Will County Gazette

'Take a moment to reflect,' Curran notes anniversaries of liberation of Auschwitz, Paris Peace Accords

By Karen Kidd | Jan 29, 2022

Two very different but important events happened on the same day in different years - almost 28 years apart - in living memory of those whose lifetimes encompassed both events

'See you all there': Haas plans December 'new bill' town hall sessions in Kankakee

By Karen Kidd | Dec 4, 2021

Residents in Illinois' 79th House District have a date to mark, ten days before Christmas to be precise.

Priztker 'signed partisan maps' instead of the fair redistricting most want, Senate GOP deputy leader admonishes

By Karen Kidd | Jun 9, 2021

Gov. J.B.

Haas: Redistricting in Illinois 'must be fair and transparent'

By Karen Kidd | Apr 17, 2021

With a new fair maps bill making its way through the Illinois Senate, the time is fast approaching to redraw the state's notoriously gerrymandered districts, Illinois Rep. Jackie Haas (R-Kankakee) said in a recent social media post.

Rezin signs onto GOP bill to remove 'partisan politics' from 2021 redistricting process

By Karen Kidd | Apr 17, 2021

A fair maps bill making its way through the Illinois Senate is exactly what people — not politicians — in the state need, legislation co-sponsor and Senate Deputy Minority Leader Sue Rezin (R-Morris) said during an interview on April 12.

From Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | 4 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 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.

Rep. Underwood's comments show lack of understanding about border crisis, AVIAC says

By Karen Kidd | May 29, 2019

An advocate for victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, and a constituent in freshman U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood's (D-Naperville) 14th Congressional District, said he was shocked by the lawmaker's "vile remarks" during a recent House Homeland Security Committee budget hearing in Washington D.C.

House bill would wipe out $49.5 million state debt to Oswego school district, two Republican lawmakers say

By Karen Kidd | Mar 26, 2019

Oswego School District 308's Board of Education is worried about how to close a $1.3 million deficit while a Democrat lawmaker would have the state weasel out of paying $49.5 million it has owed the district for years, two Republican lawmakers are saying.

Pritzker's $15 minimum wage would hurt entry-level workers, Rep. McDermed says

By Karen Kidd | Feb 12, 2019

Raising Illinois' minimum wage to $15 per hour would hurt workers entering the job market, Illinois state House Rep. Margo McDermed said in a recent statement.

From Prairie State Wire

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

By Karen Kidd | 5 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 | 5 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.

Chapa LaVia idea to tax restaurant drive-through customers 'crazy,' Wirepoints founder says

By Karen Kidd | Jan 28, 2019

An online news outlet's founder recently took issue with comments by newly appointed Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) about which taxpayers can "pay a little bit more" in taxes on services—especially her suggestion to tax the use of drive-through restaurants.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Foster's election opponent calls him out on Pelosi vote

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

U.S. Rep. Bill Foster's endorsement of fellow Democrat Nancy Pelosi for speaker of the House only weeks after publicly opposing the idea is what Foster is always going to do—what the party tells him—his opponent in the general election said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 5 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 | 5 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.

Former Plainfield Township administrator betrayed trust, supervisor says

By Karen Kidd | Nov 29, 2018

Plainfield Township's administrator, who resigned earlier this week after an Illinois-based political activist group's allegations of misconduct, violated the trust she once enjoyed, a township official said.

Havel one of two Naperville Republicans seeking Will County Board District 11 seats in November

By Karen Kidd | Sep 29, 2018

Will County Republican Party Chairwoman Kathy Havel hopes that she and another Republican will win two District 11 seats on the Will County Board in November's general election.

Laib: Madigan money to lawmakers 'compromises the independence of an independent'

By Karen Kidd | Sep 13, 2018

The receiver and giver in transactions between Illinois' powerful State House speaker and lawmakers who get millions from him is a matter of perspective, the Republican candidate for the 86th District House seat said during a recent interview.