November 3, 2025Dear editor; Property taxes in Illinois are too high and the highest of any state in the U.S., recently surpassing New Jersey. I remember 30 years ago, as a freshman State senator assigned to the Revenue Committee because of my tax background, working on the as “Low-Income Senior
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois lawmakers approved new funding for public transportation agencies without large statewide tax increases previously proposed. Instead, the measure would be fueled by revenue sources that currently feed the state’s Road Fund and an increased sales tax targeted to the Chicago area. The bill frustrated
Looking to further lower property tax bills for homeowners with fixed incomes, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, has introduced a measure to effectively freeze the property tax liability for those who receive the state’s Homestead Exemption for Persons with Disabilities. “This legislation came from conversations with a local resident who
The Kane County Health Department (KCHD) has awarded $300,000 in grant funding to local organizations working to prevent opioid overdoses, expand access to treatment, and support recovery services across the community. The funding supports a range of innovative programs designed to save lives and strengthen the safety net for individuals
By Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisbszalinski@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois agencies must identify spending reductions and create reserves in their budgets to prepare for an economic downturn, according to an executive order issued Tuesday by governor JB Pritzker. Pritzker said the order is designed to combat federal policies by the Trump administration that are
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s Discretionary Grantmaking Program helps fund capital improvement projects at area nonprofits doing critically important work to improve the quality of life in the Fox River Valley. Nonprofits working in arts and humanities, education, health care, and social services in Aurora, Kane County,
September 9, 2025Dear editor; A recent columnist in The Voice got it wrong about incentives given to Hollywood Casino when it came to Aurora in the early 1990s. The writer stated that “Aurora invested a load of money (a gamble) to bring the casino to Aurora.” In fact, the Hollywood
Author’s note: Donald Trump’s threat to fire Jerome Powell, head of the Federal Reserve Bank, and the governors of the regional banks, suggests that he would like to absorb the Fed under his watchful eye. This is not the first time the Republic’s method of governing the Nation’s economy has
By Drew DeSilverPew Research Center Few if any programs of the U.S. government touch as many people as directly as Social Security. Nearly every working American pays Social Security taxes, and more than 55 million people receive retirement benefits through the program. Millions more also collect disability benefits or cash
August 25, 2025Dear editor; August 26, 1920 marks the anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guaranteeing white women the right to vote. Only decades later did black, brown, Asian and Native American women win suffrage. Despite the vote, women still battle to control their own bodies, wages
The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI) has awarded $44,000 in academic scholarships to 22 local students through its Larry Nedrow Scholarship Fund. Established in 1992, the FCAI Larry Nedrow Scholarship supports educational development within the painting, drywall, and glazing finishing industry. Each year, contractors who contribute to the Northern
Diane Morris, right, announces to the Plano Methodist Church congregation, August 3, that Elizabeth Gould, center, is the recipient of a scholarship, established by Pete and Betty Wolsfeld.
By Peter Hancock & Ben SzalinskiCapitol News Illinoisnews@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinois Democrats brought some of their biggest names to Springfield Tuesday, Aug. 12 to call attention to the massive cuts that will take effect in the coming years for programs that benefit low-income communities. At one event, U.S. senator Dick Durbin and
By Lori Robertson Hours after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released employment data showing slow job growth for July and prior months, president Donald Trump fired the BLS commissioner, claiming the job numbers were “phony” and that the commissioner had “faked” other job figures to help Democrats. There’s no evidence
Bright & Early DuPage, an initiative of DuPage Foundation, recently awarded nearly $350,000 to eight DuPage County early childhood collaboratives through its 2025 grant cycle. The initiative, launched in 2013, builds sustainable, coordinated, local early childhood collaborations that actively work to increase access to quality early childhood education throughout the
Mark Lyons, right, DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) adviser at East Aurora High School, accepts a $500 donation from Aurora Lions Club Aug. 7.
By Alan Jaffe and Saranac Hale Spencer Approximately six months into the second term of president Donald Trump, Republicans, and Democrats are making conflicting and often misleading assessments of the Donald Trump administration’s impact on inflation and prices. Both sides cherry-pick examples of consumer products to support their claims, while
August 4, 2025Dear editor; Last chance to receive 30% in federal tax credits on solar panels for your home. Solar Panels are cheaper than you may think, especially this year. If you think solar panels for your house will cost 20 or 30 thousand dollars, you are in for a
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley has awarded 40 grants totaling more than $535,000 to support local nonprofit organizations doing critically important work in Chicago’s Fox River Valley. These grants were awarded through the Community Foundation’s discretionary (fall 2024 and spring 2025) and Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP,
By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Governor JB Pritzker is asking state lawmakers for more authority to regulate the homeowners insurance market in Illinois. His comments came after the Bloomington-based State Farm Fire and Casualty Company notified the Illinois Department of Insurance that it was raising premiums for residential property casualty
