programming that leaves us no better off than where we started. Indeed,