Category: Government

State government requires reorganization, streamlining

This past month, a Cook County judge held the director of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in contempt of court, an unprecedented action. In this latest instance, two DCFS youngsters languished in mental health facilities months after they were ready to be discharged. What’s new? DCFS

Bill would permit pepper spray

By Beth Hundsdorfer Republican lawmakers are calling for the passage of legislation that would allow Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) workers to carry pepper spray for self-defense when investigating allegations of child abuse. It comes weeks after the death of DCFS investigator Deidre Silas, who died while checking

ShotSpotter considered by Aurora City Council

By Jason Crane At the Aurora city government Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting Tuesday, Feb. 15, Council members viewed a presentation about ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection, alert and analysis service, that is used for timely notification to law enforcement. The City Council gave unanimous consent to the resolution and

Shrinking freedom, illusory rights, continue for ‘we the people’

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead We are no longer free. We are living in a world carefully crafted to resemble a representative democracy, but it’s an illusion. We think we have the freedom to elect our leaders, but we’re only allowed to participate in the reassurance ritual of

Governor seeks to ‘ratchet back’ mask mandates

By Jerry Nowicki Illinoisans should stay tuned for an announcement on the State’s indoor mask mandate, governor JB Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference Tuesday, although he declined to say specifically what changes might be coming. “I think I’ve said over the last few press conferences that I really

Aurora City Council approves Juneteenth as paid holiday

By Jason Crane At the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, Feb. 8, Council members unanimously approved a Resolution designating Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city of Aurora government employees, beginning in June. Non-emergency offices will be closed. In June 2021, Juneteenth was signed into law as both

Bumpy ride: Federal motor vehicle safety standard

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead “A psychotic world we live in. The madmen are in power.”—Philip K. Dick, The Man in the High Castle If we haven’t learned by now, we should beware of anything the government insists is for our own good. Take the Joe Biden administration’s

Reader’s Commentary: Political campaigns should be reality-based and decent

By Marjorie LogmanAurora, Ill. Nipping it in the bud is actually a gardening term which proves itself true and I believe can be adapted to other circumstances especially the voices of the Republican Party candidates for governor. I want to start with Richard Irvin’s blaming governor JB Pritzker for crime

Authoritarian madness conduit to time of tyranny

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead In the politically-charged, polarizing tug-of-war that is the debate over COVID-19, we find ourselves buffeted by fear over a viral pandemic that continues to wreak havoc with lives and the economy, threats of vaccine mandates and financial penalties for noncompliance, and discord over

Governor Pritzker vetoes vax paid leave

By Peter Hancock Governor JB Pritzker Monday vetoed a bill that would have provided paid administrative leave for public school and university employees who miss work due to COVID-19-related issues and instead negotiated “compromise” legislation that would provide such leave to only those who are fully vaccinated. “Vaccines are a

Aurora City Council passes annexation for warehouse

By Jason Crane Mayor of Aurora, Richard Irvin presented the Mayor’s Award of Excellence to individuals for their dedication to serving others at the Aurora city government City Council meeting Tuesday, Jan. 25. The theme was ‘Keeping It 100!’ A proclamation for the 100th Anniversary of the Aurora Noon Lions

State representative Mark Batinick Buyout advances

Thursday, Jan. 20 legislation to authorize additional funding and extend the successful “Batinick Buyout” program for State pensions passed out of the House Personnel & Pensions Committee. House Bill 4292, of which representative Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield) is a chief co-sponsor, was passed by the committee with unanimous support. “I’m happy

Congressman Sean Casten seeks better postal delivery

U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) delivered remarks Thursday, Jan. 20 on the House floor on the ongoing postal delays impacting seniors, veterans, businesses and constituents in Illinois’ 6th District. Casten said, “Since the start of this year, 50% of all the phone calls are about disruptions in the Postal Service.

Past time to wake up and stifle police state propaganda

By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead Cancel culture: Political correctness amped up on steroids, the self-righteousness of a narcissistic age, and a mass-marketed pseudo-morality that is little more than fascism disguised as tolerance, has shifted us into an Age of Intolerance, policed by techno-censors, social media bullies, and government

Candidate Darren Bailey on Irvin announcement

Here is a statement from the Darren Bailey Campaign on Richard Irvin’s joining the GOP primary for governor: “We believe the Republican Party’s nominee should be a Republican, not someone who has made a career being a pro-abortion, anti-gun Democrat that praises Pritzker and doesn’t share our principles. We welcome