South Central Reporter

Central High coach says IHSA's defiance of Pritzker's try to put off basketball season 'overall' pleases: ;We are planning to play'

By Karen Kidd | Nov 10, 2020

Illinois High School Association's defiance of Gov. J.B.

IHSA defiance of Pritzker's' attempt to put off basketball season 'right decision,' Wesclin coach says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 6, 2020

The Illinois High School Association's defiance of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's attempts to put off the state's upcoming high school basketball season over COVID-19 concerns was the right choice, a Trenton basketball coach said.

Salem man's plea to City Council reflects Clay County judge's later ruling on governor's mandate

By Karen Kidd | Jul 19, 2020

A Clay County's judge's assertions that Illinois' stay-at-home order had spiraled into "insanity" and a ruling in favor of a Clay County business seem to have been predicted, at least in part, by a Salem-area resident.

From Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

From Southern Illinois News

Sen. Fowler among four state lawmakers planning to attend Carbondale Senior Fair

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is expected to be among four General Assembly lawmakers attending the Senior Fair in Carbondale next week, according to an event announcement and information on the senator's website.

From Prairie State Wire

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

From West Central Reporter

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

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

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.

Rep. Wilhour: Downstate voters don't trust Springfield politicians

By Karen Kidd | Jul 12, 2019

Downstate voters know Springfield politicians very well, don't trust them and expect to be overtaxed by those lawmakers in the state capital, according to a freshman state representative.

Pritzker's AFSCME proposal may be good for union, but not for Illinois, Sawyerville activist says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 22, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker's proposed contract deal with American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) may be a victory for the state's largest public employee union, but a Sawyerville Republican activist said it is just more bad news for the rest of Illinois' taxpayers.

Illinois has reached point of no return in fiscal crisis and other issues, retired GOP senator says

By Karen Kidd | Feb 18, 2019

Illinois may have dug itself into a fiscal hole so deep that digging back out is not a practical option, retired Illinois state Sen. David Luechtefeld, a Republican of Okawville, said during a recent radio 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.

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.

From Prairie State Wire

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

By Karen Kidd | 7 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.

Accused in Springfield sexual harassment scandal may have resigned to protect pensions, Wilhour says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 19, 2018

Greed, more than justice, may be behind the resignations of those accused of sexual harassment in the halls of the state legislature in Springfield, the Republican candidate for Illinois' 107th State House District said during a recent interview.

Wilhour fails to see 'cause for hope, pride or celebration' in new budget

By Karen Kidd | Jun 6, 2018

The undisguised glee in Springfield over reaching a budget signed by the governor earlier this week isn't quite loud enough to hide the truth about that budget, the Republican candidate for Illinois' 107th State House District said during a recent interview.

Marion County GOP chair likens state central committee voting system to 'slush fund for insiders'

By Karen Kidd | May 22, 2018

The controversy now surrounding the contested election for Republican State Central Committee in the 15th Congressional District could have been avoided if the state GOP had a more sensible voting system in place instead of a "slush system for insiders," a Marion County party official said during a recent interview.