Metro East Sun

Opponent Lester says Belt is 'prime example why people want changes in Springfield'

By Karen Kidd | Jul 6, 2021

State Sen. Christopher Belt (D-Centreville) isn't doing a good job in Springfield for his constituents, a St. Clair County-based business entrepreneur who wants to replace Belt said.

SIU-Edwardsville police are ready for busier days after campus re-opening

By Karen Kidd | Aug 15, 2020

Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville Police Chief Kevin Schmoll prepared for busier days this week as the university reopened following months with the students being off campus because of COVID-19.

Edwardsville Chief: 'We support the call to end excessive force'

By Karen Kidd | Jun 20, 2020

Edwardsville's police chief appreciated protesters who have been demonstrating peacefully while calling for reforms and equality and supported those voices being heard.

Shimkus reaffirms decision to retire, voices hope for productive final term

By Karen Kidd | Nov 7, 2019

Illinoisans will indeed lose the representation of longtime Southern Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus (R-Danville), who this week reaffirmed his decision to retire from the 15th Congressional District seat he has held for more than 20 years.

Rep. Shimkus' retirement plans on hold – at least for the moment

By Karen Kidd | Nov 1, 2019

Illinoisans may find out next week whether longtime Southern Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus (R-Danville) will change his mind about retiring from the 15th Congressional District seat he has held for more than 20 years.

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 | 5 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 | 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.

St. Clair Township supervisor says Shelby rebates help its taxpayers

By Karen Kidd | Jan 3, 2019

One group in particular will benefit from more than $700,000 in property tax rebate checks recently mailed to Shelby Township parcel owners, Dave Barnes, St. Clair Township supervisor, 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.

Sen. McCann sides with Trump, not Rauner, over Kavanaugh nomination

By Karen Kidd | Oct 1, 2018

Illinois' 50th District state senator and the Conservative Party's candidate for governor sides with President Trump and fellow Republicans in Washington over U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

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 | 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.

Dispute in Madison County over who 'unanimously' won GOP committeeman race

By Karen Kidd | Jun 1, 2018

Madison County's April vote for Republican State Central Committeeman in the 15th Congressional District—which was officially a "unanimous" win for Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet)—actually was a unanimous result for the incumbent Robert Winchester, according to precinct committeemen affidavits obtained by Metro East Sun.

Proposed statewide 1 percent property tax wouldn't be enough for Madigan, Babcock says

By Karen Kidd | May 24, 2018

A proposed statewide 1 percent property tax will only add to the burden of already over-burdened Illinois taxpayers and won't sate the appetite of the state's powerful House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), the Republican House candidate from Wood River said during a recent interview.