West Central Reporter

McClure presses Sims on private redistricting meetings: 'Are we going to figure out what these meetings entail?'

By Karen Kidd | Oct 20, 2021

Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) recently exchanged frustrated words with a Democratic colleague over a news report that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration has been having private tête-à-têtes with Democrats over the state's redistricting process.

Morgan County residents stepping up to get their COVID-19 shots

By Karen Kidd | Jan 15, 2021

Many Morgan County residents are getting their COVID-19 vaccinations to protect against the highly-contagious virus that has spread largely unchecked throughout the country.

McDonough County Board passes 2021 budget, including amendment over objection of one member

By Karen Kidd | Dec 2, 2020

McDonough County 21-member Board earlier this month approve a $19.9 million budget for next year, including more than $5.4 million for the general fund, The McDonough County Voice reported.The 74-page budget also includes more than $1.1 million for the county's highways, almost $1.3 million in liability insurance, a little more than $3 million for self insurance and more than $1.7 million for its municipal retirement fund.

IHSA's defiance of Pritzker trying to postpone basketball season 'put everything on the schools,' Western High coach says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 6, 2020

The Barry basketball coach initially liked it when Illinois High School Association's defied Gov. J.B. Pritzker's attempts late last month to put off the state's upcoming high school basketball season over COVID-19 concerns.

From Quincy Reporter

Sen. Tracy on redistricting: 'Let the people decide!'

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling out federal oversight in gerrymandering cases, Illinois Senate Republicans are again pursing a state constitutional amendment to allow voters to decide the issue, a 47th District Senator said in statement issued earlier today.

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | Jul 12, 2019

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

Pritzker's AFSCME deal just more 'tax-and-spend leadership,' South Jacksonville GOP official says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed contract deal with the state's largest public employee union is bad news for Illinois but comes as no real surprise, a South Jacksonville Republican official said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

IPI: FBI's secret Madigan recordings in affidavit reveal nothing new about speaker's operations

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), earlier today revealed to be a target in the same FBI investigation that led to an extortion indictment against a Chicago alderman, is not accused of anything new, a think tank reported.

Cass County GOP chair decries waste, proposed gas tax hike

By Karen Kidd | Dec 21, 2018

Illinois lawmakers have no business raising the state's motor fuel tax by a proposed 20 to 30 cents, or raising any other tax, until they show they can run a business, a Cass County GOP official said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's outgoing Republican governor saw a few of his vetoes overridden during the Fall Veto Session in Springfield and a few new laws have been passed, a QUAD city area lawmaker said in a summary recap released last week.

From Prairie State Wire

State facing huge debt for public-sector retiree health benefits, says Wirepoints

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's "other debt disaster" is $73 billion in unfunded state retiree health insurance benefits and more than twice that amount owed over the next four decades, according to a special report issued this week by an online news outlet.

From Prairie State Wire

FY19 Budget: 'Not one penny should be spent on pork,' Ives says

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) believes state lawmakers need to reject political pork spending that was hidden in the budget passed earlier this year.

From Prairie State Wire

Pro-economic liberty group launches campaign against soaring Illinois property taxes

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Supporting a proposal to cut Illinois property taxes in half and a slate of political candidates who would help make that happen is part of Liberty Principles PAC's recently announced "Save Your Home" campaign.

New Illinois 104 bridge at Meredosia open, but historic group calls for old bridge preservation

By Karen Kidd | Jul 16, 2018

The new $86.2 million bridge on Illinois Route 104 over the Illinois River at Meredosia now has been officially opened to traffic for about a month, following an official ceremony in June.

From Prairie State Wire

People in prime working age are fleeing Illinois, think tank reports

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Not only is Illinois' overall population in deep decline, the number of people in prime working age also is going down in the state, a Chicago-based Conservative think tank said in a recent report.

From Prairie State Wire

Better Government Association says Obama didn't say fathers in the home is a solution to gun violence -- but he did

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Sometimes the fact-checker needs a good fact-checking.

54th state Senate District candidate says property tax freeze should not come from Springfield

By Karen Kidd | Nov 17, 2017

Freezing property taxes isn't something that should be handled by lawmakers in Springfield, a Clinton County Board member who is running for state Senate said during a recent interview.

Budget described as no solution to Illinois insolvency

By Karen Kidd | Jul 21, 2017

While state lawmakers ended a two-year budget impasse, the measures adopted by the Illinois Legislature will not fix the state's fiscal mess, an analyst who co-wrote a paper that places the state 49th in long-run solvency told the Sangamon Sun.

Economist says something's got to give: pensions or public schools

By Karen Kidd | Jul 2, 2017

Public sector employees and retirees could accept less than their constitutionally protected pensions if they understand it's them or public education, an economist said during an appearance on a recent Chicago-based radio show.