By Bela “Bill” Suhayda Back in the day, we referred to people who were sneaky, untrustworthy, manipulative, and cowardly as weasels. These were the people who took pot shots at others in defamatory ways in the effort to lift themselves up by stepping on those around them. These were people
By John & Nisha Whitehead Everything this Nation once stood for is being turned on its head. We are being asked—no, told—to believe that the greatest threat to America today is not government overreach, endless war, corruption, surveillance, or the steady erosion of constitutional rights. No, the real threat, it
By Maggie Dougherty The Illinois Accountability Commission has spent the last six months reviewing incidents of alleged misconduct by federal immigration agents in Chicago amid Operation Midway Blitz. What it has found, commission officials said, is evidence of three major policy directives that permitted and encouraged agent misconduct, stemming from
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com A “millionaire tax” proposal floated in the Illinois House failed to gain enough traction in Springfield this week, making it increasingly unlikely that voters will be asked to approve the measure in November. House speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, confirmed to reporters on Wednesday night
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced a resolution in support of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) role in the promotion of nuclear security. The resolution reasserts the agency’s position as an essential partner in ensuring international nuclear safety, and it encourages the United States to play an active role to
At the Aurora Committee of the Whole meeting, April 21, mayor John Laesch honored the Aurora Regional Fire Museum for winning two prestigious statewide awards from the Illinois Association of Museums. The museum received the 2026 Small Institution of the Year Award and the 2026 Award of Super Achievement (Exhibits),
By John & Nisha Whitehead Reports of food shortages on naval ships deployed to the Middle East. Video footage of disabled military veterans—some in wheelchairs, others leaning on canes—being zip-tied and dragged out of the Capitol Rotunda for staging a peaceful, anti-war protest. Sixty-six veterans were arrested while conducting a
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com The biggest item on Illinois lawmakers’ agenda this spring is still a work in progress with six weeks left in the legislative session. Democrats are entering the home stretch of budget negotiations ahead of their scheduled May 31 adjournment while monitoring better-than-expected revenue growth alongside
Aurora mayor John Laesch declared that the state of the City of Aurora is “strong and growing” at his first-ever State of the City Address April 16. He added that his administration will be prioritizing fiscal responsibility with a specific focus on sustainable growth and government efficiency. The event, which
April 18, 2026Dear editor; The federal support for public libraries is essential in maintaining an informed public in a democracy, and supportive of our Fourth Estate, the press. In fact, we need to increase money for libraries to keep up with current events and rising costs. May God bless all
Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Autofill Act. This legislation would create a voluntary tax filing program that allows individuals to use a secure IRS website to download a tax form automatically populated with information the IRS already collects from employers, the Social Security Administration, and financial institutions. The information
Musings: •The Sins of Donald J. Trump (chapter 19). He has: Laid the foundation of putting his name on the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, complete with imaging and a slogan; Appointed Erika Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, to the board of the Air Force Academy, which
By John & Nisha Whitehead One week after posting a profanity-laced Easter message threatening to wipe out the entire civilization of Iran, Donald J. Trump, the 47th president of the United States, spent the night of April 12 and into the early morning hours unleashing a barrage of AI-generated images,
The City of Aurora government’s Youth Services division is excited to announce the return of the Youth & Family Resource Fair! Taking place Thursday, April 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Prisco Community Center, 150 W. Illinois Avenue, the free, annual event will bring together more than
By Jenna Schweikert, Brenden Moore, Ben Szalinski, and Nikoel HytrekCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com The Illinois House approved legislation April 8 that would prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of any home, school, day care center, park, forest preserve, cemetery or place of worship.
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com State education officials presented their case this week for a $10.9 billion budget to fund preK-12 public schools for the next fiscal year, saying the Evidence-Based Funding formula that has been in place for nearly a decade is now paying dividends. “Graduation rates are at
State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D–Oswego), a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, passed two pieces of legislation in the Illinois House April 8 aimed at supporting veterans and strengthening oversight of programs that serve them. House Bill 4336 expands and clarifies the types of building-related fees that are waived for veterans with
As prices of everyday essentials continue to rise across the country, State Rep. Matt Hanson, D-Montgomery, is working to provide some immediate relief to Illinois customers by passing a new measure to ensure discounts offered by businesses are honored or easily accessible. “Right now, every penny counts,” said Hanson. “There
Open Roads ABATE president Sam Mataya, left, shakes the hand of City of Sandwich mayor Todd Latham, who signed a proclamation proclaiming May is Motorcycle Awareness Month at the April 6 Sandwich City Council Meeting.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve heard from a large number of residents regarding the proposed data centers in the Yorkville area – and the message has been clear. The majority of residents don’t want them, with quality of life a primary concern. I also took the step of running
