By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com In 1977, then-president Jimmy Carter signed into law the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that sought to wipe away the last vestiges of racial discrimination and redlining in America’s home mortgage industry. The idea was simple. By requiring lenders – primarily banks – to...
It was a joyous but emotional night in Aurora as Mayor Irvin hosted a Grand Reopening Ceremony for the Aurora City Council Chambers. After a one-year, $1.7 million renovation project to enhance accessibility and communications with Aurora residents, the Aurora City Council Chambers reopened with much fanfare and some tears....
Comptroller of Illinois, Susana Mendoza, is warning Illinoisans of email, telephone and mail tax scams as the 2024 filing season begins. One scam, for example, may contain a letter in a cardboard envelope with an IRS letterhead that contains the text “about your unclaimed refund.” That letter may request personal...
With concern about migrants who are transported to the City without prior arrangements, the Aurora City Council plans to convene Friday, Dec. 22, at noon, for a special City Council meeting to consider amending an Ordinance to define and prohibit unscheduled bus stops of individuals who are transported to the...
Homeland Security will expedite work authorizations among other actions By Peter HancockCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The Department of Homeland Security will speed up the processing of work authorizations for asylum seekers and extend Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelan migrants, actions that could help thousands of migrants who have arrived in Illinois...
Aurora has a new alderman, and he’s the youngest on the Aurora City Council. New Ward 7 alderman Brandon Tolliver, 34, was sworn in before a cheering crowd of more than 250 family, friends, colleagues, and supporters. A bittersweet night was mixed with emotions of joy for the new alderman...
By Jason Crane The Aurora City Council is considering a Resolution authorizing the City government to apply for a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements at Garfield Park. A presentation was provided at the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting, Tuesday, Aug. 15. City government...
By Jerry Nowicki A landmark criminal justice reform that eliminates cash bail in Illinois is constitutional, the State’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, July 18 to pave the way for the change to take effect September 18. The 5-2 decision, handed down on partisan lines, means that individuals’ wealth no longer...
The Oswego Village Board approved president Ryan Kauffman’s nomination of Karen Novy to fill the vacant trustee seat at Wednesday’s special Village Board meeting. After the vote, Novy was sworn in by Judge John McAdams and participated in the meeting. “Karen is a wonderful member of this community. She brings...
By Peter Hancock Immigrants in Illinois with or without permission from U.S. immigration authorities will soon be able to obtain standard driver’s licenses that can be used for identification. Governor JB Pritzker Friday, June 30 signed House Bill 3882, which will phase out the “Temporary Visitor Driver’s License,” or TVDL,...
A trailblazing history-maker, in 1991, she was the first Black person elected to the Aurora City Council, and last week, she became the first sitting City Council member to die while in office. In between were 32 years of making more history, making significant moves, and making the lives of...
A bill set to improve military and Department of Revenue processes for requesting and fulfilling sales tax exemptions will go to the governor’s desk. The measure sponsored by State representative Stephanie Kifowit (D-Oswego) passed the House recently. “The men and women serving in our armed forces have made significant personal...
By John & Nisha Whitehead What the police state wants is a silent, compliant, oblivious, citizenry. What the First Amendment affirms is an engaged citizenry that speaks truth to power using whatever peaceful means are available to us. Speaking one’s truth doesn’t have to be the same for each person,...
The League of Women Voters of Central Kane County will be host to a hybrid forum Thursday, Feb. 16 featuring candidates running in the April 4, Consolidated Election for seats on the Geneva Park District Board, the Geneva School District 304 Board, and for a seat on the Geneva City...
By John & Nisha Whitehead “A standing military force, with an overgrown executive will not long be safe companions to liberty.” —James Madison The IRS has stockpiled 4,500 guns and five million rounds of ammunition in recent years, including 621 shotguns, 539 long-barrel rifles, and 15 submachine guns. The Veterans...
By Peter Hancock In the wake of a July 4 mass shooting in Highland Park that left seven persons dead and dozens more injured, governor JB Pritzker is calling for a ban at both the State and national levels on military-style assault rifles and high-capacity magazines. The governor made those...
By Peter Hancock Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation Tuesday, May 31 that will pump an additional $700 million annually into Medicaid-funded nursing homes, provided they use that money to increase staff members and wages in their facilities. “This is truly a game changer,” Pritzker said at a bill signing ceremony...
By John W. Whitehead & Nisha Whitehead “Rights aren’t rights if someone can take them away.”— George Carlin We’re in a national state of denial. For years now, the government has been playing a cat-and-mouse game with the American people, letting us enjoy just enough freedom to think we are...
By Peter Hancock The 2022 campaign season got under way in earnest Monday this week and candidates lined up in front of election offices to turn in petitions to get their names on the June 28 primary election ballot. Hundreds of candidates and their aides braved cold wind and snow...
By Jerry Nowicki Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike will resign on March 14 after three years leading the agency and two years navigating a deadly pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 32,000 Illinoisans. Ezike, who was appointed IDPH director in 2019, became a...
