As the semester winds down with no state budget in sight, Chicago State students ponder their school’s future
By Jasmine Cannon Illinois is the only state in America that has not passed a budget for its fiscal year. The political impasse between the governor and the legislature has been going on since July. The deadlock has caused an uproar in the educational community because some public universities are running out of the money needed […]
Unlike Trump, Sanders’ Chicago rally gave peace a chance
By Caroline Kenny Despite four-hour lines and thousands of supporters being turned away, the Bernie Sanders rally on Monday night was a much more peaceful event than a Donald Trump rally that shook Chicago on Friday night. Speaking at the Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre in the Loop just eight hours before polls opened, Sanders invoked […]
Former Soldier Tries to Unseat Veteran Congressman
By Patrick Martin Thomas Day is challenging Congressman Danny Davis in the Democratic primary race for the Illinois 7th District. This area includes the Loop, the West Side, part of the South Side and the near west suburbs. Since there are no Republicans on the primary ballot for this race, the winner of the Democratic […]
Bill Clinton campaigns for his wife in Evanston
By Caroline Kenny Former President Bill Clinton says experience makes his wife the best choice for the Democratic nomination for president. He cites the programs she enacted as First Lady and her job with the Children’s Defense Fund right out of law school as points on her presidential resume. In a speech to a full […]
Illinois Developmental Centers Are to Remain Open
By Shen Wu Tan The seven Illinois state-operated developmental centers, housing individuals with developmental disabilities, will not close, according to the second proposed state budget. Due to the number of individuals still living in these centers and the amount of time it takes to transition these residents into the community, the state cannot justify shutting […]
Illinois hopes to emulate other states with new business development partnership
By H. Will Racke Illinois is the latest state to establish a public-private economic development corporation in hopes that it will spur business investment. It’s especially needed now as the state continues to lose jobs and residents to its neighbors. Modeled on similar groups in other states, the new Ilinois Business and Economic Development Corporation […]
Flint Congressman talks water crisis with Illinois activists
By Jay Bouchard In the wake of Flint, Michigan’s water crisis, U.S Rep. Dan Kildee (D) is reaching out to Illinois in an effort to gain legislative support and brief his neighboring state on ways it can support Flint. Kildee, a Flint native, visited west suburban Lombard on Saturday to discuss ways local activists can […]
Governor Rauner advocates bipartisan reforms amid budget gridlock
By Harvard Zhang Springfield — Republican Governor Bruce Rauner called on the Democrat-controlled legislature to put aside political disagreements to institute business-building reforms together with cost reductions and revenue increases during his budget address Wednesday for the next fiscal year. Addressing a joint session of the General Assembly, the governor stressed that his budget is about jobs, opportunities and economic […]
State budget cuts leave college students in limbo, some tweet Kanye West for help
By Branden Hampton Students and faculty at public colleges are furious about being left without state funding as a result of an eight-month state budget standoff that could force layoffs and program cuts. “[Legislators] can’t continue to use the taxpayers’ money and then look at the taxpayer and say, ‘Well, we don’t have any money.’ […]
Supporters of Independent Living Call for Legislation to Protect Home Services and Discourage Institutionalization
By Shen Wu Tan A proposed bill that safeguards Illinois home care services passed the House Human Services Committee on Wednesday. The bill, HB 4351, sponsored by state Rep. Greg Harris (D-13), would prevent Gov. Bruce Rauner from increasing the eligibility score for community-based services until a new assessment tool is developed. HB 4351 also […]
