West Central Reporter

West Central Reporter

Monday, February 24, 2020

Caitlin Nordahl News

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Conservation police issue citations for hunting-related offenses in Pike, Adams, counties

By Caitlin Nordahl | Nov 22, 2017

More than 50 citations and warnings for illegal deer hunting offenses in Pike and Adams counties, much of which took place on properties managed by Hadley Creek Outfitters, were issued during a recent two-day sweep by Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police, the DNR said in a release.

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Rauner's harvest emergency declaration permits trucks to haul more crops

By Caitlin Nordahl | Nov 16, 2017

Following rain-related delays that left Illinois farmers far behind on their harvests, Gov. Bruce Rauner declared a statewide harvest emergency earlier this month that will allow trucks to transport more crops, a release from the governor’s office said.

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Galesburg to feature folk songs to honor Sandburg

By Caitlin Nordahl | Nov 2, 2017

In honor of poet Carl Sandburg’s love of American folk songs, the Carl Sandburg State Historic Site in Galesburg will host a performance titled “Folk Songs You Never Sang in Grade School” by Keith Reins and Tara McGovern on Nov. 12, according to a press release.

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Galesburg businessman calls on voters to send independent voice to U.S. House

By Caitlin Nordahl | Sep 3, 2017

Galesburg businessman Mark Kleine is asking residents of Illinois' 17th Congressional District to send him to Washington as an independent lawmaker who will put their interests first, according to a press release.

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Cavaletto says 'imperfect' school funding bill gets Illinois closer to fairness

By Caitlin Nordahl | Sep 2, 2017

The compromise legislation to reform Illinois’ education funding system will make state spending more equitable across all school districts, according to Rep. John Cavaletto (R-Salem), who spent 38 years in education.

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Rauner tells students they now have chance for 'best education'

By Caitlin Nordahl | Sep 1, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner dropped into three schools in Central Illinois this week to encourage students to value their educations and explain the state’s efforts to ensure their access to great schools, according to a press release.

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McCarter argues for better distribution of current school funding

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 24, 2017

Illinois doesn't need more money for education, it just needs to distribute it better, Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) said in a press release recently.

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Knoxville superintendent says pass school funding, then fix problems

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 22, 2017

The Illinois Legislature should immediately pass the original version of its K-12 funding bill but then get back to work on addressing underlying issues, the superintendent of Knoxville Community Unit School District 202 suggests.

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LaHarpe violated open meetings by holding closed session on billing

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 21, 2017

The LaHarpe City Council held a closed session last fall that was in violation of the Open Meetings Act, the Illinois Attorney General’s public access counselor recently determined, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

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Rauner school funding change 'supports every single child,' Tracy contends

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 6, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto of Senate Bill 1 helps guarantee that Illinois school districts with low-income and disadvantaged students are treated fairly, Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) maintains in a recent press release.

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Being 'mad at the math' won't end Illinois' ongoing financial woes, attorney says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 14, 2017

Illinois’ economy will take decades to recover from the state’s current pension and workers’ compensation obligations, to say nothing of the debts continually being added because of a significant lack of reform, according to a blistering analysis from Chicago attorney Eugene Keefe.

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Illinois held down by economic, moral decay, analyst says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 2, 2017

While every state around it continues to grow in population and prosperity, Illinois keeps shrinking under the strain of higher taxes and more regulations, Michael Lucci, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, said in an article on the institute's website.

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Overtaxed Illinoisans also seeing nation's smallest growth in personal income

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

Illinois’ average personal income growth since the Great Recession is tied with Nevada for the worst in the country, according to data from Pew Charitable Trusts recently published on the Illinois Policy Institute website.

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High pay, pension costs driving up tuition at WIU, other schools, analysts contend

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 19, 2017

The Illinois Policy Institute has offered some insight into the higher education crisis facing Western Illinois University (WIU) and the state’s other public institutions, which are locked in a cycle of high administrative costs, high pension costs and increased tuition and fees.

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Carlinville, watchdog group information battle moves ahead

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 17, 2017

The ongoing tug-of-war between Carlinville and John Kraft took another official step forward when Kraft's attorneys entered their court appearance and filed a motion for partial summary judgment on June 12.

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Teutopolis' Farmweld pulls in pork buyers from all over world

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 12, 2017

More than 30 international buyers from Asia, Central America and South America visited Farmweld in Teutopolis to learn about the company’s wean-to-finish technology as part of this year’s Illinois Pork Tour, according to a press release from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

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After state closure, St. Elmo bank reopening as United Fidelity branch

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 12, 2017

The Fayette County Bank in St. Elmo has been closed and purchased by the Evansville, Indiana-based United Fidelity Bank, according to a press release from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).

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All play and no work — yet legislators still draw paychecks, policy pro argues

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 9, 2017

Lawmakers have spent very little time in their seats, but at least they got to have play time, Austin Berg wrote on the Illinois Policy Institute website recently.

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General Assembly gives itself another month to reach budget accord

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 9, 2017

The General Assembly will meet in a continuous session through June to try to put a budget in place for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

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Madigan rep says Democratic gubernatorial candidates toe the line on tax increase

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

All of the Democrats hoping to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 are backing Speaker of the House Michael Madigan's budget goal of raising taxes rather than enacting reforms, a Madigan spokesman told the Chicago Tribune recently.