State representative Sean Casten (IL-06) announced Monday, Jan. 10 that Illinois will receive $999,514,444 in new federal funds under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create good-paying jobs for Illinoisans while improving roads and bridges across the state. It is the first round of fund under the five
Continuing her efforts to support veterans in Illinois, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, filed legislation to urge Congress to create a national program to help check on veterans to make sure they are receiving the proper care they need. “As a veteran, I understand that one of our most sacred
State representative Stephanie Kifowit announced her re-election campaign for the Illinois House of Representatives Tuesday, Jan. 11. Kifowit will run in the new 84th Illinois House District. “I have been honored to serve in the Illinois House representing the people of the great State of Illinois. I grew up in
By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead Despotism has become our new normal. Digital tyranny, surveillance. Intolerance, cancel culture, censorship. Lockdowns, mandates, government overreach. Supply chain shortages, inflation. Police brutality, home invasions, martial law. The loss of bodily integrity, privacy, autonomy. These acts of tyranny by an authoritarian government long
By Grace Kinnicutt As omicron surges across the State, governor JB Pritzker warned Monday that hospitalizations are about as high as they were last Winter before vaccines were widely available. About 85% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 across the State are unvaccinated. “It is frustrating and tragic that two years
By Jason Crane At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting Tuesday, consent was given to a resolution approving the appointment of Michael Nelson to manager of the Events Division within the Mayor’s Office of Community Affairs Department. He will serve as liaison for all city of
January 3, 2022Dear editor; As we enter the new year, many of us are making resolutions. We may be resolving to exercise more often, take up a journaling practice, or choose more vegetables over sweets. This year begins my final year in the Illinois House representing the 97th District and
By Peter Hancock A three-judge federal court panel has upheld the legislative redistricting plan that state lawmakers approved during a special session last summer, thus leaving in place the new maps that will govern state legislative elections for the next 10 years. In their 64-page opinion, released Thursday, Dec. 30,
In her ongoing effort to maintain an open line of communications with both constituents and media, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, has named veteran television broadcaster Howard Sudberry as her director of communications. “During this important time in our lives, where residents need true and accurate information about not only
By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead Disgruntled mobs. Martial law. A populace under house arrest. A techno-corporate state wielding its power to immobilize huge swaths of the country. A Constitution in tatters. Between the riots, lockdowns, political theater, and COVID-19 mandates, 2021 was one for the history books. In
By Beth Hundsdorfer Community hospitals and health departments in the State will receive help from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IDEMA) to meet the health-care demand during a COVID-19 surge, by adding staff members to provide medical care and provide additional vaccines
By Beth Hundsdorfer Governor JB Pritzker signed a law recently that ends parental notification, a requirement that doctors notify the parents of a minor seeking an abortion. “With reproductive rights under attack across the Nation, Illinois is once again establishing itself as a leader in ensuring access to health care
Congressional representative Sean Casten (IL-06) recently announced that approximately $94 million in new federal funding under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will go to Illinois to make much-needed improvements to O’Hare and Midway airports. O’Hare is set to receive $73,672,455, and Midway will receive $20,245,396. “Thanks to the
By Peter Hancock Minimum wage workers in Illinois will see a boost in their hourly pay to $12 per hour starting January 1, 2022 while tenants in affordable housing units will be allowed to keep pets. Those are just some of the more than 300 new laws that take effect
A member of the Aurora Police Department presents stuffed animals to children at the APD’s stuffed animal giveaway Monday at the Benavides STEAM Academy in East Aurora School District 131.
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council honored Aurora’s Water Production Department Tuesday, Dec. 21 at the Aurora City Council Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting for achieving first place in the Kane County Water Association Water Taste Contest. It is the eighth time Aurora’s water received the award for
By Mavis Bates As a member of the Kane County Board and our American Rescue Plan Committee, I am thrilled to announce Kane County’s Community Support Grant Program. In recognition of the devastating impact felt by our local nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Kane County Board
Is the notion of “One Illinois” a reasonable hope, a noble aspiration, or an impossible dream? The Paul Simon Public Policy Institute is inviting Illinois college students to help us examine this theme and other important questions in the coming Spring at the institute’s second Renewing Illinois Summit. The institute
Following an influx of new funding for rejuvenating businesses in districts across Illinois, State representative Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, called attention to $1.7 million dollars in grant opportunities for local businesses in her community. “Businesses have struggled thoughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and many continue to do so,” said Hernandez. “I look
