September, 2016 Stories | Metro East Sun

State House hopeful Ruocco ready to focus on key issues

By Ruth de Jauregui | Sep 11, 2016

Metro East's Katherine Ruocco, the Republican candidate for state House in District 113, spoke of the urgent issues that face Illinois recently: employment, state finances and reforms.

Madison County workers draw both salaries and pensions

By Ann Maher, Madison County Record | Sep 11, 2016

Four county officials and a state senator from Madison County combined earn close to $1 million annually in current salary and pension payments, all funded by taxpayers.

Trial lawyers donated more than $35 million to Illinois politicians over 15 years

By Karen Kidd | Sep 10, 2016

Campaign contributions by trial lawyers to Illinois politicians and judges came to more than $35.25 million in the past 15 years and most of it didn't go through the state's Trial Lawyers Association, according to a new study.

Shimkus supports student coding contest

By Carol Ostrow | Sep 10, 2016

Backed and publicized by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), the new “Congressional App Challenge” invites enterprising high school students to enter a statewide coding competition — regardless of experience level — from now through Oct. 26.

SIUE cross-country teams place second at Walt Crawford Open

By Brent Zell | Sep 10, 2016

The Southern Illinois-Edwardsville men's and women's cross-country teams took second place in their divisions at the Eastern Illinois University Walt Crawford Open on Friday, Sept. 2, in Charleston, Illinois.

Confusion follows shuttering of Illinois health insurance co-op

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

Policy holders who bought from an insurance co-op in Illinois remain upset and confused about the future of their care more than a month after the debt-laden company was ordered to close by insurance regulators.

Latest round of John Deere layoffs unfortunate but not surprising, conservative think tank associate says

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

Manufacturing workers in Illinois suffered yet another blow this week when a major machinery manufacturer announced the layoffs of hundreds of workers in Illinois, an associate for a Chicago-based conservative think tank said in a recent article.

Amid talk of strike, rhetoric between AFSCME, state officials heats up

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

While whispers of "strike" continue to be heard among the membership of the state's largest public sector union, the on-and-off negotiations with the governor reveal the power of that union, the president of a nonpartisan public-interest litigation center said.

National $15 minimum wage could exacerbate Illinois job losses

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

With Congress weighing legislation that would bring the minimum wage up to $15 per hour by 2021, Illinois faces job losses as a result of the Pay Workers a Living Wage Act.

Prep update: Edwardsville continuing strong tradition on soccer field

By Brent Zell | Sep 9, 2016

Edwardsville having a good boys-soccer season is simply expected anymore.

Streator man says Mautino probes began with his decision to speak out

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

Despite a federal criminal investigation underway and state lawmakers continually calling on Illinois's embattled Auditor General Frank Mautino to answer questions about prior campaign expenditures, the only person who has filed a complaint said he feels all alone.

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Executive's move to Indiana reflects problem for Illinois

By LocalLabs News Service | Sep 9, 2016

An executive who has lived in Illinois almost all of his life says he is being driven out by economy and politics.

Illinois' credit rating may be cut further as unpaid bills projected to reach $14 billion

By Metro East Sun | Sep 9, 2016

Moody's Investors Service warned Illinois this week that its lack of a budget may lead to more credit downgrades.

Rauner urges Illinois voters to demand redistricting reform, term limits

By Metro East Sun | Sep 9, 2016

Illinois voters, regardless of party affiliation, need to have a stern conversation with their state legislators to revive redistricting after the Illinois Supreme Court decision last week that took free maps off the November ballot, Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a recent interview.