Southern Illinois News

Bost uses SpongeBob characters to oppose 'Biden and Pelosi’s socialist economic agenda'

By Karen Kidd | Nov 11, 2021

U.S. House Rep. Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) recently re-posted a meme on Twitter featuring characters from "SpongeBob SquarePants" to protest President Biden's economic and domestic policies.

AbbVie receives IMA Manufacturer of the Year award at virtual luncheon

By Karen Kidd | Jan 2, 2021

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association 2020 Annual Luncheon – virtual this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – went off without a hitch this month as members gathered online, rather than in person as in previous years.

Downstate transit 'can be a lifeline,' IDOT acting secretary says in news release about $112 million in grants

By Karen Kidd | Dec 2, 2020

Transit is critical in downstate Illinois communities, the acting head of the state's transportation department said in a recent news release that announced $112 million had been awarded to transit providers in the southern part of the state."Transit in our downstate communities can be a lifeline for getting to work or school, a doctor’s appointment or a trip to the grocery store," Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Acting Secretary Omer Osman said in a Nov. 13 news release.

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.

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

By Karen Kidd | Jul 19, 2019

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 | 5 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 | 5 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.

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.

Former GOP official says bureaurcrats' pay raises will hurt downstate hard

By Karen Kidd | Jan 14, 2019

Legislation awaiting the signature of Illinois's newly inaugurated Democratic governor to raise incoming state department heads' salaries will not do the downstate any good, former Republican State Central Committeeman Robert Winchester 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.

Local ordinance in Virginia designed to scare off older trick-or-treaters

By Karen Kidd | Oct 16, 2018

Add Teaser here

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

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.