Metro East Sun

McClure disapproves of maps: 'These are maps done with inaccurate data'

By Savannah Howe | Jun 19, 2021

State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) is upset with the apparent disregard across the aisle for independent maps.

Bryant congratulates 2021 seniors: 'There's so many great things ahead of you'

By Savannah Howe | May 25, 2021

Young Illinoisans across the state are turning their tassels and ending their most recent education chapter, and state Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Union) shared her congratulations to her graduating constituents on May 17.

Bryant calls on voters to hold Pritzker accountable: 'The people of Illinois are not dumb'

By Savannah Howe | May 22, 2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has frustrated many Republican lawmakers this year, after he broke his campaign promise to reject any partisan redistricting map sent to him by the Democratic majority.

Bourne cites 'job-killing policies' as main reason Illinois saw a population decrease in the 2020 Census

By Savannah Howe | May 16, 2021

Lawmakers are pained at the news that the 2020 U.S. Census brought for Illinois: tens of thousands have left the Prairie State for greener pastures, and a congressional seat will be taken away because of it.

House honors fallen Godfrey firefighter with memorial highway: 'Jake Ringering was truly a public servant'

By Savannah Howe | May 12, 2021

A moment of silence in the House last week and a resolution recently introduced by Rep. Amy Elik (R-Pawnee) honor the memory of Captain Jake Ringering, a Godfrey firefighter who perished while fighting a structure fire in March of 2019.

House moves to honor Williams, longtime pillar of Godfrey: 'This memorial highway is a fitting tribute to him'

By Savannah Howe | May 11, 2021

Eldon "Twirp" Williams, a Godfrey area real estate agent for over 50 years, was 87 when he was shot and killed while preparing a house for sale in 2018. Now state Rep. Amy Elik (R-Pawnee) asked the House to consider memorializing him by naming a portion of a highway after him.

Elik denounces Democratic supermajority: 'One-party dominance has led to population loss'

By Savannah Howe | May 7, 2021

An Alton legislator blamed the Democratic-led state government for Illinois losing a congressional seat, tieing it to what she believes is a history of corruption and ineffective policies to make Illinois a more desirable state.

Bourne tells Pritzker if he's going to keep promise to veto partisan-drawn map 'come out and say that now'

By Savannah Howe | Apr 30, 2021

Republican legislators feel the remapping duty should be placed in the hands of an independent bipartisan committee of Illinois residents, and complain that the Democrats controlling the Statehouse have more political motives than they do a feeling of civic duty in the remapping.

McClure grateful for office staffer: 'Lucinda keeps me in line'

By Savannah Howe | Apr 30, 2021

State Sen. Steve McClure (R-Jacksonville) was one of many Republicans to thank their staff running things behind the scenes in honor of Administrative Professionals Day last week.

Mayor Eastern defends ACS data: Pandemic was a 'huge hurdle' in getting complete U.S. Census data

By Savannah Howe | Apr 29, 2021

The deadline to finalize the state's new legislative district borders is quickly approaching and Democrat lawmakers insist that American Community Survey data is better for the task than official U.S. Census Data, despite widespread criticism of ACS.

Belt defends use of ACS data, says constituents were 'afraid to come out and take part in the census'

By Savannah Howe | Apr 28, 2021

With the deadline to finalize the new legislative maps barely two months away, Republican lawmakers are baffled and unhappy that Democrats insist on using American Community Survey data for the remapping rather than official U.S. Census data.

Bourne defends local schools: 'I urge a no vote' on HB 2789

By Savannah Howe | Apr 27, 2021

After a year of power struggles between parents, local school districts and higher state powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, some lawmakers feel that Gov. J.B. Pritzker's House Bill 2789 is wrongfully taking decision-making power away from local education entities and centralizing it with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Friess: Federal, Illinois departments of veterans affairs 'report is troubling'

By Savannah Howe | Apr 8, 2021

Certain state-controlled homes for veterans are under the microscope as scrutiny of rising negligence concerns continues.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinois voters shoot down Fair Tax proposal

By Savannah Howe | 5 years ago

Illinois voters rejected a progressive income tax amendment that was criticized for having potentially devastating impacts on the state's taxpayers by removing the flat tax rate, skyrocket small business taxes by 47% and allow the possibility of taxing retirees.