Category: Government

Nursing homes still grappling with worker shortage, cost increases

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com It’s been four years since some of the worst scenes of COVID-19 played out in locked-down nursing homes during the early months of the pandemic. But while most of the world has moved on, the nursing home industry is still reeling from COVID, which exacerbated

Pritzker pledges to expand mental health care access

By Dilpreet RajuCapitol News Illinoisdraju@capitolnewsillinois.com In the middle of Mental Health Awareness Month, Gov. JB Pritzker and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton hosted a panel in Springfield this week at which he pledged to expand the state’s behavioral health services. With several dozen services providers from around the state in attendance,

Mayor of Aurora thankful for veterans, disgusted with U. S. Census Bureau

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, expressed disgust with the U. S. Census Bureau, at the Committee of the Whole meeting, Tuesday, May 21. Mayor Irvin made the following statement about the U.S. Census Bureau population estimates: “The most recent population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau are

Aurora Police Officers Active and Deceased Honored During Police Week Ceremony

Aurora Police Officers, Active and Deceased, Honored During Police Week Ceremony

Aurora concluded National Police Week with an annual ceremony that honored the current officers and those who died in the line of duty. Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin and Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross led the ceremony with the mayor presenting a proclamation to recognize the week. The mayor and

Hundreds of Aurora Seniors Turn Out for FBI Workshop on Senior Fraud Awareness Day

More than 200 Aurora senior citizens eagerly showed up for a special workshop presented by the FBI and the City of Aurora, Wednesday, May 15, Senior Fraud Awareness Day. Last year, the frequency of elder fraud crimes targeting Americans over 60 reached an alarming high, surpassing any previous year. These

Report says natural gas prices could triple in next 10 years without State action

By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Consumer natural gas bills could triple over the next 10 years without state intervention, according to a report from the Building Decarbonization Coalition and Groundwork Data. The report attributes much of the potential increase to the fact that most utility infrastructure spending is going toward

House okays program for student teacher stipends, but not the funding for it

By Peter Hancock & Andrew CampbellCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois House approved a bill Tuesday to allow student teachers to receive stipends while earning their education degree, even though the money needed to fund those stipends is unlikely to be included in next year’s budget. House Bill 4652, by Rep.

Aurora City Council honors Warriors Hockey Club

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin, presented honors to the Warriors Hockey Club at the May 14 Aurora City Council meeting. The Warriors Hockey Club with students from Waubonsie Valley High School and Metea Valley High School ice hockey team of Aurora claimed their fourth Illinois State high

State leads Medicare reform: Pritzker

By Dilpreet RajuCapitol News Illinoisdraju@capitolnewsillinois.com Approximately 73% of Illinois’ Medicaid recipients remain on the rolls after the first redetermination cycle following the COVID-19 pandemic, while approximately 660,000 recipients have been disenrolled. Speaking at a news conference in Chicago, governor JB Pritzker celebrated the fact that 2.6 million Illinoisans remained on

Illinois House Republicans introduce human trafficking legislation

By Cole LongcorCapitol News Illinoisclongcor@capitolnewsillinois.com After Illinois received another failing grade from a national advocacy group, state House Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at further protecting victims and prosecuting perpetrators of human trafficking. Shared Hope International, an advocacy organization that works to prevent sex trafficking, said in its 2023 Illinois

Home fortress will crumble on the horizon

By John & Nisha Whitehead The spirit of the U.S. Constitution, drafted by men who chafed against the heavy-handed tyranny of an imperial ruler, would suggest that one’s home is a fortress, safe from almost every kind of intrusion. Unfortunately, a collective assault by the government’s cabal of legislators, litigators,

Tenth Amendment may help restore justice

By John & Nisha Whitehead The American governmental scheme is sliding ever closer towards a pervasive authoritarianism. The American people, the permanent underclass in America, have allowed themselves to be so distracted and divided that they have failed to notice the building blocks of tyranny being laid down right under

After 3 years, State poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination

By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com In 1977, then-president Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to

Election officials to weigh whether Darren Bailey and GOP operative Dan Proft illegally coordinated

By Andrew Adams & Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com A year and a half after Republican Darren Bailey lost his campaign to challenge governor JB Pritzker, State election officials are weighing whether he illegally colluded with conservative radio show host and political operative Dan Proft in the 2022 campaign. The State

Legislation: Create Metropolitan Mobility

Illinois State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) issued the following statement on proposed legislation to create a new Metropolitan Mobility Authority. “As a representative for DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties, I am committed to ensuring that all constituents in these regions have proper representation in the consideration of this legislation