Category: Government

Aurora African-American Heritage Advisory Board honored

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin honored members of the Aurora African-American Heritage Advisory Board at the City Council meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 27. Mayor Irvin praised the Board for its efforts with the recent 18th annual heritage dinner. “That was the most well-attended event we’ve ever had in

Representative Stephanie Kifowit delivers address at Robotics event

State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Week Zero Warmup scrimmage at Oswego School District 308’s FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2338: Gear it Forward. The event, held at Bednarcik Jr. High School in Aurora, IL, brought together 10 teams from across Illinois to prepare for

Aurora City Council considers demolition of former YMCA

By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council is considering a Resolution to approve a demolition and remediation contract with American Demolition Corporation of Carol Stream Ill., for the former YMCA structures at 460-480 Garfield Avenue. Consent was given to the Resolution at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Tuesday,

Gun rightists seek U.S. Court to end State ban

By Peter Hancock In a long-expected move, national gun rights organizations are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Illinois’ ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines. In separate petitions filed Monday, Feb. 12 the Colorado-based National Association for Gun Rights and the Nevada-based Firearms Policy Coalition asked the

Black History Month celebrated at Aurora City Council

By Jason Crane In celebration of Black History Month, the Aurora City Council honored four chiefs and two aldermen who serve Aurora, at the Tuesday, Feb. 13 City Council meeting. Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented a Black History Month proclamation to Ward 7 alderman, Brandon Tolliver; chief engagement officer,

Reader’s Commentary: View: Fact-checking, no diversity

By Bela “Bill” Suhayda Wayne Johnson conducted his own “coronation” of himself to becoming a fact-checker of me in this publication. He has dragged poor “Chas” Codington to the same undignified/ proletarian stature. Wayne needs reinforcements!! Fact-checking is a new thing in the free world. It’s been brought to us

Reader’s Voice: A drug emergency in Oregon

February 8, 2024Dear editor; In 2020, Oregon voters decriminalized possession of small amounts of almost every hard drug. Progressives campaigned in support of this ballot measure, insisting that their state should help treat addiction rather than punish it. The measure passed with 58 percent support. Now, Oregon’s governor has declared

Surveillance revolution took place in four steps

By John & Nisha Whitehead Forty years past the time that George Orwell envisioned the stomping boot of Big Brother, the police state is about to pass off the baton to the surveillance state. Fueled by a melding of government and corporate power—the rise of the security industrial complex—this watershed

State Rep. Marcus Evans, D-Chicago, is joined by a coalition of advocates at a Statehouse news conference to push for a $300 per-child tax credit. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Andrew Campbell)

Capitol Briefs: Tax credits for children, manufacturers among new legislative proposals

Insurance coverage for fertility treatments, child internet regulations also introduced By Andrew Adams Cole Longcor& Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com After failing to pass a child tax credit last year, advocates returned to Springfield Wednesday to propose a scaled back version of the policy which they say would still reduce child poverty

The Paul Findley Federal Courthouse in Springfield. (CapitolNews Illinois photo by Hannah Meisel)

Day in court postponed for former lawmaker who checked into hospital on eve of corruption trial

Sam McCann, charged with misusing campaign funds, set for trial next week By Hannah MeiselCapitol News Illinoishmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Springfield – On what was supposed to be the third morning of a weeklong corruption trial of former State Sen. Sam McCann, the onetime third-party candidate for governor instead videoconferenced into U.S. District

Capitol Briefs: Lawmakers introduce police reform measures, advocates look to end tipped wage

Proposals draw support from gun safety groups, worry from law enforcement advocates By Andrew Adams& Alex AbbedutoCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Chicago — Families of gun violence victims are asking the state legislature to reform how police handle unsolved murder investigations through legislation introduced this week. House Bill 4753, sponsored by Rep.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is pictured in Springfield. (Illustration by Capitol News Illinois)

Capitol Briefs: State gets ‘average’ lung cancer grade, announces opioid settlements, manufacturing grants

Lung Association rates state policies; opioid funds top $1.3 billion; ‘Made in Illinois’ program launches By Cole Longcor& Jennifer FullerCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The American Lung Association’s 2023 “State of Lung Cancer” report shows Illinois has “a lot of work to do” to ensure individuals at high risk for lung cancer